The recently renamed Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square (formerly the Mormon Tabernacle Choir) has released their inaugural album. The 14-track album titled Let Us All Press On: Hymns of Praise and Inspiration is the first full-length album of hymns recorded by the choir in almost seven years.
Some of the tracks on the album include beloved classics like “All Creatures of Our God and King,” “More Holiness Give Me,” “Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” and “Press Forward Saints.” The album also contains the hymn “Our Prayer to Thee,” which was penned by President Russell M. Nelson in 2003, almost 15 years before becoming the 17th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often mistakenly referred to as the “Mormon Church). The hymn was matched to a tune by composer Joseph Parry and it was first performed as a hymn in April 2003 at general conference. President Nelson attended the recording session in May 2018 when the hymn was being recorded for the album and addressed the choir following the recording.
In a news release issued on Thursday, 21 March 2019, officials reported that Let Us Press Forward: Hymns of Praise and Adoration hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Classical Traditional chart, marking the 13th time that an album from “America’s Choir” has earned the honor.
The president of the choir, Ron Jarrett, commented, “While being at the top of the Billboard charts is not new for the choir, we are always pleased when the work of these talented performers is well received by the public.” He continued, “We know that the music of the choir and [the] Orchestra [at Temple Square] can bring peace and healing to those who listen.”
Mack Wilberg, the choir’s music director, said in the press release, “We are grateful for the response to this latest recording by the choir and orchestra. We gave the album the subtitle of ‘Hymns of Praise and Inspiration’ and our hope is that the recording’s music can provide the inspiration and uplift that so many are looking for in the world today.”
The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, which started recording in 1910, has also won an Emmy and Grammy Award as well as performed at 10 presidential inaugurations, 13 World’s Fairs and Expositions, and the Opening Ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Their albums first hit the Billboard charts in 1959 with their rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which climbed all the way to #13 on “The Hot 100.” Since then, they have had 13 albums hit No. 1 on one or more of Billboard’s “Classical,” “Classical Crossover,” and “Christian” charts.”
According to LDS Living.com, the Tabernacle Choir celebrated the release of the album by recently holding a contest where four winners (two men and two women) were chosen to sing with the Choir during a run-through of Music and the Spoken Word on 14 April 2019.
Let Us All Press On: Hymns of Praise and Inspiration can be purchased on iTunes, Amazon, and DeseretBook.com.
