Mormon Tabernacle Choir's CD elevates U.S. folk hymns

In early 19th century, a "Second Great Awakening" swept across America, moving from New England to the South and on to the frontier. This great religious revival led not only to the rise of new religions (including The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), but also to new political and social reform movements.

Another significant development of the era: the rise of the American folk hymn. "We don't have a lot of original musical tradition," says Mack Wilberg, conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which has recently released a CD of American folk hymns and spirituals titled "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing."

"Most of our American musical heritage is based on European models, but the folk hymns and spirituals are one of the most fertile and unique of our American musical traditions."

These early folk hymns reflect the fervor and zeal of their time but they still resonate with people today, he says, as evidenced by the fact that the choir's CD recently reached No. 1 on both Billboard magazine's Classical Music and Crossover Classical Music charts.

As the liner notes remarks, "This recording honors the enduring vitality of these folk hymns and spirituals and their ability to anchor the soul in faith."

The CD features many of Wilberg's favorite folk hymns, including the title song, as well as others such as "Saints Bound For Heaven," "My Song In The Night," "His Voice As the Sound," "Bound For The Promised Land," "Softly and Tenderly" and what Wilberg calls "the most famous of all Christian hymns," "Amazing Grace."

Many of these hymns have been set to new arrangements by Wilberg, who is known as one of the premiere composers and arrangers of choral music in the country.

Also included are a number of African-American spirituals, some featuring choir member Alex Boye as soloist, including "Deep River, "I Want To Walk With Jesus," "Old Time Religion" and "The Battle of Jericho."

They are all songs that "show how often music transcends the spoken word," says Wilberg. They teach lessons of life, but they also offer hope and joy. They are balm to the soul."

Folk hymns, Wilberg says, are also very accessible. The messages are usually simple and heartfelt. "Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling." Who can't understand that?

What also makes the genre unique is that the hymns were usually words set to music people already knew, and thus could sing with fervor.

The first hymnals, including the first one of the LDS Church, compiled by Emma Smith in 1835-36, included only the words. "People were expected to know the tunes," Wilberg says.