December 22, 2025

20,000 vinyl LPs 404: Mormon Tabernacle Choir – The Spirit Of Christmas

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Mormon Tabernacle Choir  ~ The Spirit of Christmas
vinyl LP front cover 
 cover photo by 
photo of album cover by Styrous®


On December 22, 1885, American composer, radio commentator, music critic, and author Joseph Deems Taylor was born. Despite minimal musical training he took to music composition. The result was a series of works for orchestra and/or voices. In 1916 he wrote the cantata The Chambered Nautilus, followed by Through the Looking-Glass (for orchestra) in 1918, earning him public praise and recognition. He acquired several students, including composer Mary Watson Weaver.          
 
 
Mormon Tabernacle Choir  ~ The Spirit of Christmas
vinyl LP front cover 
 cover photo by 
photo of album cover by Styrous®
 
 
In 1921 he secured a job as music critic for the New York World, a post he held until 1929. When approached by the Metropolitan Opera to suggest a composer to write a new opera. He put forth his own name, and was accepted, the result being The King's Henchman, with the libretto by Edna St. Vincent Millay. Peter Ibbetson followed in 1929. He was a promoter of classical music throughout his life.           
He appeared in the Walt Disney 1940 film Fantasia as the film's Master of Ceremonies, and was instrumental in selecting the musical pieces that were used in the film, including the then-controversial Sacre du Printemps by Igor Stravinsky. That same year, he served the same role as Master of Ceremonies for the classical portion of a Carousel of American Music, a famous concert series held in San Francisco on September 24. The concert had Irving Berlin, George M. Cohan, Jerome Kern, Hoagy Carmichael, WC Handy, Johnny Mercer, and many more of America's top songwriting talents performing their own compositions.     
 

 
Mormon Tabernacle Choir  ~ The Spirit of Christmas
vinyl LP Side 1 & 2 
photo by Styrous®


   
Tracklist:
       
Side 1:
        
A1 - Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming, Arranged By [Harmonized By] – Michael Praetorius - 2:32

A2 - Tell Us, Shepherd Maids, Arranged By – Mary E. Caldwell - 2:16

A3 - O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Music By – Lewis H. Redner*, Written-By – Phillips Brooks - 1:44

A4 - The Snow Lay On The Ground, Arranged By – Leo Sowerby - 3:38

A5 - The Shepherds' Story, Lyrics By – William Morris (9), Written-By – Clarence Dickinson - 4:32

A6 - For Christ Is Born, Arranged By – R. Crawford*, Written-By – K. Aiken*, Mary E. Crawford* - 4:12

A7 - Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!, Adapted By – W. H. Cummings*, Music By – Felix Mendelssohn*, Words By – Charles Wesley - 1:42

A8 - While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks, Arranged By – Arthur Warrell - 2:12

A9 - The Coventry Carol, Arranged By – Bryceson Treharne - 3:32
       
Side 2:
       
B1 - Silent Night, Holy Night, Music By – Franz Gruber, Words By – Josef Mohr* - 3:15

B2 - Carol Of The Bells, Arranged By – Peter J. Wilhousky*, Written-By – M. Leontovich* - 1:30

B3 - Glory To God In The Highest, Written-By – Giovanni B. Pergolesi* - 3:28

B4 - The Three Kings, Lyrics By – Rev. Lluis Romeu, Translated By – Deems Taylor, Written-By – Kurt Schindler - 2:30

B5 - Break Forth, O Beauteous Heavenly Light (Christmas Oratorio), Written-By – Johan S. Bach* - 1:50

B6 - Bethlehem Night, Lyrics By – W. Leslie Nicholls, Music By – Arthur Warrell - 1:55

B7 - What Perfume Is This? O Shepherds, Say!, Arranged By – Samuel Liddle - 2:12

B8 - Christmas Day, Written-By – Gustav Holst - 7:06

B9 - O Come, All Ye Faithful, Written-By – F. Oakley* - 1:40
         
Credits:
       
    Choir – Mormon Tabernacle Choir
    Directed By – Richard P. Condie
    Directed By [Assistant] – Jay Welch
    Liner Notes – Jay Welch
    Organ – Alexander Schreiner, Frank W. Asper
        
Notes:
       
Columbia gray, black and white Six Eye label
Track A7 - William Cummings (2) -> William Hayman Cummings
       
Barcode and Other Identifiers
        
    Matrix / Runout (Runout, Side A, Stamped (Except after H, inscribed)): XXSM47847-1AC H11//\-L
    Matrix / Runout (Runout, Side B, Stamped (Except H, inscribed)): XXSM47848-1CB H

Mormon Tabernacle Choir – The Spirit Of Christmas: Christmas Carols Sung By The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Label: Columbia Masterworks – MS 6100
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1959
Genre: Classical
Style: Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Modern, Choral
         
Viewfinder links:        
         
Irving Berlin                
Hoagy Carmichael           
George M. Cohan        
WC Handy          
Johnny Mercer        
        
YouTube link:        
        
Mormon Tabernacle Choir – The Spirit Of Christmas (complete album)         
        
        
         
        
        
        
Styrous® ~ Monday, December 22, 2025        
       
 
 















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