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.
David's Lamentation
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
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He went to his chamber, his chamber and wept
And as he wept and said
Chorus (after each verse):
Oh, my son, oh, my son
Would to God I had died
Would to God I had died
For thee, oh Absalom, my son, my son
Victory that day was turned into mourning
When the people did see how the king grieved for his son
He covered his face and in a loud voice cried
The lyrics of Mormon Tabernacle Choir's song "David's Lamentation" tell a poignant story about the biblical character King David and his deep sorrow over the loss of his son, Absalom. The song begins by describing David's overwhelming grief, as he retreats to his chamber and weeps. The repetition of these lines emphasizes the depth of his sorrow and the intensity of his emotions.
In the chorus, David expresses a profound longing for his own death, wishing he had died instead of his beloved son. This anguished plea to God reflects the depths of a father's love and the agony of losing a child. The repetition of the phrase "Would to God I had died" amplifies the desperation in David's lamentation.
The verse following the chorus describes how the joy of victory on a particular day turned into mourning as the people witnessed David's profound grief for his son. The image of David covering his face and crying out in a loud voice adds an additional layer of emotional intensity to the lyrics.
Overall, "David's Lamentation" portrays the raw and heartbreaking emotions experienced by King David after the loss of his son, Absalom. It serves as a reminder of the depth of human emotion and the complexities of grief.
Line by Line Meaning
David the King, was grieved and moved
The great King David, filled with immense sorrow and deep emotion, was profoundly affected
He went to his chamber, his chamber and wept
Seeking solace and privacy, he retreated to his private quarters where he could freely shed tears of anguish
And as he wept and said
In the midst of his sorrowful tears, he uttered these words
Oh, my son, oh, my son
Oh, my beloved son, my precious offspring
Would to God I had died
I wish fervently that I had perished instead
For thee, oh Absalom, my son, my son
To spare you from this pain, oh Absalom, my dear child, my cherished son
Victory that day was turned into mourning
The triumph and joy experienced on that very day quickly transformed into sorrow and mourning
When the people did see how the king grieved for his son
Witnessing the extent of the king's grief over his lost son moved the hearts of the people
He covered his face and in a loud voice cried
Overwhelmed by the weight of his sorrow, he veiled his face and let out a piercing cry
Lyrics © CARL FISCHER, LLC
Written by: William Billings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind