Dr. Ellen B. Ferguson, a pioneer medical doctor and accomplished musician, wrote an interesting article about the History of Music in Utah, in the Women’s Exponent.
The Tabernacle Choir actually had its beginnings in Kirtland, and again in Nauvoo, in celebrating the dedications of those temples. The members were mostly made up of Welsh Saints, with their uncanny musical ability. As we look at the musical history of this fair city, we need to realize that the Tabernacle Choir was already going on, but came out only on very special occasions.
The first known musical group formed in Utah was a brass band started in 1850. Fifteen men lead by Captain William Pitt were invited to every celebration for those first years. An Italian, by the name of Dominico Ballo came to Salt Lake City in 1857 and played his amazing clarinet. He too started a band and composed fresh music beloved by the Saints.
David O. Calder began the first singing school in the valley in 1861. Two years later he organized a choir of two hundred members. This choir sang in the Salt Lake Theater and the Tabernacle. Professor Charles J. Thomas, an accomplished London orchestra conductor, came to Salt Lake City, and became the conductor for the Tabernacle choir.
George Careless was born and trained in London. He arrived in the Valley in 1865, bringing his musical genius. He performed the Messiah for the first time in the Salt Lake Valley in the year 1875. He brought together two hundred singers and a full orchestra. His wife, Lavinia, was the Soprano soloist and, according to this article, could have stood proudly on any stage in the world with her memorable and intoxicating voice.
Over the coming years there were musical plays, grand concerts, and celebrations all accompanied by near professional musical genius.
The Tabernacle organ was set in its place in the year 1866; in one of the “most perfectly acoustic buildings in the world”; the architect and designer was Joseph Ridges. Joseph J. Daynes was the first organist.
In 1893, the Tabernacle Choir was the largest choir in the world with 600 members. They were invited to sing at the Chicago World’s Fair where they won second place at the Eisteddfod.
Music has always played an important role in the Church. Over the years various choirs have been put together just to sing at our many general and local conferences. At BYU’s Women’s Conference, an Instant Choir organizes women to sing for the large gathered meetings in the Marriott Center just for the two days of that conference.
The Singing Mothers was created to be one world-wide choir, or it could be as small as a group of sisters from a Branch in the far reaches of the world, singing the songs of Zion.
I hope music is always at the forefront of our meetings. Make it available to all who have ever yearned to be a part of something big. Use music to set the mood for your lessons. Find unique ways to demonstrate the beauty of the hymns. According to this article, Mormons have had the most gifted, the best voices, the largest of anything and we must carry on this tradition.
Information taken from an article, History of Music in Utah, Dr. Ellen B. Ferguson, Woman’s Exponent, Feb 1 & 15, 1894