In addition to celebrating the coming of the Mormon Pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley in 1847, the July 17 concert programming exulted in a Tabernacle Choir milestone: the 80th anniversary of the radio broadcast "Music and the Spoken Word."
The choir opened the concert with "The Morning Breaks," the Parley P. Pratt-authored hymn sung at the choir's first radio broadcast in 1929.
"Tonight, we look back through a window of time on some of the things that have transpired during those years as the choir has sung its way into the hearts of the nation and the world," said program announcer Lloyd D. Newell in introductory remarks.
In pre-recorded video content, Brother Newell said: "The spirit of pioneering is a vital part of 'Music and the Spoken Word.' It springs from the lives of the choir members, the mission and faith of their forefathers, and the legacy which they still carry on."
Then some of the choir members were shown telling of their own Mormon pioneer ancestry. "My great-great-grandmother chose to join the Church, but her parents disowned her," said Angela Meacham. "I'm really touched by the fact that she was inspired by song and that music spoke to her soul, and I just feel a blessing in my life to be part of the choir, as music speaks to my soul as well."
The three pioneer songs that followed, all in lush arrangements by choir musical director Mack Wilberg, were "Come, Come, Ye Saints," the folk song "Bound for the Promised Land," and the LDS hymn "They the Builders of the Nation."
The audience responded with standing ovations at several points in the program. These included the performance of Brother Wilberg's popular arrangement of "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing."
Other performances that brought the audience members to their feet were by Alex Boye, a choir member with his own career as a solo recording artist. He performed the African-American spirituals "I Want Jesus to Walk With Me" and "Rock-a-My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham." Between those two selections, one of the three choir organists, Richard Elliott, delighted listeners with his brief arrangement of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," playing the first verse on the pedals of the organ console as he snapped his fingers.
The choir's signature song, the famous Peter J. Wilhousky arrangement of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," was followed by the familiar words with which Brother Newell — and his predecessors, Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve, now deceased, and J. Spencer Kinard — have signed off each broadcast: "Again, we leave you from within the shadows of the everlasting hills. May peace be with you this day and always."
The choir and orchestra then performed the hymn with which each broadcast ends, "God Be with You Till We Meet Again," this time with a fully expanded arrangement by Brother Wilberg.
