Though the Choir has performed in fine concert halls the world over,
there is no place which highlights its vitality and spirit better than
its home in the Mormon Tabernacle in Salt Lake City, Utah. The building's
remarkable acoustics and the accompaniment of the incomparable Tabernacle
Organ combine with the Choir for a listening experience that is truly sublime.
During the height of the summer tourist season, the Tabernacle is often
filled to near capacity (seating approximately five thousand). Do
come and join us when you visit Salt Lake City! You should be in
the Tabernacle on Sunday by 9:15AM. The performance begins at 9:30 and
lasts half an hour. Due to the sensitive acoustics
and the live recording process, children under 8 are restricted to a glass-enclosed
room at the rear of the building. The public is also welcome at our
Thursday evening rehearsals (doors open at 8 PM).
The Choir started its weekly radio broadcast in 1929. The unbroken
chain of broadcasts since that time make it, so far as we know, the longest
continuing network broadcast in the world. Learning 30 minutes of
new music each week makes the experience of singing in the Tabernacle Choir
uniquely challenging. Fortunately, once one has been a member for
a couple of years, some of the music starts to look familiar as it comes around again.
Here's the typical broadcast preparation regimen:
Thursday 7:30 PM Rehearsal (10 days before broadcast)
After a 10 minute warm-up, 45 minutes to an hour of the rehearsal
is spent doing a quick reading of the five or six new pieces for the following
week's broadcast.
Sunday 7:30 AM Rehearsal (1 week before broadcast)
About 15 minutes is devoted to reading anything that was skipped
Thursday or working the harder pieces in a little more depth.
Thursday 7:30 PM Rehearsal (3 days before broadcast)
The latter half of the rehearsal is devoted to the current
week's broadcast. The trouble spots in each piece are worked over,
then we do a "tape and time." Brothers* Jessop, Wilberg and Bradford can then
review the tape before Sunday to determine what needs further work and
make sure the broadcast will fit into the 30 minute alloted time.
Sunday 7:30 AM Rehearsal (Day of broadcast)
About 30 minutes is devoted to a final polishing of the day's
music. Then we do a complete camera run-through. By now we
know how hard we need to pray that things will go right in the actual performance.
:>)
We usually get a 20 minute break to get a drink and, weather permitting,
take a walk outside on beautiful Temple Square. Then it's back inside
for the broadcast from 9:30 to 10AM.
