The rafters of the Salt Lake Tabernacle rang Aug. 11 with "a joyful noise" (See Psalm 98:4) as hundreds of gospel singers from throughout the United States joined the Tabernacle Choir in Christian worship.
The Gospel Music Workshop of America (GMWA) held its annual convention in Salt Lake City Aug. 10-17. The event in the Tabernacle - the first of its kind in the history of the 124-year-old building - was in connection with the convention.The 125 members of the Thurston Frazier Memorial Chorale were guests on the choir's nationwide "Music and the Spoken Word" radio and television broacast. After the broadcast, the Tabernacle Choir remained for a GMWA worship service in the Tabernacle.
At the broadcast, with harmonic precision - and having had limited joint rehearsal - the two choirs under the baton of chorale director Frank Williams blended their voices on the Randall Thompson composition "Alleluia" and on the Houston Bright spiritual, "I Hear a Voice A-Prayin'."
The chorale was featured in a rousing and infectious gospel song, "Every Day Is Thanksgiving." The choir, under the baton of director Jerold D. Ottley, performed "Ode to Music" and "The Morning Breaks."
The "Spoken Word" portion of the program, given by Lloyd D. Newell, drew on the imagery of the scarcity of water in a desert. It may have had some significance for the gospel singers, many of whom came from more moist regions of the country and were encountering the desert regions of the Mountain West.
Brother Newell cited the incident of the Savior with the woman of Samaria, and quoted His words to her that "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." (John 4:14.)
"That same promise," he continued, "is given to all of us - to those of us who wander in the desert with parched souls of sin, sorrow, disappointment and despair - thirsting after truth and peace and hope."
After the broadcast sign-off, the audience gave the singers a prolonged standing ovation. The choir then followed its custom and performed "God Be With You Till We Meet Again." Several members of the gospel group seemed to be familiar with the words and sang along.
The audience was then dismissed to make room for GMWA convention-goers, nearly all of whom were dressed in white. Some General Authorities also attended.
The Rev. Kenneth Ulmer, GMWA second vice president, gave the Tabernacle Choir a glowing introduction.
"You've seen them on television," he said. "Many of us have their recordings. We have marveled at their musical excellence. We are honored that they have allowed us to share this facility with them, the internationally renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir!"
He also termed the choir "a precision musical machine."
Coming largely from a demonstrative and vocal religious tradition, GMWA members spontaneously shouted and waved in acclamation as the choir performed its famous rendition of "Come, Come, Ye Saints." Response was particularly strong after the lines, "All is well," "Why should we mourn or think our lot is hard?" "Our God will never us forsake," and "We'll make the air with music ring." Some in the audience wiped their eyes during the verse that begins, "And should we die before our journey's through."
Again, several chorale members seemed familiar with the words and sang with the choir.
Later in the program, the Rev. Ulmer said the phrase, "All is well," was spread across the nation by GMWA founder James Cleveland, who is now deceased.
Wendell Smoot, choir president, welcomed the GMWA members on behalf of the First Presidency and the choir.
"We're particularly proud of the fact that one of our choir singers is a member of your association," he said. "She serves on the advisory board of the Rocky Mountain Chapter." He then asked choir member Betty Bridgeforth to stand. The other choir members gave her a standing ovation.
"Like you," Brother Smoot said, "we embrace all music that is uplifting and praiseworthy and inspires all mankind to embrace and live Christ-like lives and ideals."
The combined choirs then repeated their performance of "Alleluia" from the broadcast. Later in the program, the chorale repeated its performance of "Every Day Is Thanksgiving."
Introducing Utah Gov. Norman H. Bangerter, the Rev. Ulmer expressed appreciation for the hospitality that had been shown the convention by Salt Lake City and the state of Utah.
Gov. Bangerter, a Church member, was given a standing ovation as he rose to the pulpit. He said his mind had gone back many years, to when he helped produce a Church program called "Praise Ye the Lord," which featured Psalm 150. He then read the psalm, drawing applause from the congregation.
The governor also cited D&C 27:12, which states, "The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me," and quoted 19th Century Frenchman Alexis de Tocqueville, who said he found the greatness of America in her churches.
Edward Smith, GMWA executive director, offered special thanks to the First Presidency and to Temple Square and Tabernacle Choir leaders for their kindness.
"I have been coming here since September of last year," he said. "When I first stepped off the plane, no one knew me. But to be embraced by this Church, by this city is the greatest honor I have ever had."
He then inducted the entire Tabernacle Choir as part of the GMWA.
The sermon was delivered by Dr. Charles G. Adams, pastor of the Hartford Memorial Baptist Church in Detroit, Mich. He said he appreciated hearing the governor read Psalm 150, adding, "We have not heard many governors read [scriptureT."
As his text, he chose 1 John 4:16, which states, "God is love."
Also performing at the service was a gospel trio, the Cleveland Singers, named for GMWA founder James Cleveland. Herold Gregory, Tabernacle Choir administrative assistant, gave the invocation. The choirs joined the congregation on the final hymn, "When We All Get to Heaven."