Skip to main content

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 9 Collections and/or Records:

Lowell M. Durham articles and drafts, 1925-1992

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 5
Scope and Contents Contains materials written by and collected by Durham related to Utah and Latter-day Saint music and musicians. Most of the material consists of drafts of chapters from Durham's book on Maurice Abravanel, complete with notes and edits. Also contains some research material, including a few clippings and a list of recordings of the Utah Symphony. There are articles written by Durham and others as well, such as his earlier draft of "The Abravanel Years," the article "Pioneer Symphony" by...
Dates: 1925-1992

Lowell M. Durham papers on Latter-day Saint music, 1920-1993

 Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 8150 Series 3
Scope and Contents Contains Durham's files on Mormon music and musicians. Many of these materials relate to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, including correspondence on replacing the conductor of the choir and clippings of reviews of their performances. Includes mentions on the careers of Jay Welch and Richard Condie. Also includes several pieces of research on Mormon musicians with Ph.D.s in music. Research on hymnody in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is included as well, such as published...
Dates: 1920-1993

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

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

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

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

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

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

Richard Condie press clippings, 1923-09-05 to 1997-11-19

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

Sub-series includes press clippings on Richard P. Condie, his family, and The Salt Lake Mormon Tabernacle Choir during his time as head director.

Dates: Publication: 1923-09-05 to 1997-11-19