It would have been an exceptional concert in any concert hall if only for the sheer numbers of choristers and the outstanding talent of their director, but attending a recital by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in their home venue, the Tabernacle at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, was an experience I will not soon forget. When we were told of the free Sunday morning concert when we visited the Tabernacle two days earlier, we extended our stay in Salt Lake City by one day so we could take it in. My expectations for the concert, however, were not particularly high. I thought that perhaps it would be a practice session or maybe it would be only a few members of the choir giving visitors to the site a short sample of what to expect in a formal concert.
But the whole event was fraught with fortuity and privilege. Firstly, we arrived at the Tabernacle around 8:45 for a 9:30 concert and as we entered, several kindly gentlemen were briefly searching bags. One of them checked my camera bag told me that I was welcome to take pictures before and after the performance, but not during. Being early, the choir was rehearsing when we seated ourselves in the balcony. I was therefore able to get pictures while they were singing but not during the performance.
Secondly, the concert was not just a practice session, after all. It was a live CBS broadcast of the 360 member choir’s regular Sunday morning show, Music and the Spoken Word. They have been broadcasting live on radio and now television since 1929. Today was their 4,227th broadcast. And we were there.
Thirdly, they were accompanied by an orchestra. Apparently, not all of these Sunday morning concerts include the orchestra. But it did today. And we were there.
Other dignitaries in attendance were the president of the LDS Church, Jim and Tami-Faye Baker, a world war two veteran and a pair of models from Brazil.
Nothing could have prepared me for the sound that resounded around the Tabernacle. I would say that the music filled every corner of the hall, but here are no corners. The Tabernacle is oval shaped and the ceiling is domed. Which no doubt has something to do with the sensational acoustics. At one point a bell of sorts tinkled from the orchestra and seemed to be coming from above my head. And, when the timpani drums rolled into crescendo, I felt it in my chest. But oh those voices. It is a testament not only to the talent of the choristers, themselves, but to their director, Mack Wilberg that a collection of more than 300 individual voices can produce one glorious sound.
After the concert we took a tour of the gardens within the Temple Square and in the surrounding plaza of Church buildings. Our guide was very knowledgeable and identified many of the 700 varieties of plants in a simple and humorous way.
And now it’s time to move on. Goodbye Salt Lake City. I’ll miss you.
The rest of the day was spent driving to Bryce Canyon. As we proceeded south, the air became hazier and hazier. It soon became clear that there was a fire in the hills to our west. In fact, one highway was closed between two interstates – fortunately not our direct route. We learned later that there were two fires, one of which started about an hour after we passed through the area. Four homes were destroyed and 1600 homes were evacuated.
We reached Bryce Canyon City to find no room at the inn. No room at any inn in the vicinity. We had to backtrack about half an hour but found a room in an old, I mean old, motel in Panguitch. Ironically it was one of the best night sleeps we’ve both had on the trip so far.
Until tomorrow or later today . . . .
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