Day 43
The world is filled with different religions and faiths that obviously do not all agree with each other. That may be the one underlying fact that requires itself to be true. Opinions about all of these different worship assemblies is not what this is about. Opinions vary, as they should, but there may be one universally held belief and that is that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir can sing!
We found ourselves in Salt Lake City after about a six-hour drive down from West Yellowstone. Our original plan was to head north, and east, through Montana and the Dakotas, eventually emerging in Minnesota, with designs on Mackinaw Island and Michigan.
Well, as we found out, Winter releases her grip on that region very reluctantly and so that we need not live our traveling lives in fear of repeating our ordeal of the Great Texas Icemegeddon of 2021, we elected to be prudent and point the nose of our six-wheeled rolling house southward.
When we figured out that Salt Lake City was going to be on our new itinerary, I did what any good Cruise Director would do and came up with Excursions for the passengers (us) to enjoy while in Port! With a little help from Miss Google, I found out that the Choir practices every Thursday night at 7:30 PM.
And the public is invited to observe!
Well good-golly-gee! Guess where we would be at that time?
After trying to find our way out of the parking garage and get pointed in the general direction of where we needed to go, we found ourselves on a self-inflicted tour of the local streets. It was fine, we needed to get our steps in any way!
We finally located the correct building, which happened to be the actual Tabernacle. There are three main buildings on Temple Square, The Temple itself, the Meeting House, and the Tabernacle. Each one of these buildings has a semi-specific purpose, but their duties can overlap as needed.
We followed the incredible sound of the grand organ, layered with harmonious voices, that was washing out of an open door. Upon entering we were greeted warmly and invited to stay and watch (and listen!) to the Choir practice.
We were not alone! Apparently this is a very popular activity on a Thursday evening. I don’t know how any of our fellow listeners were like us, but the place was quite busy as folks came and went with regularity while we were there. I probably should have taken more photos but even though we had permission to do so, I felt it was a little sacrilegious to be a card-carrying tourist.
I am quite sure that all of you have heard of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, but you may not have actually heard them. I am so far from being knowledgeable enough to expound on the technical aspects of this performance, but I am also quite sure that it probably does not get any better!
There are 360 members of the Choir and an additional 110 members of the Orchestra. Membership is by audition which is why I will never be invited to join! Aside from having no musical talent, (I can only play the radio) I am too old.
If chosen, one may be a member for twenty years or until you turn sixty-years old, so that leaves me out!
So, why sixty?
Apparently back in the 1970’s there was a need to revamp and revitalize this traditional group. After a lot of discussion, it was decided that a term of twenty years and maximum age of sixty would help stem the growing emotional decision of when to say when.
All these years later is has been proven that this policy is hugely successful and popular. It takes the emotion out of the decisions, and it keeps a steady stream of applicants vying for the honor to replace the retiring members.
Oh, and by the way, none of the choir or orchestra is compensated for their participation. The budget for the two entities is entirely supported by their CD and other media sales.
We sat enraptured as we listened to both the Choir and Orchestra practice for the upcoming Sunday Service.
Goosebumps were not required to listen, but they happily showed up anyway!