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.
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir's song "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a classic Christmas hymn with a powerful message. The hymn begins with an announcement for everyone to listen as the angels sing about glory being given to the newborn King, who is none other than Jesus Christ. The angels proclaim peace on earth and mercy for all sinners, as all people should be reconciled with God.
The hymn then transitions to call for all nations to rise in joy and join in the celebration of Jesus being born in Bethlehem. The message emphasizes how Jesus is now with us as Emmanuel, to live among us and bring peace to the earth. The final verse of the hymn sums up the purpose of Jesus' birth, to save us from death and give us a new life in Him.
Overall, the song is a joyful proclamation of the birth of Jesus Christ and the hope He brings to humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark the herald angels sing
Listen to the angels proclaiming
"Glory to the newborn King!
Honoring the arrival of the new King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
The earth enjoys peace and mercy
God and sinners reconciled"
God has reconciled with sinners
Joyful, all ye nations rise
All nations, rise in joy
Join the triumph of the skies
Join the triumphant angels in the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
Proclaim with the angelic host:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
The birth of Christ happened in Bethlehem
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ is adored in the highest heaven
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Christ is the eternal Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
He has arrived later in time
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Born from a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
The Godhead is now visible in human form
Hail the incarnate Deity
Salute the divine being in human form
Pleased as man with man to dwell
He is happy to live among humanity
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Jesus is our Emmanuel
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of peace!
Salute the prince of peace born in heaven!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Salute the righteous Son!
Light and life to all He brings
He brings light and life to everyone
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Rising with healing power
Mild He lays His glory by
Gently, He lays aside His glory
Born that man no more may die
Born so that man may never die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to elevate the people on earth
Born to give them second birth
Born again to redeem them
Hark! The herald angels sing
Listen to the angels proclaiming
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Honoring the arrival of the new King!
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidmehnert6206
Iowa Class
I had the same problem, albeit somewhat secularized —
“Give my regards to Broadway,
Remember me to Harold Square...”
Who is this “Harold”, a.k.a. “Mr. Square”?
Does he eschew cigarettes?
Would he even be aware
That some would admire him,
And others despair
That his personal habits
Qualified him for the lair?
@davidmehnert6206
Nothing like the the MTC first thing in the morning, on this 11th December 2018, with my coffee and cigarette...
They say that organ is loud enough, at full volume, to be heard from Manti to St. George...
How I’d love to hear it “weigh in” on Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2, or maybe on a round of “Also Sprach....”
But for that, I still be hiding under my dock....
[Feeling the frosty,
But don’t know the Shosty?
Click here for more,
After minute mark four —
https://youtu.be/SpS4TuSx3DE ]
🐝🐝👀
@Shaffaqwamiq
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With th’angelic host proclaim:
“Christ is born in Bethlehem.”
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ by highest heav'n adored,
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of a Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
@hepta2014
MORE
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
Christ, by highest heaven adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the favoured one.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
Hail! the heaven-born
Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the son of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King !"
@johnconcerto8721
I am TRYING to find God. This is what Christians produce. It is unbelieveably beautiful.
@Monicax95
I found God through A Course in Miracles, because that's what I needed: a miracle healing from Stage 4 cancer. 10 years later I'm still here, thank you God for all of the healing you've blessed me with! I hope you find God, as well, because he's pretty awesome :)
@nairobiacademyofjazz690
2020 with the pandemic. Where are the likes if you are still here... Christmas is round the corner y'all
@iowaclass5657
True story, until age 12, I had never actually seen the word “herald” written down, only heard people say it, and legitimately thought this song was about an angel named “Harold”.
@mrbenoit5018
Iowa Class “I say ‘hark!’, and Harold Angel starts to sing!” - Sally Brown, sister of Charlie
@davidmehnert6206
Iowa Class
I had the same problem, albeit somewhat secularized —
“Give my regards to Broadway,
Remember me to Harold Square...”
Who is this “Harold”, a.k.a. “Mr. Square”?
Does he eschew cigarettes?
Would he even be aware
That some would admire him,
And others despair
That his personal habits
Qualified him for the lair?
@frankpichardo5299
Iowa Class 😂
@donnad6677
When my son was probably about 9, one day he asked me "Mama, Who is Grace, and what did she do that was so amazing? True Story.
I started laughing at fitst...The I explained it.
🤣
@d.l.l.6578
I used to think human beings were human beans.
@RodgerRamjet
As a devout Christian.. this has to be the best Choir on Planet Earth...chills... tears... at the majesty they bring to my Favorite Carols..