Christmas in Eight Measures
Sing, Choirs of Angels!
My mother sang alto in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for over a decade, so when Christmas rolls around, the Choir’s Christmas CDs are in heavy rotation in the car and at home.
As I was driving home tonight, their 2004 recording of Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of “Away in a Manager” came on and I had to pull over for a bit. I’ve had the pleasure of singing that arrangement with a number of excellent choirs, and every time I do I have to watch out because the third verse will knock the wind out of me if I’m not careful.
I assert (and my friend, Brent, will back me up on this) that Mack Wilberg is one of the most brilliant arrangers in the world, and I give you this recording, with the 360-member Choir and the 110-piece Orchestra at Temple Square, as Exhibit A.
The first verse is sung in unison by the women; the second verse by the men. It’s all very simple and straightforward up to that point, with the beautiful, flowing orchestration providing the only real points of interest.
And that’s where we pick things up…
As the sopranos, altos and tenors come in on the third verse, the orchestra drops away, leaving the voices suspended in mid-air…and the next eight measures are probably the closest thing to perfection that I’ll ever be a part of in this life.
Away in a Manger (Clip) (108 seconds, 2.2 Mb, MP3 format)
For tenors, life doesn’t get much better than this. You just hang there at the top of your register singing the most interesting note in each of these intricate, unexpected chords. And when you drop into “…and love me, I pray,” it’s like coming home.
For me, those eight measures…those eight beautiful, delicate, haunting measures…full of longing, hope, and joy, are what Christmas is all about.
Comments
mary
Oh, wow. I didn’t know someone else out there felt exactly how I feel about those eight measures in this arrangement (well, except for the part about being a tenor, but it is those descending half steps in the tenor line that make it what it is). Ever since I first sang it in a high school choir when I was 14 or 15, this little stretch of musical perfection has held a nearly sacred spot in my heart. It feels like one of those tiny glimpses of heaven that teaches me to want heaven.
chronicler
Another beloved view of Christmas. Thank you, Grettir.
DAVID LEE CLAY
First of all , I had never visited your site before and impressed by all of it. Do not agree with all of your views in your blogs , but , the Disneyland stuff alone is interesting to read about and all of the pictures are wonderful. One positive thing about the holidays , even the depressing parts aren’s usually as depressing because something will occour and cheer everyone up. At least that seems to be how it is with my friends and I and my family and I. Plus , unretire from the acting it sounds like it may be your strength and while I am not a fan of the Morman Tabernacle Choirs , I understand the point you are attempting to make. Anyway , take care and have the happiest of holidays. DAVID LEE CLAY PITTSBURG , KANSAS
jenny
One of my favorites from this CD is “I Saw Three Ships.” Just before the line, “And all the bells on earth shall ring,” there’s an interlude that’s just bells. It begins with one simple church bell, then is joined by another with different tone and rhythm, then another, until there’s this fabulous, intoxicating cacophany of glorious bells. You really DO feel as though all the bells on earth are ringing in complete joyful harmony to announce the long-awaited birth of Christ. Always makes me want to dance a jig, no matter where I am.
Another of my personal MTChoir Christmas favorites is the “Musicological Journey” version of “The 12 Days of Christmas” from their earlier CD “This Is Christmas”. It begins with the First Day of Christms, chanted by monks, moves gradually through almost everyone from Wagner to Strauss, and ends with a “Stars And Stripes Forever” 12 Drummers Drumming. Fab!
jenny
Oh yes: and I have a feeling we’ll hear some really impressive collaborations from John Rutter, C.S. Lewis and Mack Wilberg in the afterlife.
Gina
Agreed! Absolutely beautiful!
brent
I have found more often than not that the last verse of this arrangement brings me to tears, so I certainly understand Grettir’s having to pull over. For me, few songs are as deeply and spiritually touching to sing or listen to as this arrangement. It was my great good fortune to be in the first choir (BYU Concert Choir 1985) that ever performed this piece as well as “I Saw Three Ships.” And lucky me, I’m a tenor. And Grettir, I do agree with you. Mack not only creates amazing arrangements, he is a concert level pianist, and an amazing conductor. He is also completely unassuming. Singing under him was both a musical and spiritual blessing. Thanks for adding to my holiday spirit with this post.