The 12 Days of Christmas Music is coming to an end, and the list of wonderful music is much longer than we could have shared here. But I hope you have enjoyed some of the music all the same. We’d love it if you shared any of your favorite Christmas music in the comments or on our Facebook page.

Before I get to the heart of this last day’s post, I wanted to slide a little something in that I didn’t get to sharing earlier. It’s a wonderful annual program called “Christmas Under the Stars” that is broadcast on BYU-TV. This year, Lauren Daigle was the guest artist, and you can watch the rebroadcast of that concert here. Some past concerts are also available for your enjoyment, including performances with John Legend, The Band Perry, Train, and Vocal Point. (Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Jordan Smith were also guests on this program, but apparently that can’t be viewed on demand anymore. Keep an eye on BYU-TV next Christmas — they did broadcast this concert once this year on December 4. It’s amazing.)

But to finish off our 12 Days of Christmas Music celebration, it seems only fitting to conclude with the glorious “Hallelujah Chorus” from Handel’s Messiah. There are many versions out there, but given the challenges of 2020, I thought the World’s Largest Virtual Hallelujah Chorus would be an appropriate version to share. I encourage you to sing along as you listen!

If you are looking for even more of Handel’s Messiah, you can find a performance of the entire Messiah here, including options for subtitles in French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese). The Tabernacle Choir Messiah page also includes a link for a free downloadable score of the music, which is also available in several languages (click on the flag in the top right corner of the page). And you will find many other resources about this majestic musical masterpiece that honors Jesus Christ in such a powerful way.

Even though we are having to physically separate more than usual this year — not even being able to sing together as usual! — I would like to share Kelli O’Hara’s words when she was interviewed about singing with the Tabernacle Choir (which you can do if you sing along here!)

“Every year, I need to find what it is that brings that really overwhelming sense of everything greater than us, together. I need to find the moment when everybody comes together for that same purpose…. [W]e’re all here for the same thing, for the same bit of love, the same bit of hope, and that’s what it feels like. It’s a oneness, and it’s refreshing.”

After scheduling this post, I stumbled on an opinion piece entitled, “World peace is already here. Are you listening for it?” It echoed what I was feeling as I settled on what to share for the final 12 Days of Christmas Music post, and expanded upon it, so I wanted to be sure to share it.

The article is about Eric Whitacre’s amazing virtual choir that came together over the summer, with over 17,000 voices from 129 countries. You can read the lyrics of the beautiful song, “Sing Gently” in the article. Watch the incredible virtual choir here.

And linger with me on the author’s final words.

When so much consumes us, where do we find peace?

A different choir answered that question two millennia ago. To shepherds they rejoiced at the birth of a babe in a manger, the promised messiah, the Prince of Peace.

Their heavenly song lifts us today if we’re willing to join them.

On this Christmas day, wherever we are, singing and celebrating safely in our own private spaces, we can still join our hearts together as one around the world as we celebrate and sing personal praises to the One who came to save us all.

Merry Christmas!

May we sing together, always.

May our voice be soft.

May our singing be music for others

and may it keep others aloft.

Sing gently, always.

Sing gently as one.

May we stand together, always.

May our voice be strong.

May we hear the singing and

May we always sing along.

-Eric Whitacre

The post 12 Days of Christmas Music, Day 12: “Hallelujah”…”World Peace is Already Here” appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, the #LightTheWorld invitation was to share an inspirational story. I shared two versions of a similar story related to little miracles that allowed me to enjoy beautiful, inspiring music during the Christmas season. Links are included so you can enjoy the music that graced my life.

#1. It was the weekend of the Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert (last year) and without meaning to think the thought, I thought, Wouldn’t it be amazing if I could have the chance to go see Kristin Chenoweth?

Immediately, I hushed the thought, because it’s pretty much impossible to get into these concerts. Tickets are free, but they disappear within minutes of becoming available.

I was shocked when I woke up to news that my sister’s friend had two extra tickets. And so I was able to go with a sister to savor this concert. (Maybe the thought I didn’t mean to think was itself a gift?)

The concert was exquisite. And Kristin is so delightful. She even made Mack Wilberg blush. The concert included a mix of sacred and lighthearted music; moments of laughter and moments of reflection.

I’m so happy to say that this wonderful concert is available online here: https://www.byutv.org/player/3d08403c-937e-46b8-893f-68ad8ee411bc/christmas-with-the-tabernacle-choir-featuring-kristin-chenoweth-christmas-with-the-tabernacle-choir-featuring-kristin-chenoweth?fbclid=IwAR3g6DvUjDYZl4YfTqMww90YDpIEJQgwWnfUo02-YmsHJQgy_repvzT-MFo

#2. For years, I had wanted to see “Savior of the World” (a reenactment of the Savior’s life), but I have sleep and health issues that make attending such events difficult. It’s hard to commit to events that are not very close to my home because I never know from day to day what my body will be able to do.

But a couple of years ago, I got a text from my friend who had two tickets she was not able to use. Would I be interested in using them? I wanted to make this work, but was still nervous about whether I could make it happen. My sister immediately came to mind as the one to invite. She was going through a rough time and I also just wanted to spend time with her.

But she didn’t think she’d be able to go, and since I was unsure about if it would be good for me to make the effort (because there would be a physical cost in doing so).

So I simply gave it to God. If this is something that I could do and that would help my sister, please help her to be able to go. I think it was the day before the performance that she texted me saying she could go. And oh, what a sacred experience we had together.

The moving music from this performance is freely available. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/callings/music/savior-of-the-world/download-material?lang=eng

In fact, the whole performance (script, notes, scenery, etc. can be downloaded). That’s how my church rolls…trying to make as much available as possible, when possible.

Merry CHRISTmas!

The post 12 Days of Christmas Music, Day 10: Christmas Music Miracles appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

At Christmastime, it’s often a tradition for those who live close to Temple Square in Salt Lake City, Utah (USA) — or for those who visit — during the holidays to enjoy the lights at Temple Square. Because of COVID-19, the access to Temple Square is, of course, limited. So this year, for the annual Christmas lighting ceremony at Temple Square, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints created a special virtual concert and tour of the lights, with young women serving as missionaries giving a tour of Temple Square and areas around it.

This special event also included musical performances both from Temple Square and also from various places in the world, and representing a variety of cultures.

In addition, below is a compilation of several Christmas specials from the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra and Temple Square from previous years. Many of these performances include guest appearances…

…from artists like Kristin Chenoweth and the Gabriel Trumpet Ensemble.

Here is a Christmas special from 2018. (Individual tracks can be found here.)

And another Christmas special from 2018 (individual tracks here). This performance includes the Bells at Temple Square.

To see more of Music and the Spoken Word, a weekly tradition for decades, see the website for the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square.

Or you can see all past episodes of Music and the Spoken Word here.

You can connect to the livestream any Sunday, or find information about where you can watch it on television. More information on the Choir’s website.

The post 12 Days of Christmas, Days 6 & 7: Lights and Songs from Temple Square and beyond appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.

Because of COVID-19, there is no live Christmas concert with the Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square (which concert always features a special guest artist or two).

But for the first time ever, you can watch one of these concerts (last year’s) on television or your computer! (COVID has opened a lot of new opportunities for sharing and experiencing beautiful things.)

This performance includes guests Kelli O’Hara and Richard Thomas. The concert will premier today at BYU-TV at 8 p.m. EST/5 p.m. PST.

It will be rebroadcast Sunday, December 20th, at 7:30 ET/4:30 PST and Wednesday, December 23rd, at 7:30 EST/4:30 PST.

Hear some of Ms. O’Hara’s thoughts about being able to perform with the Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra at Temple Square, and catch a glimpse of what goes into making one of these concerts a reality.

Many thanks to those who did what it takes to help make this concert available for us this year!

The post 12 Days of Christmas Music, Day 4: Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra, Kelli O’Hara and Richard Thomas appeared first on Women in The Church of Jesus Christ.