The first performance of what became the Mormon Tabernacle Choir took place on August 22nd, 1847. 163 years later "Music and The Spoken Word" is heard on over 1,200 domestic stations with 600 airing the weekly broadcast, and an additional 600 airing seasonal specials. The program is distributed by Bonnevile to about 25 nations. And it's all free of charge.
The program is a community service show, literally a gift to broadcasters from the 360 Mormon Tabernacle Choir members and 110 Orchestra at Temple Square members, who are all unpaid volunteers. (Even the President/CEO of the Choir is a volunteer, who left his clothing business in the hands of family so he could serve in this demanding capacity for over a decade.) From its limited resources, the Choir foots the cost of dubbing and distributing the show.
Vice President for Bonneville Distribution Gregg Garber says "Music & the Spoken Word is destination listening to loyal audiences everywhere. It?s unique - entertaining, relaxing and motivating all at the same time. It uplifts, but doesn?t preach. The listener comes away feeling a little more positive about their world, and a little more able to see and share the good in it. One station described it as a Sunday morning ?palette cleanser.? It is, in very fact, a station?s gift to its listeners ? a much appreciated gift."
The choir is so popular those trying out for this unpaid gig far outweigh the number of people who make "the choir team." Garber says "the number of applicants each year vastly exceeds the 20 or so eventual inductees. The application/auditioning process takes months, and requires a written application, an audition tape, a music kills inventory test, a music theory test, and of course the uptight, sweaty palms, in-person audition. New Choir inductees sing for several months in the Temple Square Chorale, the Choir?s rigorous training school, before finally performing with the Choir."
Christmas is the most popular specials season, followed by July 4th. Most of the Christmas specials (we offer a dozen shows for Christmas) feature a celebrity artist. This year?s new Christmas show has Natalie Cole. Others feature Walter Cronkite, Angela Lansbury, Gladys Knight, Sandi Patty, Renee Fleming, Brian Stokes Mitchell and the King?s Singers.
Bonneville Distribution ships the show on CD or provides it on the web for download as an .mp3 or .wav file. Broadcasters can preview a weekly show and a Christmas special HERE and can order shows from that same page. The usual blanket music licensing is required to air most Music & the Spoken Word programs.
Contact gregg Garber at 801-237-2421 or ggarber@bonneville.com
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