“‘A Choir in Every Ward’: New Guidebook Helps It Happen,” Ensign, July 1976, 37
“A Choir in Every Ward”: New Guidebook Helps It Happen
Inspirational music contributes greatly to the spirituality of sacrament meetings and other Church meetings. For this reason, every ward and branch in the Church should have a choir.” (Letter from First Presidency to priesthood leaders, September 6, 1974.)
Every ward and branch in the Church is different when it comes to music. Some have a lot of musical talent to draw upon; others aren’t quite so fortunate. Meetinghouse facilities differ greatly, ranging from small rented halls to large, new, multi-ward chapels complete with choir seating. Many chapels have fine pipe or electronic organs; in other areas, members consider themselves fortunate to have a piano. Musical tastes vary from country to country and from culture to culture.
Nevertheless, members’ love for the gospel and for music remain constant throughout the world, and every ward and branch in the Church could improve the spiritual quality of its meetings—sacrament meetings in particular—by organizing a choir. In addition to performances for special events such as Christmas, Easter, and stake conferences, choirs should sing at least twice a month in sacrament meetings.
To help the organizations of the Church realize the goal of a choir in every ward and branch, and also to help those already working with choirs to improve choral music in their own areas, a new Guidebook for Choral Music has been produced for general distribution.
The new guidebook discusses the different types of choirs and their functions, gives suggestions for organizing and leading choirs successfully in various circumstances, and offers general guidelines for obtaining suitable choral music. It also presents in detail many valuable ideas for effective rehearsal procedures and suggestions for improving choral technique. Included in the publication is a list of choral reference sources and a glossary of terms.
The new Guidebook for Choral Music (Stock No. PBMU0199) is now available through the General Church Distribution Center, 1999 West 1700 South, P.O. Box 11627, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111, USA, for 40¢ each.
Also available are the following Church music publications: the Handbook for Church Music (PBMU0031), 40¢; Guidebook for Conductors (PBMU001A), 40¢; Guidebook for Organists (PBMU0009), 40¢; Guidebook for Youth Music (PBMU0042), 40¢; and Guidebook for Children’s Music (PBMU0020), 40¢.