Review
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Title: The Mormon Tabernacle Choir: A Biography (Music in American Life Series)
Author: Michael Hicks
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Genre: Mormon Tabernacle Choir—History, Music, American
Year Published: 2015
Number of Pages: 248
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN10: 0252039084
ISBN13: 978-0-252-03908-9
Price: $29.95
Reviewed by Elizabeth W. Roach for the Association for Mormon Letters
Having sung along with the iconic Mormon Tabernacle Choir over the last twenty years, I was very interested to pick up Michael Hicks’ latest book, *The Mormon Tabernacle Choir: A Biography,* and see what he has to say about America’s and my favorite choir. Hicks traces the challenges and triumphs of the choir from its earliest days as an ambitious but isolated venture in a new and raw Utah frontier territory through decades of growing pains and struggles to define itself through the more recent years as its global media exposure has increased through radio, television, movies, and social media sites.
His writing is very lean and easy to understand, considering he is a university professor of music. It would be very easy to become too esoteric with this topic for a general audience, but thankfully Hicks does not go down that path. He includes definitions of terms in the text for readers who may not be familiar with Mormon terminology and references which make this book more inclusive for readers of many backgrounds to enjoy.
I opened the book to the last third, because I first wanted to read about the last few directors I am more familiar with and the developments I have watched occur. The tone and focus is more historical and academic than folksy, with much of the book discussing the controversies and conflicts that come with directing and growing an organization that has from 150 to over 500 members at a time. Hicks spends quite a while on the dissonance and discord surrounding each of the directors. The developing vision for the choir’s purpose is followed as the choir fills several needs and roles throughout its more than 100 year history.
As I put the book aside, I realized that I had been wanting to find it a memoir with accounts of miracles and faith promoting stories, a back stage pass to the heart of the choir. I wanted to read more about the choir members and their experiences. I wondered at that point if the author actually liked his topic or if he had been assigned to write the book because he had the qualifications and insights to do a superb job.
Feeling somewhat disappointed, I picked it up the next time and tried something new: reading the introduction. Like my mom would say, “when all else fails, read the instructions.” Those few pages helped to clarify the intent of author – Hicks uses resources that were public, such as choir minutes, newspaper accounts, etc. and has not used personal journals or accounts from current or previous choir members, due to confidentiality requirements. I had not been aware that choir members sign confidentiality agreements in conjunction with their participation in the choir. That would eliminate most of the heartwarming experiences that I had been anticipating. Within those constraints, Hicks has done a remarkable job breathing life and energy into what other authors would have found a pile of dull documents to plow through, or worse, ignore.
I think a biography of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir is important because the choir has had an indelible impact on American life. From some of my earliest memories, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir has been one of the national and religious symbols in my life. As a child, I remember looking at the Mormon Tabernacle Choir on the front of phonograph record covers (like CD cases but bigger, children). Being in the Tabernacle where the choir sang every week was very impressive when I went to Salt Lake on a family trip. I felt like I belonged to a moment in history, to have a small part in what the choir did. Singing with the choir has been a highlight for me.
In order to avoid any misunderstanding, I have sung with the choir for over twenty years, but I have never been a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. My singing of the choir’s repertoire is limited to when a church leader in General Conference says, “the congregation will stand and sing with the choir” and I do, so I can honestly say that I have sung with the choir. I am sure the experience has had more lasting impact on me than my singing has had on any of the choir.
Many people throughout the world are looking to be uplifted, inspired, and if only for a few moments, connected to the Divine through the medium of music, and “singing with the choir” affords them that opportunity. The author mentions that one of the purposes of the choir has been to be missionaries for those looking for more light and touches on how the choir tours can bring spiritual inspiration to audience members in a unique way. The choir has certainly enriched my life and has literally changed the direction of some of my friends’ lives.
Michael Hicks’ book on this wonderful choir is a well-done biography that best highlights the historical aspects of the growth of the choir and the vision of its several directors. It would not be the first book I would choose to buy on the topic for my bookshelf, but if I were researching related information, this would be an invaluable resource that I would make sure to include in my work.