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.
We Three Kings
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.
Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide with thy perfect light.
Gold I bring to crown him again
King for ever, ceasing never
Over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I, incense owns a Deity nigh
Pray'r and praising, all men raising,
Worship him, God most high, oh
The lyrics to "The Three Kings" by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir depict the journey of the three wise men or magi who traveled from the east to visit the newborn Jesus in Bethlehem. They are described as kings from the Orient, bringing valuable gifts as they traverse various landscapes like fields, fountains, moors, and mountains, all while following a guiding star. The song not only reflects their physical journey but also their spiritual quest for the newborn King.
The first paragraph sets the scene of their expedition, describing the kings and their purpose. They are on a mission to honor the newly born King, carrying precious gifts as they follow a shining star. The second verse is a declaration of awe and reverence towards the star, recognizing its majestic beauty and its role as a guiding light leading them westward. The kings are resolute in their pursuit, being guided by the perfect light provided by the star.
The last verse focuses on the specific gifts the kings bring to Jesus. The first king brings gold, a symbol of royalty and kingship, representing Jesus as the eternal King who will never cease to reign. The second king presents frankincense, which in ancient times was used in religious rituals and symbolizes the divine nature of Jesus as an offering to God. The third king offers their prayers, praises, and worship to the highest God, recognizing the supreme status of Jesus.
Overall, "The Three Kings" is a hymn that highlights the journey and adoration of the magi as they seek to honor the newborn King, Jesus, through their gifts and worship.
Line by Line Meaning
We three kings of orient are,
We, as three wise men from the East, have traveled to find and worship the newborn King.
Bearing gifts we traverse afar
We carry valuable gifts as we embark on a long journey to pay homage to the King.
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Through various terrains including fields, fountains, moors, and mountains,
Following yonder star.
We follow the shining star in the sky that guides us to the location of the King.
Oh, star of wonder, star of night,
Oh, magnificent star that brings awe and shines in the darkness of the night,
Star with royal beauty bright.
Dazzling star with a majestic and radiant beauty.
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guiding us towards the West, and we continue our journey without faltering,
Guide with thy perfect light.
Direct us with your flawless light to reach our destination.
Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
The King of Kings was born in Bethlehem's humble surroundings,
Gold I bring to crown him again
I present gold as a symbol of royalty to honor and acknowledge his kingship,
King forever, ceasing never
He is an eternal King, ruling without end,
Over us all to reign.
He reigns over everyone, watching and guiding us with his benevolence.
Frankincense to offer have I, incense owns a Deity nigh
I bring frankincense as an offering, for its aroma signifies the presence of a divine being nearby,
Prayer and praising, all men raising,
Through prayer and uplifting praises, we elevate and unite all people in worship,
Worship him, God most high, oh
We worship him, the highest God, with utmost reverence and devotion.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Healey Willan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xolanimtha
This is amazing, how in sync they are. Lovely. The 3 kings!!! Bravo
@SuperDorothy26
The “King of Instruments “ being played by three “kings”! I loved this.
@ReaganReese
This is freaking awesome!!!
@LamanKnight
I love that you can tell how much they enjoyed playing that piece.
@dawnstegner6628
This makes me so happy! LOVE the other songs added to enhance the melody!
@TUBESPECIFIC1
A real mastery of high culture instrumental musical compilations. Thank you. Merry Christmas.
@1951re
Brings back memories of every sunday my mother would have the program on TV and we would all enjoy the music which has only improved over the years.
@2008truckman
By far the best performances they've done.
@danielwhatcott9383
I was there for the performance and what a beautiful and fun piece this was!
@tinselPixie
To then add in Ride of the Valkyries after Hall of the Mountain King....makes me chuckle every time. They had such fun with this. Love them all! Way to go gents!