Mormon Music
Music was integral to Mormon pioneers in making the desert bloom with life, with twenty references to singing found throughout the Book of Mormon.
Mormon composers have often made no secret of their religion when creating works with overt religious messages or church history narratives. Yet these composers rarely receive an audience outside Mormon circles.
The Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon recounts the journey of one family from Jerusalem to America under God’s guidance, including their practice of singing hymns as part of church services; there exists a rich musical worship tradition within Judeo-Christian cultures.
Leroy Robertson’s Oratorio from the Book of Mormon was performed by Utah Symphony to an enthusiastic reception in 1953. This moving piece features divine melodies while sending an important message of faith in our reliance on Him.
The Book of Mormon, the iconic Broadway musical written by South Park creators Trey Parker and Robert Lopez in collaboration with Avenue Q composers, takes aim at organized religion while being an unforgettable musical theatre experience for its audiences worldwide. This show has won multiple awards and won over the hearts of audiences worldwide.
Hymns
Mormons sing hymns as an act of worship and to bring joy into their hearts, as well as unify the church. Sidney Rigdon noted in his 1831 general conference talk: “a new song brings forth an atmosphere of unification.”
The Book of Mormon contains numerous references to music–people sang after victories, after battles, during worship services and so forth.
Throughout the 20th century, numerous Mormon composers distinguished themselves by publicly proclaiming their faith through music that conveyed religious messages or used scriptural or church historical material as its inspiration. Yet most never achieved widespread notoriety outside of Mormon communities.
Music in the Church
As an overt symbol of church priorities and values, music has long played a pivotal role within Christianity. Beyond worship services, it also forms part of recreational and social activities; moreover, its promotion through various academies and schools within its ranks has long been promoted.
Church music can often be contentious. While some Christians might feel some songs are inappropriate for church settings, others might find them spiritually elevating.
But how can we determine whether an artist’s music is suitable for Church use? In this KnoWhy, Jeremy Grimshaw examines some of these issues before looking at some Mormon composers making waves in music today.
The Tabernacle Choir
MoTab Choir, as they have come to be known, are internationally-recognized for their stunning vocal abilities and musical excellence. Since their formation in 1910, they have released over 160 albums.
The group has also traveled the globe, performing for dignitaries and average citizens alike. Their 1988 tour to Australia and New Zealand proved particularly significant at a time when religious activities were legalizing in those nations.
Many members of the Church dedicate themselves to singing in the Tabernacle Choir full-time as part of their faith commitments. Each week they dedicate hours to rehearsals and performances; auditioning is required annually. As well as concerts and recordings, Music and the Spoken Word broadcasts weekly around the world as the longest running weekly network program ever produced by this Choir.
Musicians in the Church
Music plays an integral role in Mormon culture. From hymns to the Tabernacle Choir, Latter-day Saints use music as part of their everyday lives. Church musicians represent this religion well through their talents. Therefore they make for excellent studies.
Paul Cardall and Utah musician Peter Breinholt dive into the world of Mormon music. Both musicians hail from their roots within the Church but have evolved with unique styles and perspectives over time. Together they discuss its development while discussing some of its challenges for artists creating music to support Mormonism.
They discuss how the Church’s advertisements in the 1980s played a part in shaping commercial Mormon music. Furthermore, they discuss Imagine Dragon’s lead singer Dan Reynolds’ representation of Mormonism through his musical talents.
