Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Mormon Tabernacle Choir: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Dvdhomefortheholidaysmormontabernaclechoir_detailHOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS
featuring Alfie Boe with Tom Brokaw
by Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square
2013
ISBN: 978-1-60907-737-2 (DVD)
Christmas Music
Review copies provided by publisher in return for honest review.
All opinions expressed are solely my own.

ABOUT THE DVD

As seen and heard by more than 80,000 people in the LDS Conference Center, Home for the Holidaysis the live recording of The Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s 2012 Christmas concert. This year’s release features internationally acclaimed TV personality Tom Brokaw and Tony Award–winning Les Miserablestenor Alfie Boe.

The Choir also welcomed surprise-guest Gail “Hal” Halvorsen, the renowned Candy Bomber of World War II. Together with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, these three special guests delivered an unprecedented excitement to the stage that brought all in attendance to their feet more than once during the night.

Hailed as the performance that “may have topped them all” (Catherine Reese Newton, The Salt Lake Tribune) this year’s release is bound to be an instant success!

Tracklist (DVD)
  • Jingle Bells [2:55] Choir, Orchestra, and Bells
  • Sing Noel! A Christmas Processional [4:38] Choir, Orchestra, and Bells
  • Hark! The Herald Angels Sing [5:13] Alfie Boe with Choir and Orchestra
  • I Wonder as I Wander [5:14] Alfie Boe with Orchestra
  • From Heaven on High (from Weihnachtslied), Felix Mendelssohn [4:48] Choir and Orchestra
  • God Bless the Master of this House (from Folk Songs of the Four Seasons), arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams [4:22] Choir and Orchestra
  • Christmas at Home: (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays, I’ll be Home for Christmas, Somewhere in My Memory [7:10] Alfie Boe with Choir and Orchestra
  • Bring Him Home [5:02] Alfie Boe with Orchestra
  • A Christmas Waltz Fantasy: The Christmas Waltz; Silver Bells; Sleep Well, Little Children [7:45] Choir and Orchestra
  • Sleigh Ride [3:24] Organist: Richard Elliott
  • Christmas From Heaven [13:22] Featuring Tom Brokaw, Gail “Hal” Halvorsen, Choir, Orchestra, and Bells
  • What Shall We Give? [4:40] Choir and Orchestra
  • Luke 2 [2:24] Tom Brokaw with Orchestra
  • Angels From the Realms of Glory [4:38] Alfie Boe with Choir and Orchestra
Bonus Features (DVD)
  • Backstage with Tom Brokaw and Alfie Boe
  • Exclusive footage with Gail "Hal" Halvorsen, the Candy Bomber
Technical Specs (DVD)
Running time: Approx 78 minutes
DVD: 1.85:1 Aspect Ratio-Ehanced for 16:9 TVs
English 5.1 Dolby Digital Sound
Subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing

For more information see here.  For downloads, see here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The 360 members of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir represent men and women from many different backgrounds and professions and range in age from 25 to 60. They reflect a medley of unique lives and experiences and are brought together by their love for singing and their faith. Their incomparable voices are the common chord that unites to form the choral group known all over the world as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir originated in the mid-19th century in Salt Lake City. As the Latter-day Saints moved west, Church President Brigham Young included musicians among members of the advance parties. Consequently, a small choir first sang for a conference of the Church in the Salt Lake Valley on August 22, 1847, just 29 days after the first group arrived. The origins of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir may be found in the desire and commitment of early converts to include appropriate music in both sacred and secular events.

The Mormon Tabernacle Choir has appeared at 13 world’s fairs and expositions, performed at the inaugurations of five U.S. presidents, and sung for numerous worldwide telecasts and special events. Five of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s recordings have achieved “gold record” and two have achieved “platinum record” status. The most popular was the Grammy-Award-winning 1959 release of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

REVIEW

One of my favorite things about Christmas is the beautiful music that I get to hear.  And the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Choir DVD release is at the top of that list.  Last year's concert had Alfie Boe and Tom Brokaw as guests. I'm not sure what to say except that it is wonderful as it is every year. I marvel at the amazing choir, the talented guests, dancers, bell ringers, and orchestra.  The music is beautifully arranged and performed.  The costumes are gorgeous and decorations stunning. As is usual, there were several numbers that I hadn't heard before.  It's nice how they choose both well known favorites as well as lesser known but just as beautiful pieces as well. And the organ solo is mind boggling. I think my favorite number this time is "Bring Him Home" sung by Alfie Boe from Les Miserables. It just gave me chills. Highly recommended for those who love beautiful Christmas music.


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