The Mormon Tabernacle Choir bade farewell to head Tabernacle Organist John Longhurst Nov. 25 by serenading him with a well-known folk song adapted to words specially written for the occasion:
"We'll all feel sad when Johnny goes marching home," sang the choir, accompanied at the organ by Brother Longhurst's colleague Richard Elliott.
The tribute followed the regular weekly broadcast of "Music and the Spoken Word." For Brother Longhurst, it was his last performance in that 77-year-old radio program, as he is retiring after 30 years in his position. (Please see Nov. 24 Church News.)
Craig Jessop, musical director of the choir, presented Brother Longhurst with a piece of calligraphy from the choir and staff, engraved by a former choir member. It acknowledged Brother Longhurst's "talent, kindness and dry wit," and contained the entire text of Psalm 150, which expresses praise to the Lord. The fourth verse reads: "Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with the stringed instruments and organs."
"Certainly, John is the embodiment of this psalm," Brother Jessop remarked. "With his every breath he has praised the Lord."
He noted that there will be two more opportunities to hear Brother Longhurst in his official capacity: On Friday, Dec. 7, at 7:30 p.m., he will be at the Shoenstein organ in the Conference Center, where he will be the featured organ soloist for the concert of the Bells on Temple Square. And at noon on Dec. 14, he will give his final Tabernacle Organ recital as Tabernacle organist.
Typically these days, the choir is joined in its broadcasts by the Orchestra at Temple Square; on this occasion, it was accompanied solely by Brother Longhurst's organ music. The repertoire for the program was a selection of psalms put to musical settings, such as Psalm 137, "By the Waters of Babylon," with music by Philip James.
One of the selections — Benedetto Marcello's setting for Psalm 18 — was instrumental, and it showcased the talent of Brother Longhurst as soloist.
Following the broadcast sign-off, the audience in the Salt Lake Tabernacle gave prolonged and vociferous applause, as Brother Longhurst received a bouquet of roses and bowed graciously to his appreciative listeners. During the brief tribute, he occasionally brushed a tear from his eye.
Present for the occasion were his wife, Nancy, three of their four children, grandchildren, and Robert Cundick, Tabernacle Organist emeritus, who was instrumental in bringing Brother Longhurst to his position 30 years ago.
E-mail to: rscott@desnews.com
