Mormon Music
Mormon Music is an evolving contemporary form of musical expression. Some Church members have even made names for themselves in rock music – most notably Utah-based DJ/producer Kaskade. His concerts regularly fill stadiums around the globe.
Mindy Gledhill has also found success with indie-pop music. Her sound would fit right in at concerts featuring Tori Amos or Sara Bareilles.
Hymns
Hymns play an integral part of Latter-day Saint religion. Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith – founder of this religion – compiled its first hymn book shortly after founding in 1835.
In 1985, the Church undertook a comprehensive revision of its hymns and sought submissions of new songs; this resulted in a book which is still widely used today.
The Church offers several versions of its hymnbook in different languages and distributes a companion volume with music and lyrics combined. At the back of each book is helpful information for amateur church singers such as a list of poetic meters and advice on arranging hymns for choirs. An edition with wire binding is also available for those accompanists who can’t easily open regular binding on music stands.
The Church still collects hymns from around the world for compilation into country-specific editions of its hymnbook. Furthermore, staffers are working on translating hymn texts and creating standardised hymn books in languages where none exist yet.
The Tabernacle Choir
MoTab (Mormon Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square), one of the church’s highest profile choirs, will now be known as Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square to emphasize its heritage and connections with Mormon prophets.
The name change will coincide with a new website providing more information on this group that has performed at seven presidential inaugurations and weekly broadcasts on Radio Free America worldwide. They also perform twice-yearly weekend conferences of the Mormon Church that thousands attend in person or watch on TV or online.
Irene Caso, a church spokeswoman, hopes this move will increase visibility around the globe for Mormon Choir members worldwide and create greater attachment. Caso believes it may be implemented either one time or over time; either way it should give it more global identity to better reflect Mormon Church’s global presence.
Music in the LDS Church
Music has long played an integral part of Church life. Brigham Young encouraged Mormon pioneers to “make music and sing along their journey west”, while early Church colonies often featured town orchestras as an additional cultural amenity.
Recently, several Latter-day Saint musicians have found success in pop and rock music. One such band, Neon Trees, features four Church members. Furthermore, this spirited pop group is known for their vibrant clothing and danceable songs – features that have appeared on hit show Glee!
Church composers have also attained international notoriety; one Utah native trained at the New England Conservatory was Leigh Harline who rose above provincial fame with his choral and orchestral compositions for Hollywood movies such as those composed for James Cameron films.
Musicians in the LDS Church
Latter-day Saints possess a great deal of musical talent. Famous LDS musicians such as David Archuleta and Lindsey Stirling may be well known, yet the Church supports numerous other musicians who have also established themselves within it or beyond it.
BYU Vocal Point, a nine-member male singing ensemble that has gone viral on YouTube with their beautiful performances, and Neon Trees are another standout group which have filled stadiums around the world with their energetic pop-rock sound.
Mormon composers have had some success in the musical world, although not a lasting impactful impact. That may change soon though: Glen Nelson of Mormon Artists Group in New York City keeps track of Latter-day Saint composers worldwide and promotes their works – some have gained notice for works conveying religious messages or drawing upon scripture and church history narratives in their compositions.