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.
Christmas Day
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A partridge in a pear tree
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Six geese a laying, five gold rings, four calling birds
Three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Nine drummers drumming
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Ten pipers piping
Nine drummers drumming, ten pipers piping
Drumming, piping, drumming, piping
Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming
Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Twelve Lords a leaping, eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping
Nine, drummers drumming, eight maids a milking
Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
And five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
And a partridge in a pear tree, and a partridge in a pear tree
"The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a traditional English Christmas carol that tells the story of a recipient receiving extravagant and increasingly absurd gifts from their true love over the course of twelve days. Each day, the gifts are repeated and added to the list, creating a cumulative effect.
The song begins with the gift of a partridge in a pear tree that is sent on the first day of Christmas. On the second day, the recipient receives two turtle doves as well as the partridge in a pear tree. This pattern continues throughout the song, with each additional day introducing a new gift while also including all the gifts from previous days. The gifts include three French hens, four calling birds, five gold rings, six geese a laying, seven swans a swimming, eight maids a milking, nine drummers drumming, ten pipers piping, eleven ladies dancing, and twelve Lords a leaping.
Interpreting the song can be open to personal interpretation, but a common interpretation is that the twelve days of Christmas represent the period between Christmas Day and the Feast of Epiphany (January 6th). The extravagant and sometimes nonsensical gifts can be seen as a symbol of the abundance and joy that comes with the Christmas season.
Overall, "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is a festive and lighthearted song that highlights the spirit of giving and celebration during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me
At the beginning of the Christmas season, my beloved sent me a special gift
A partridge in a pear tree
A beautiful bird perched on a fruitful tree
On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Continuing the tradition, my beloved sent me another present
Two turtle doves
A pair of gentle, affectionate birds
And a partridge in a pear tree
Along with the first gift, still delighting me
On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me
With each passing day, my beloved showered me with more joy
Three French hens, two turtle doves
Three lovely hens joined the two doves from before
And a partridge in a pear tree
The original delightful gift remained with me
On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
The generosity continued, as my beloved displayed their affection
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
The gift count increased, with four melodious birds, three hens, and two doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
And the partridge was still nestled in its tree
On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Halfway through the twelve days, my beloved surprised me once again
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
Five precious rings accompanied the previously mentioned birds and hens
And a partridge in a pear tree
The original gift remained, bringing continuous delight to me
On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
The days continued to pass, and my beloved's affection grew stronger
Six geese a laying, five gold rings, four calling birds
Six geese brought the gift of new life, along with the golden rings and singing birds
Three French hens, two turtle doves
The three French hens and two doves were still part of the ensemble
And a partridge in a pear tree
And the partridge's presence remained, a symbol of love and blessings
On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Each passing day was filled with grace and love from my beloved
Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying, five gold rings
Seven majestic swans, six fertile geese, and the precious rings were graciously received
Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
The melodious birds, French hens, and gentle doves remained part of the cherished gifts
And a partridge in a pear tree
The partridge continued to bring joy, perched upon the fruitful tree
On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
With each passing day, my beloved's devotion deepened
Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
Eight hardworking maids, seven elegant swans, and six fertile geese were added to the collection
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
The golden rings, singing birds, French hens, and turtle doves brought beauty and companionship
And a partridge in a pear tree
The partridge's presence remained, a symbol of abundance and joy in the tree
On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
As the days passed, my beloved continued to shower me with surprises
Nine drummers drumming
Nine talented drummers filled the air with their rhythmic beats
On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Ten skilled musicians were added to the festivities
Ten pipers piping
Ten skilled pipers played enchanting melodies
Nine drummers drumming, ten pipers piping
The combined sounds of drumming and piping echoed joyfully
Drumming, piping, drumming, piping
The rhythmic beats and captivating melodies filled the air
Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
The diligent maids, graceful swans, and productive geese continued their contributions
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
The precious rings, singing birds, French hens, and beloved doves enhanced the celebrations
And a partridge in a pear tree
Amidst the merriment, the partridge remained in its joyful place
On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me
As the end drew near, my beloved's thoughtfulness prevailed
Eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping, nine drummers drumming
Eleven graceful dancers joined the musicians, creating a spectacle of sound and movement
Eight maids a milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
The hardworking maids, elegant swans, and productive geese continued to bring joy
Five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
The valuable rings, melodious birds, French hens, and cherished doves adorned the festive atmosphere
And a partridge in a pear tree
The partridge's presence graced the tree, symbolizing enduring love and happiness
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me
Finally, on the last day of the celebration, my beloved's ultimate gift arrived
Twelve Lords a leaping, eleven ladies dancing, ten pipers piping
Twelve lively Lords, eleven dancing ladies, and talented pipers enchanted the surroundings
Nine, drummers drumming, eight maids a milking
The rhythmic drumming and diligent maids added to the festive ambiance
Seven swans a swimming, six geese a laying
The graceful swans and fruitful geese continued their enchanting presence
And five gold rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves
Amidst the grandeur, the golden rings, singing birds, French hens, and tender doves remained cherished tokens
And a partridge in a pear tree, and a partridge in a pear tree
The partridge's presence in the pear tree was doubled, emphasizing the enduring nature of love and blessings
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BARBARA BAZALDUA, GERALDINE GOUZERH, BEN HOPPE, JAMES LATHAM, SHARI OKAMOTO, RICHARD TEAGUE, TRADITIONAL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edward Hall
Got the record in 1962, along with “The Holly and the Ivy.” This was by far my favorite cut off the two albums. A magnificent performance of a remarkable piece!
Thomas Redman
A beautiful arrangement, so rarely done anymore...too fast, but I'll take it being it was recorded before the renovations of the Aeolian-Skinner organ and the Tabernacle.
britainluver431
I have 3 records of the Tabernacle choir that were recorded before the Aeolian Skinner did the renovation on the organ.
Ellen O'Shaughnessy
One of the all-time best choral pieces for Christmas. Wonderful rendition by the MTC
7Lukibi99Tore7
''Christmas Carols Around The World--The Mormon Tabernacle Choir'' is one of the 5 or 6 GOAT Christmas LP albums!
Louise Schwendeman
Love it. First time I have found the arrangement I did in high school choir many years ago..
keyplayer123
Love this anthem best sung with organ, as it is here on the album we had years ago.
a sage
This was one of the two 1960s MTC albums my Mom had, when I was a kid. I was able to find the other one, but this one was always listed as oop. I'm so happy to find this here - thank you for posting :D
Gayle Gartley
me too! my mom played it over and over.... bought it again as an adult
Edward Hall
The album I got was entitled “The Spirit of Christmas.”