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Mormon Tabernacle Choir

 Organization

Administrative History

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir (1852-) is a religious choral group based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

At the dedication of the adobe tabernacle in 1852, the Mormon choral group which frequently sang at General Conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, adopted the name of their new home and became the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. The nucleus of this choir came from a group of eighty-five Welsh converts under the direction of John Parry, who came to the Salt Lake Valley in 1849. The choir continued to perform at ecclesiastical and civic functions throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, including several national and international tours. In 1929, the choir began airing a weekly radio broadcast, which continues today as Music and the Spoken Word. The choir is currently led by music director Mack Wilberg (2008-). Previous directors included John Parry (1852-1854), Stephen Goddard (1854-1856), James Smithies (1856-1862), Chalres John Thomas (1862-1865), Robert Sands (1865-1869), George Careless (1869-1880), Ebenezer Beesley (1880-1889), Evan Stephens (1890-1916), Anthony C. Lund (1916-1935), J. Spencer Cornwall (1835-1957), Richard P. Condie (1957-1974), Jay E. Welch (1974), Jerold Ottley (1974-1999), and Craig Jessop (1999-2008).

Citation:
America's Choir, 2004: p.19 (named after the old tabernacle in 1852)

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, 1979: p.84 (first radio broadcast in 1929)

Utah History Encyclopedia, February 1, 2012: Mormon Tabernacle Choir (originated from John Parry's 1849 Welsh converts; notable performances at ecclesiastical and civic events)

Wikipedia, February 1, 2012: List of Mormon Tabernacle Choir music directors (names and dates of the choir's music directors)

Found in 23 Collections and/or Records:

Lowell M. Durham papers on Utah musicians, 1940-1991

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 2
Scope and Contents Contains files on Durham's colleagues. Includes documents on people like Maurice Abravanel, Crawford Gates, Jay Welch, Varujan Kojian, and Leroy Robertson. A variety of materials are included, such as newspaper clippings of reviews of the works done by these people, notes on their careers, even some correspondence. Includes materials related to the creation of the Leroy Robertson Foundation and the publication of the book on Maurice Abravanel. Some of these relate to the Utah Symphony and...
Dates: 1940-1991
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Lowell M. Durham papers

Lowell M. Durham sheet music, 1945-1990

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 1
Scope and Contents Contains loose sheet music for compositions by Durham and others. Includes several copies of Durham's piece "Lyric Folk-Scape, Op. 19," as well as the works like "Once in Royal David's City," and "Calm as a Summer's Morn." Also contains copies of music composed by Crawford Gates, such as "Promised Valley," and "O Lord, Do Not Despise Me." There are a few pieces arranged by Durham which were composed by his father, George H. Durham, like the composition "A New England Pastoral Sketch."...
Dates: 1945-1990
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Lowell M. Durham papers

Viola Pratt Gillette McFarlane papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 328
Scope and Contents

Newspaper clippings, programs, photographs, publications, and an autobiography. These materials relate to McFarlane's singing career in the United States.

Dates: 1897-1951
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections

Richard Condie choral music, approximately 1892-2011

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 7767 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Consists of sacred and folk sheet music scores, both printed and manuscript, primarily for voice with piano accompaniment.

Dates: approximately 1892-2011
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Richard Condie papers

Richard Condie concert programs, 1945-1982

 Series — Box 3: Series 2; Series 3; Series 4, Box: 4
Identifier: MSS 7767 Series 2
Scope and Contents

Consists of concert programs featuring Richard P. Condie and/or The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Dates: 1945-1982
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Richard Condie papers

Richard Condie correspondence, 1939-09-28 to 1970-07-04

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 7767 Series 5 Sub-Series Sub- 5
Scope and Contents

Sub-Series includes correspondance composed by and addressed to Richard P. Condie.

Dates: 1939-09-28 to 1970-07-04
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Richard Condie papers / Richard Condie mixed materials

Richard Condie magazines, approximately 1954 to 1975-04-06

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 7767 Series 4 Sub-Series Sub- 3
Scope and Contents

Sub-Series includes periodical magazines with articles on both Richard P. Condie and The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir during his time as head director.

Dates: Publication: approximately 1954 to 1975-04-06
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Richard Condie papers / Richard Condie periodicals

Richard Condie manuscript scores, approximately 1943-1971

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 7767 Series 4 Sub-Series Sub- 1
Scope and Contents

Sub-Series includes original and photocopied manuscript scores, likely performed by the Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Dates: approximately 1943-1971
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Richard Condie papers / Richard Condie choral music

Richard Condie mixed materials, approximately 1924-06-06 to 1973-08-22

 Series
Identifier: MSS 7767 Series 5
Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection includes press clippings from national and local publications highlighting events in Condie's career, especially in relation to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir; photographs, books, and scores annotated and marked by Condie during performance or study; and other personal materials such as a typescript of an oral history given by Condie, circa 1950-1970.

Dates: approximately 1924-06-06 to 1973-08-22
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Richard Condie papers

Richard Condie periodicals, 1923-09-05 to 1997-11-19

 Series — Carton 5: Series 4
Identifier: MSS 7767 Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains both original and photocopies press clippings from local and national publications, including either The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Dates: Publication: 1923-09-05 to 1997-11-19
Found in: L. Tom Perry Special Collections / Richard Condie papers

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