The Mormon Tabernacle Choir: A Biography

by Michael Hicks

A first-of-its-kind history, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir tells the epic story of how an all-volunteer group founded by persecuted religious outcasts grew into a multimedia powerhouse synonymous with the mainstream and with Mormonism itself.
 
Drawing on decades of work observing and researching the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Michael Hicks examines the personalities, decisions, and controversies that shaped "America's choir." Here is the miraculous story behind the Tabernacle's world-famous acoustics, the anti-Mormonism that greeted early tours, the clashes with Church leaders over repertoire and presentation, the radio-driven boom in popularity, the competing visions of rival conductors, and the Choir's aspiration to be accepted within classical music even as Mormons sought acceptance within American culture at large. Everything from Billboard hits to TV appearances to White House performances paved the way for Mormonism's crossover triumph. Yet, as Hicks shows, such success raised fundamental concerns regarding the Choir's mission, functions, and image.

Genres: History

210 pages, Hardcover

First published February 28, 2015

About the author

Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Julia]

In my Choral Literature class at SVU I learned that choral history is just human history. That proved true here—I learned so much about the politics of the Church throughout the years. Truly fascinating to learn why the Tabernacle Choir is the way it is today, and especially to learn about its rich, rich history and success during the 20th century—nobody talks anymore about how the Choir was THEE preeminent choir in the US for a decent amount of time. Anyone remotely interested in the Tabernacle Choir or just choir in general should read this book I think. Definitely I will need to read it again.

[David Cook]

Michael Hicks is a first-rate writer. His history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was filled with facts, heartwarming stories, intrigue, and humanity, both good and bad. What began as a small choir has indeed evolved into an institution with life almost beyond its sponsoring institution.

Hicks has done an outstanding job weaving the history of sometimes mundane information and facts into a readable story of a living choir. It is fascinating to me how a choir filled with extraordinarily talented individuals and probably a few egos (as is not uncommon with talented people) is able to keep its focus on the collective effort and not the artists.

Kudos to Dr. Hicks for a tremendous contribution.

[M. K. Jacobs]

3.75 stars: This book had interesting content but the tone was often unnecessarily critical of church leadership. I wanted more depth and richness from the expansive history and repertoire of music; this was very clinical and often focused more on mistakes or controversies than the wholesome power of the choir throughout the decades.

[M]

It was fascinating to learn about the history of choral singing and the business of music throughout the years, as well as the impact of individual leaders on the organization.

[Schuyler Wallace]

The biography, “The Mormon Tabernacle Choir,” written by Michael Hicks, is a comprehensive study of one of America’s most revered musical organizations. It’s a complicated story, filled with historical struggles involving concept, image, leadership, and organization, not to mention individual egos and musical preferences. Hovering over this tremulous being is an image of beatific faces and glorious music that is solid and endearing, the one we love.

Michael Hicks is a scholar, musician, composer, and professor of music at Brigham Young University. As the writer of historical analytics and winner of many awards for his work, he is eminently qualified to present a noteworthy account of a musical endeavor that boggles the mind for its complexity and magnificence.

Music has always been an important, if unsettled, element in the Mormon religion. Early converts were dedicated to including both sacred and secular music during their migrations. Musicians were included in the advance parties of members and small choirs performed at early conferences aimed at solidifying the communities that were being established. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir was formed in Salt Lake City in 1847 and it has become one of the oldest and largest choirs in the world.

The very structure of the Mormon Church provides for the controversies found in the choir’s background. It’s a complicated arrangement of presidents, apostles, quorums, bishoprics, general officers, stakes and wards, all overseeing more that 15 million individual members, most of which are inactive. There is great power vested in the high-ranking officials, all of whom seem to have some sort of authority in the business of the choir. The conductors come and go. The 360 members are all un-paid volunteers so the makeup of the choir is fluid.

This changeable profile is susceptible to differences of opinion. The choir’s tone, repertoire, size, musical choices, accompaniment, membership longevity, tour choices, and many other features are constantly under scrutiny as new leadership emerges. Through it all, there is a philosophy and standard of excellence that prevails, and the choir itself, being composed of highly motivated musicians, always survives, its excellence never diminished.

Hicks does a fantastic job of outlining the bureaucratic side of the choir’s history. I would have liked more information on the mechanics of the choir’s travel. How are the trips put together? How are some 600 members of the travel party kept in an organized group? How are eating, sleeping, and rehearsal periods coordinated? How is transportation arranged? Anecdotes? Having participated in smaller orchestral and choral groups while growing up, I know there are many problems to overcome. Perhaps there will be more on that next time.

[Ruth]

I waited until I could devote my full attention to this book--a good choice, as it turns out. By reading with no real interruptions, I could better appreciate the superb organization and flow of this biography, which devotes just enough space to each era in the history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am a vocal musician who is only lukewarm to the Mo Tab's (current) repertoire. Unlike many of my personal friends who sing in the choir, I have never been interested in auditioning. That said, I still do enjoy attending a performance every now and again. Because of my background, I admit that I began reading with a somewhat indifferent attitude, but I knew that if anyone could interest me in a biography of "America's Choir," it would be Michael Hicks. And I was right.

Some readers evidently feel that the book is a bit too scholarly in tone. I disagree. I think that any biography worth reading needs to be meticulously researched (this was) and as balanced in viewpoint as possible (again; this was). To succeed in both points takes skill. Otherwise, such a biography as this one risks becoming just another laudatory, sentimental narrative on a venerable cultural institution. And readers can already find the latter on many bookshelves.

Some complain that the author speaks of the Choir's many conductors in an unflattering way. I disagree. Each of these directors were (and are, in the case of those still living) human beings with human frailties. It is only natural that some of these frailties be brought to light in order that the triumphs shine the brighter. That said, I did feel that the gay question (in the case of one or two persons referenced in the biography) wasn't immediately germane to the narrative. The author obviously felt differently, as is his right. That said, by and large, I felt that the whole story was marvelously researched and delivered with a great deal of style. Respectful, yes. Boring, no.

Kudos to the author on this intelligently written piece. Whether you know quite a bit or nothing at all about The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, you certainly will learn a great deal more after you read this biography. And you will have a good time while you're at it.

[Katie Lawrence]

While parts of this book were certainly fascinating, on the whole it read more like a scholarly text than an accessible book for casual readers. The focus lies largely on how the choir developed, the leadership of the group, and how musical choices were made. I found that I missed having anecdotal accounts about actually being in the choir. Hicks had some trouble finding current choir members who were willing to discuss their personal experiences in the choir - largely because they felt it'd violate their contract with the choir. This was not my cup of tea necessarily, but I think readers looking for a well-researched text on the development of the choir would appreciate it.

Review for Library Journal: In this scholarly biography of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir , Hicks (music, Brigham Young Univ.; Mormonism and Music; Sixties Rock ) largely follows the historical leadership of the choir, the shifting beliefs on song choices (hymns, classical pieces, popular music, etc.), and the development of the recognizable organization the group is today. Tracking the choir from its humble beginnings in 1836 to moves into radio, international touring, and TV and film appearances, the material is as expansive in scope as the choir's reach has become. While there is an unfortunate lack of personal interviews and anecdotes, making the book more erudite than immediately accessible to the casual reader, Hicks addresses the issue in the work's introduction. He explains that he had difficulty finding current choir members who would break rank and speak about their experiences as they felt it would go against their choral agreements. The details of all that this large, volunteer-based choir has accomplished are intriguing, particularly as they balance their international celebrity status with their duties to the church. VERDICT Recommended for those researching the history of the Tabernacle Choir, or general fans of the group looking for a deeper look at its development.

[John]

Hicks made one of the best parts of Mormonism interesting and not bland, as the subject matter could have been handled in a more superficial way. One or two scandals along the way, and now I really wonder why Craig Jessop left the Choir when he did. It also intrigues me in terms of the similarities between Richard Condie's choir and Jessop's. Both had a darker, richer sound.

[Anita]

Although this was a well-researched and interesting read of the choir's development over the decades, for a BYU professor I didn't like his tone: describing the Book of Mormon as "thick, ungainly" (p.1), unnecessarily describing the martyred prophet and his brother as having "oozing bloated corpses" (p. 13), calling Brigham Young "a religious despot," (p. 28), and so on.

[Sarah]

This was an excellent and thorough history of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Anyone interested in music and/or Mormon history would undoubtedly enjoy it. The only complaint I have is the ending felt a little abrupt, and some more of the Choir member's personal stories would have been enjoyable.

[Blair Hodges]

Lucid, bright, well-paced, intriguing. Full review to come soon.

[Francis]

Actually didn’t finish it, loved it tho, every moment of the book captivated me, but I held it for too long and got tired lol