Perusing some industry reports I ran across this. I thought it was pretty interesting.<\/p>\n
I grew up knowing the MoTab choir as the stodgy old people who sang during the LDS Church General Conference. Later in life I grew to know several of the choir members and my opinion started to gradually sway. Now I actually love to listen to them when I need a fix of that grand large chorale sound (hey it happens sometimes). Anyway, read on.<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (Billboard) \u00e2\u20ac\u201c In recent weeks, a full 20% of the 15 titles on the Top Classical Albums chart have been occupied by one act. Those three spots do not belong to some fresh-faced newcomers, but to one of the choral world’s most venerable institutions: the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Its newest album, “Choose Some-thing Like a Star,” released Feb. 15, celebrates the music of American composer Randall Thompson. It de-buted at No. 3. Like its chart-topping brethren “America’s Choir: Favorite Songs, Hymns, & Anthems” and “Peace Like a River,” this latest MTC release comes from the group’s own label, also called Mormon Taberna-cle Choir, which was established two years ago. “I’m really astounded by this success,” says the choir’s music director, Craig Jessop. “It says that there’s really a market out there for us. People are looking for something that brings peace, comfort and hope.” At the same time, however, Jessop says that the all-volunteer choir’s foundation was built in coming together, week-in and week-out, in rehearsals and performances broadcast from its home base in Salt Lake City. “We’re a church choir, first and foremost,” he says. “The choral legend Robert Shaw was one of my great teachers,” Jessop says. “One of the things that he said that always stuck with me is that you can’t import culture. It has to be a real part of the community. You need to live in that com-munity, nurture that community and let it grow.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Perusing some industry reports I ran across this. I thought it was pretty interesting. I grew up knowing the MoTab choir as the stodgy old people who sang during the LDS Church General Conference. Later in life I grew to know several of the choir members and my opinion started to gradually sway. Now I … Continue reading Mormon Tabernacle Choir Dominates Classical Charts<\/span>