A small group of current and former members of the Tabernacle Choir gathered to sing for our friend's father's funeral on Friday. He died suddenly and our friend was in need of comfort and support. Most of us feel this kind of service as an important extended part of our calling as Tabernacle Choir members. Some singers who came had no real ties beyond being current or former choir members. They just recognized a need of one of our own. We'll always be family.
It is such an honor for us to sing together. The song we sang for the funeral was "It is Well with My Soul" arranged by Mack Wilberg. It speaks such comforting words and was perfect in this situation. The current choir members had it memorized and the former members were experienced sight-singers, so we were able to pull together a good performance with just a couple of times singing it through. It was so nice conducting a group that knew how to blend and were willing to sing different parts if necessary for balance.
I have also been the beneficiary of this "go to the aid" attitude. In 2011, I was given an assignment to write two special songs to be recorded and given to then President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in his Birthday gift basket from the Choir.
With barely any notice, 27 members of the Choir responded to come make a CD recording of "We are His Hands" SSA and "Forget Me Not, O Lord" SATB with texts taken from two famous Pres. Uchtdorf's talks.
Writing "Forget Me Not, O Lord" came quickly. I had been to the Women's Broadcast where it was delivered just a few days earlier, and already had some ideas of how to put his words to music. The German folktale Pres. Uchtdorf based his talk on was so very tender and poetic.
I felt that the song needed three verses. The first, sung by the sopranos, would be from the perspective of the tiny flower. The second, sung by the altos, would be from the perspective of a woman. And the third, sung by the men, would be from the perspective of our loving Heavenly Father. At the end, all of the individual parts would be sung together.
The wonderful singers from the Tabernacle Choir were delightfully skilled at sight-singing and blending! We spent just a few minutes learning the new song, and then recorded it. Oh, that every choir I directed had such beautiful voices and talented singers!
These words sum up how we should never forget each other, just as Heavenly Father and our Savior will never forget us.
Like the little flower, you think you are alone,
So lost and insignificant and slight.
Our Father knows your needs, each child is loved and known.
His precious children are the source of His delight.
You are known.
You are loved.
Though you at times may feel so small,
He'll ease your pains.
He'll dry your tears
And give you power to fill the measure of your being.
Sometimes we just need to drop everything and come to lend our voices to comfort and bless each other, especially one of our own.
It is such an honor for us to sing together. The song we sang for the funeral was "It is Well with My Soul" arranged by Mack Wilberg. It speaks such comforting words and was perfect in this situation. The current choir members had it memorized and the former members were experienced sight-singers, so we were able to pull together a good performance with just a couple of times singing it through. It was so nice conducting a group that knew how to blend and were willing to sing different parts if necessary for balance.
I have also been the beneficiary of this "go to the aid" attitude. In 2011, I was given an assignment to write two special songs to be recorded and given to then President Dieter F. Uchtdorf in his Birthday gift basket from the Choir.
With barely any notice, 27 members of the Choir responded to come make a CD recording of "We are His Hands" SSA and "Forget Me Not, O Lord" SATB with texts taken from two famous Pres. Uchtdorf's talks.
Writing "Forget Me Not, O Lord" came quickly. I had been to the Women's Broadcast where it was delivered just a few days earlier, and already had some ideas of how to put his words to music. The German folktale Pres. Uchtdorf based his talk on was so very tender and poetic.
I felt that the song needed three verses. The first, sung by the sopranos, would be from the perspective of the tiny flower. The second, sung by the altos, would be from the perspective of a woman. And the third, sung by the men, would be from the perspective of our loving Heavenly Father. At the end, all of the individual parts would be sung together.
The wonderful singers from the Tabernacle Choir were delightfully skilled at sight-singing and blending! We spent just a few minutes learning the new song, and then recorded it. Oh, that every choir I directed had such beautiful voices and talented singers!
These words sum up how we should never forget each other, just as Heavenly Father and our Savior will never forget us.
Like the little flower, you think you are alone,
So lost and insignificant and slight.
Our Father knows your needs, each child is loved and known.
His precious children are the source of His delight.
You are known.
You are loved.
Though you at times may feel so small,
He'll ease your pains.
He'll dry your tears
And give you power to fill the measure of your being.
Sometimes we just need to drop everything and come to lend our voices to comfort and bless each other, especially one of our own.
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