Music, spoken word to mark 150 years since handcart trek

To mark a 150-year milestone, the story of a group of Mormon pioneers on their way to Utah will be told through orchestral music and spoken word.

The 1856 journey of the Edward Martin and James Willie pioneer handcart companies will be showcased through a newly composed orchestral chorus, written by a Utah composer and sung and played by Utah Valley State College Symphony Orchestra and A Cappella Choir this weekend and next.

"Fresh Courage Take," composed by Marden Pond, marks the sesquicentennial of the fateful pioneer trek from Iowa to the Salt Lake Valley. More than 200 people died when a winter storm stranded the groups in Wyoming.

"While some historians look on the experiences of these handcart companies as a tragedy, and even though these determined pioneers encountered intense suffering and even death, the spiritual nature of their ordeal was a great blessing and a faith-strengthening opportunity," The Sons of Utah Pioneers, who partly commissioned the work, said in a statement. The SUP, along with the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, is co-sponsoring the performance.

Ron VanLeuven, executive manager of the SUP, said he looks forward to the telling of the great pioneer story through music and sound. "It's the 150th year since they came into the valley," he said. "It's very appropriate."

The musical performance is approximately one hour long. Spoken text for the newly commissioned piece comes from personal journals, writings and biographies of members of the Martin and Willie handcart companies and rescuers.

The performance is free and open to the public and will be at the Provo Tabernacle, 100 S. University Avenue, tonight at 7:30 and again on Friday, Nov. 3, at the Bountiful Regional Center, 835 N. 400 East, in North Salt Lake.

Elder Merrill J. Bateman of the presidency of the Quorums of the Seventy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is to speak at the performance in Bountiful.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com