MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR, Orchestra at Temple Square, Craig Jessop – A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas (2023) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR, Orchestra at Temple Square, Craig Jessop – A Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas (2023)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 56:35 minutes | 2,76 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings

The 325-voice Mormon Tabernacle Choir of Salt Lake is one of the best-known, best-loved musical organizations in the world. Here they perform superb new arrangements, by Associate Conductors Mack Wilberg and Barlow Bradford, of sixteen favorite carols, accompanied by the newly-formed Orchestra at Temple Square (heard here in their second recording ever), and conducted by the talented new Director of the Choir, Dr. Craig Jessop.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been referred to as “America’s Choir,” (Ronald Reagan), “a national treasure” (George Bush), and “the world’s greatest choir” (Eugene Ormandy). The 325 choir members participate without pay as a service to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which sponsors the Choir. Year in and year out, these dedicated singers come at least twice a week to the Tabernacle for their regular Thursday evening rehearsals and Sunday morning broadcasts. Added to this, special concerts, concert tours, recordings, and other activities necessitate these volunteers to report for duty an average of 150 times a year.

What better way to celebrate Christmas than with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? This disc, a 2000 Telarc release, presents that glorious ensemble with the Orchestra at Temple Square conducted by Craig Jessop in a real holiday treat. This is truly a Christmas blockbuster if there ever was one. There’s something overwhelming about the mammoth sound and legendary precision of the Tabernacle Choir, and for those of you weary of ordinary Christmas tunes, or who went the jazz route and got tired of it, come home to this disc. “Joy to the World” arranged by Mack Wilberg is truly joyous. Organist John Longhurst begins with a chord that invites the strings to come in, followed by brass fanfare and finally chorus. Wilberg’s exceptional arrangements are filled with a flourish and panache that revive the Carol genre almost single-handedly. A double Platinum winner, this is a great disc to have at home or to give as a stocking stuffer. Bring on the eggnog!

Tracklist:
1-01. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Joy To The World (02:37)
1-02. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Carol Of The Bells (02:59)
1-03. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – I wonder as I wander: (Arr. B. Bradford) (03:47)
1-04. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Whence is that goodly fragrance – Arr. M. Wilberg: Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance? (Arr. M. Wilberg) (04:27)
1-05. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Masters In This Hall (03:31)
1-06. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – The First Noel (04:46)
1-07. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – How Far Is It To Bethlehem? (03:50)
1-08. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Pat-A-Pan (02:33)
1-09. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – What Shall We Give To The Babe In The Manger? (04:06)
1-10. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – One December Bright And Clear (01:54)
1-11. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Fantasy On “What Child Is This?” (05:46)
1-12. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (03:34)
1-13. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head (04:50)
1-14. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Angels From The Realms Of Glory (04:38)
1-15. The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square – Silent Night (03:11)

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