The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is made up of some 360 men and women, all of whom are volunteers. There are many husband-wife combinations and many families have participated in the choir for generations. Choir members are currently limited to twenty years of participation, allowing new members to join the choir on a regular basis.
The choir was founded in August 1847, one month after the Mormon Pioneers entered the Salt Lake Valley. The choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to support their organization. Choir members are not paid for their participation or performances.
Although the choir has traditionally been recognized for its sound quality, the most recent director, Craig Jessop, a student of Robert Shaw, has made changes designed to improve the overall quality of the choir. Jessop's efforts to add vitality to the choir's sound include the formation of The Orchestra at Temple Square, the 2005 addition of The Bells on Temple Square (a hand bell choir), and continual refinement of the choir's tone, enunciation, and repetoire. The minimum age for participation has been reduced from 30 to 25. In addition, new choir members participate in The Temple Square Chorale training choir, a combination music theory/performance school led by associate director and composer/arranger Mack Wilberg.
Angel
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
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Singing sweetly through the night
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
What glad tiding did you hear?
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new born king
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
See Him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While we raise our hearts in love
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
The lyrics to Angel by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir speak to the wonder and magic of the birth of Jesus Christ. The opening lines, "Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o'er all the earth" depict a scene of angels flying through the skies, spreading the news of the Messiah's arrival. These angels are not ordinary beings but are the ones who sang at creation's story and are now proclaiming the birth of Jesus.
The second verse of the song addresses the shepherds who are out in the fields watching over their flock. They are the first to catch sight of the "infant Light" that symbolizes the coming of Jesus. The shepherds are urged to come and worship this newborn king. The third verse is directed towards the sages who need to leave their contemplations and follow the star to find the "great desire of nations" - Jesus Christ.
The final verse is about the saints who watch and wait in hope and fear for the Lord to appear. Suddenly, in His temple, the Lord does appear and they are invited to come and worship the newborn king. The lyrics ask everyone, regardless of their status in society, to come together and worship Jesus Christ.
Line by Line Meaning
Angels from the realms of glory
Celestial beings from heaven's dominions
Wing your flight o'er all the earth
Take flight and spread your heavenly presence throughout the world
Ye who sang creation's story
You who sang during the creation of the world
Now proclaim Messiah's birth
Sing out to announce the Savior's birth
Come and worship
Join us in homage
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Praise and adore the newly born King, Jesus Christ
Shepherds, in the fields abiding
Shepherds, who are watching their sheep in the fields
Watching o'er your flocks by night
Caring for your sheep during the nighttime
God with man is now residing
God is now living among humanity
Yonder shines the infant Light
There, in the distance, shines the light of the baby Jesus
Sages, leave your contemplations
Wise men, abandon your deep thoughts and meditations
Brighter visions beam afar
A brighter vision of hope and promise appears in the distance
Seek the great desire of nations
Search for the much-anticipated desire of all people
Ye have seen His natal star
You have already beheld the star marking His birth
Saints before the altar bending
Believers who bow down before the altar
Watching long in hope and fear
Waiting with anticipation and apprehension
Suddenly the Lord, descending
All of a sudden, the Lord descends from above
In His temple shall appear
He will manifest Himself in His sacred house
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nanik Dasani
Long awaited darkness falls
Casting shadows on the walls
In the twilight hour I am alone
Sitting near the fireplace
Dying embers warm my face
In this peaceful solitude
All the outside world subdued
And it all comes back to me again
In the gloom
Like an angel passing through my room
Half awake and half in dreams
Seeing long forgotten scenes
So the present runs into the past
Now and then become entwined
Playing games within my mind
Like the embers as they die
Love was one prolonged goodbye
And it all comes back to me tonight
In the gloom
Like an angel passing through my room
I close my eyes
And my twilight images go by
All too soon
Like an angel passing through my room
Like the embers as they die
Love was one prolonged goodbye
And it all comes back to me tonight
In the gloom
Like an angel passing through my room
I close my eyes
And my twilight images go by
All too soon
Like an angel passing through my room
D. Lincoln Jones
Never in my 87 years has a song touched me like this. I have listened to it hundreds of times knowing I will shed tears each time. The lady, her voice and the song are a gift from heaven.
David Taylor
Heard it this week for the first time. What a beautiful voice singing a beautiful song. Can't listen to it without crying my eyes out.
Brian Astle
Truly
Shirley Mason
87 here also. Pure Enjoyment
David Darling
You are soooo right. It effects me the same way!
edward gabriel
I'm 94, and her voice and that music has touched my heart as none else. This is not the first time I have listened to her singing it, and others.
Robert Krist
Her voice is as stunning as she is. She is one of Gods gifts to this world
Eliot McNeil
This song totally blows my mind. Sissel’s performance is perfect, and Christ’s peace feels so close. This is probably my 20th listen. ❤
Norma Gilpin
As a former singer, I am in awe of Sissel's incredible vocal quality and technique... so much beauty and perfection, whether singing classical or more popular music. She is a blessing and a joy to listen to!
Pat Collins
Sissel what a wonderful gift from God