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.
The Holy City
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
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There came a dream so fair
I stood in old Jerusalem beside the temple there
I heard the children singing and ever as they sang
I thought the voice of angels in heaven answer rang
I thought the voice of angels in heaven answer rang
Jerusalem Jerusalem
Lift up your gates and sing
And then I thought my dream was changed the street no longer rang
Hushed! Were the glad hosannas the little children sang
The sun grew dark with mystery
The morn was cold and chill
As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill
As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill
Jerusalem Jerusalem
Lift up your gates and sing
Hosanna in the highest hosanna to your king
And once again the scene was changed new earth there seem'd to be
I saw the holy city beside the tideless sea
The light of God was on its street, the gates were opened wide
And all who would might enter and no one was denied
No need of moon or stars by night, or sun to shine be day
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away
Jerusalem Jerusalem
Sing for the night is o'er
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna to your king
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna forevermore...
The Holy City is a hymn that describes a dream that the singer had. The dream takes place in Jerusalem and starts with the singer standing next to the temple, where he hears the voices of children singing. The voices are so beautiful that he thinks they sound like the voice of angels in heaven. The children are singing "Hosanna" to the king, and their voices fill the air. But then the scene changes, and the happy singing turns into a somber and dark one. The mood exhibits mourning, and the sun fades away, and the shadow of a cross appears on a hill. This is a reference to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The next scene change is to a new earth where there is a holy city beside the tideless sea. The light of God illuminates the streets, and the gates of the city are opened wide for all to enter. The city will last forever, and there is no need for sunlight or stars since God's light shines on everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I lay a sleeping
I fell asleep last night
There came a dream so fair
I had a beautiful dream
I stood in old Jerusalem beside the temple there
In my dream, I was standing in old Jerusalem next to the temple
I heard the children singing and ever as they sang
While I was there, I heard children singing
I thought the voice of angels in heaven answer rang
Their singing was so beautiful that it sounded like the voice of angels in heaven responding
Jerusalem Jerusalem
Lift up your gates and sing
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna to your king
In my dream, I heard the people of Jerusalem singing 'Hosanna in the highest' and praising their king
And then I thought my dream was changed the street no longer rang
Hushed! Were the glad hosannas the little children sang
Suddenly, my dream changed and the joyful singing stopped
The sun grew dark with mystery
The morn was cold and chill
As the shadow of a cross arose upon a lonely hill
As I looked around, the sun disappeared and it got cold as the shadow of a cross appeared on a hill
Jerusalem Jerusalem
Lift up your gates and sing
Hosanna in the highest hosanna to your king
I heard the people of Jerusalem singing 'Hosanna in the highest' again
And once again the scene was changed new earth there seem'd to be
I saw the holy city beside the tideless sea
Then my dream changed again and I saw the holy city next to a sea without tides
The light of God was on its street, the gates were opened wide
And all who would might enter and no one was denied
The city was lit by the light of God and everyone was welcome to enter
No need of moon or stars by night, or sun to shine be day
It was the new Jerusalem that would not pass away
There was no need for the moon, stars, or sun in this city because it would last forever
Jerusalem Jerusalem
Sing for the night is o'er
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna to your king
Hosanna in the highest, hosanna forevermore...
Finally, the people of Jerusalem were singing again, this time celebrating the end of the night and praising their king forevermore
Writer(s): Stephen Adams, F.e. Weatherly
Contributed by Leo K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kristiononugroho3331
Last night I lay asleeping
There came a dream so fair
I stood in old Jerusalem
Beside the temple there
I heard the children singing
And ever as they sang
I thought the voice of Angels
From Heaven in answer rang
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Lift up you gates and sing
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna to your King!"
And then I thought my dream was chang'd
The streets no longer rang
Hush'd were the glad Hosannas
The little children sang
The sun grew dark with mystery
The morn was cold and chill
As the shadow of a cross arose
Upon a lonely hill
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem!
Lift up you gates and sing
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna to your King!"
And once again the scene was chang'd
New earth there seem'd to be
I saw the Holy City
Beside the tideless sea
The light of god was on its streets
The gates were open wide
And all who would might enter
And no one was denied
No need of moon or stars by night
Or sun to shine by day
It was the new Jerusalem
That would not pass away
"Jerusalem! Jerusalem
Sing for the night is o'er
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna for evermore
@actividadesdedomingo
I am a Seventh-Day Adventist but I must recognize that this is the best choir of the Earth. Thanks for praising our Almighty God in the correct way.
@MiguelLopez-yc4bj
Same here
@goodluckenyichukwu8993
Same here.
@JavierMelgarJr
Same here.
@adamisaac5777
Same here.
@dmulford1
I first heard this song in church when I was between 4-6 years old--I was riveted, it took my breath away! The singer was an older man with a deep bass voice, and I always wanted to be in church in case he sang it again. I'm 69 now and I love this song as much as I did the first time I heard it! :)
@MinnesotaMomof8
I was a child too when I first heard it - and I had the same reaction! In my experience, it was a woman who sang it. I am also in my 60s now.
@lindadmcfate7855
I, too, loved it as a child. As a teenager I had the glorious experience of accompanying a man with a wonderful voice when he sang this at church. I will never forget that experience. Such a joy to listen to this beautiful performance today.
@simeonlewi3853
GOD bless you. Amen
@Nicole32301
I used to sing this every Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. I always cried after singing it and it took all my might not to cry for the second verse. Thank you Jesus for dying for me. I love you with all my heart, mind and soul.