New DVD chronicles Mormon Tabernacle Choir's tour stories

Jesus Christ: Savior. Redeemer. Comforter. Healer. Friend. He has been at the center of a musical tradition that stretches back to the beginning of Christianity.

Music has always been an important way of not only praising and honoring Christ, but also of drawing strength and comfort from his teachings, says Mormon Tabernacle Choir Director Mack Wilberg. "From the beginning, music has been the chosen way to express feelings that words alone can't," he says. "Music has unique ways of speaking to the soul."

The choir's latest CD release falls squarely within that tradition. "This Is The Christ" offers a collection of Christ-centered songs designed to be contemplative and thoughtful. "We wanted it to offer comfort and consolation — something we need in this day and age," says Wilberg. "The final number, "I Believe in Christ," is big; we needed an exclamation point at the end," he says. "But the rest are more peaceful, more meditative."

Songs include traditional hymns such as "The Lord My Pasture Will Prepare," "Come Unto Him" and "Our Savior's Love;" folk hymns such as "Sunshine in My Soul," "Softly and Tenderly" and "Beautiful Savior;" religious music by both LDS and other composers, such as the title song written James E. Faust and the operatic-style "O Divine Redeemer," by Charles Gounod.

Many are new recordings by the choir; some have been previously recorded. "When it came time to select the music, we felt it needed to have a certain flow," says Wilberg. "When we already had the perfect song for that flow, there was no need to record it again." But putting those songs in a new context can give them a different feeling, a different meaning, he says.

Singing songs of Christ is nothing new for the choir. "Every album we've done has something on it," says Wilberg. "We wanted to bring a lot of them together, to create an album with that specific emphasis, to have one place where people could find a lot of their favorite songs."

The CD is just one new offering that highlights the work of the choir. Also being released by Deseret Book is a DVD, "One Voice," produced by BYU-TV and offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes for the choir to go on tour.

The timing is particularly apt, says Wilberg, as the choir prepares to go on this summer's tour, which will take place June 20-28, with visits to Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania and Toronto, Canada; a total of seven concerts in five cities.

Newsroom Blog: Philippine Madrigal Singers Perform with Mormon ...

Announced Sunday during the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s performance on the internationally broadcast program that a new friendship had been formed with members of the Philippine Madrigal Singers .

The group of Filipino artists joined with the Tabernacle Choir in a first-ever performance that combined the two world-renowned singing groups.

“It was really great for us to be in the same place with [the Mormon Tabernacle Choir], hearing them sing and sharing our music with them,” said choirmaster Mark Carpio.

The Philippine Madrigals sang some Filipino folk songs and joined the choir for several spiritual hymns. After the broadcast, they were invited to perform two additional numbers that showcased their group’s versatile vocal range and entertaining presentation.

The choral group is based at the University of the Philippines and comprised of students, faculty and alumni. The group is also known as the UP Madrigal Singers, or simply Madz.

Professor Meg Montes is a soprano for Madz. She said performing with the choir far exceeded her expectations. “It was really fun to be able to sing with [the choir],” said Montes. “I just had a warm feeling and it was great to meet new friends.”

The Filipino singers received a warm reception at the Tabernacle on Temple Square , an experience they would like to repeat. “I can speak on behalf of all singers that … we have enjoyed ourselves,” said Mark Carpio. “I think everyone would like to come back here and sing again to the people … in Salt Lake.”

The Madz performance coincides with the Church’s 50-year anniversary of officially opening the Philippine Islands to missionary work in April 1961. Currently there are more than 645,000 Latter-day Saints in the Phlippines .

Salt Lake City is the first stop for the critically acclaimed Philippine Madrigal Singers as part of a six-month goodwill concert tour of North and South America.

Madz was formed in 1963 and is the only choir to be a two-time winner of the coveted Grand Prize in the European Grand Prix in Choral Singing in Arezzo, Italy.

Download links for video:

Broll: http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/2011-04-0190-philippine-madrigals-broll-1500k-eng.mov

Interviews with the Madrigals: http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/2011-04-0190-philippine-madrigals-sots-1500k-eng.mov

Madrigals sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir:  http://broadcast.lds.org/newsroom/2011-04-0190-philippine-madrigals-pkg-1500k-eng.

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