Called "America's Choir" by U.S. President Ronald Reagan, 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
The 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 hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the "newborn King." The first stanza calls on everyone to listen to the angels as they declare the glory of God and celebrate the arrival of Christ. The angels proclaim that there will be peace on earth and that God and sinners are reconciled because of Christ's birth. The nations are called upon to join in the triumph and celebration of Christ's birth. The stanza ends with the repetition of the phrase "Glory to the newborn King" as a triumphant declaration of Christ's arrival.
The second stanza of the hymn speaks about the divine nature of Christ. He is adored by Heaven and is the everlasting Lord. Christ is the offspring of a virgin's womb, and the Godhead is veiled in flesh. Jesus is referred to as Emmanuel, which means "God with us," and the hymn emphasizes that Jesus was pleased to dwell among humans as a man. The stanza ends with a triumphant declaration that Jesus Christ is the newborn king, and everyone is called upon to join together to celebrate his birth.
The final stanza of the hymn praises Jesus as the "hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace." As the Son of Righteousness, he brings light and life to all. Christ's arrival brings the promise of healing to all who believe in him. He is born to give second birth so that humanity can live forever with him. The hymn concludes with the final declaration of "Glory to the newborn King." The song encourages listeners to rejoice and celebrate the birth of Christ, who is the savior of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark the herald angels sing
Listen to the joyful announcement of the heavenly angels
"Glory to the newborn King!
Praise be to the newly born King, Jesus Christ
Peace on earth and mercy mild
May there be peace and gentle kindness on earth
God and sinners reconciled"
God has brought sinners back to Himself through His Son, Jesus Christ
Joyful, all ye nations rise
All nations should rise up in joy and celebration
Join the triumph of the skies
Join in the victorious celebration with the heavenly hosts
With the angelic host proclaim:
Alongside the angels, declare the news:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Jesus Christ, the Messiah, has been born in Bethlehem
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ is worshipped by the highest heavens
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Jesus Christ is the eternal Lord
Late in time behold Him come
Look, He has come at the appointed time
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Born of a virgin
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
He is God, though He appears in human form
Hail the incarnate Deity
Praise the divine nature of Christ in human form
Pleased as man with man to dwell
He is happy to dwell among humans, as a human Himself
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Jesus is our 'God with us'
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of peace!
Praise the Prince of Peace, born from heaven
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Praise the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings
He brings light and life to all
Ris'n with healing in His wings
He has risen and brings healing to all
Mild He lays His glory by
He humbly sets aside His divine glory
Born that man no more may die
He was born to save humanity from eternal death
Born to raise the sons of earth
He was born to lift up humanity
Born to give them second birth
He was born to give them spiritual rebirth
Hark! The herald angels sing
Listen again to the joyful announcement of the heavenly angels
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Praise again the newly born King, Jesus Christ
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, Walt Disney Music Company, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL BATEMAN
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..