Rosalind Hall

Mormon music refers to the sacred, community, and popular musical traditions associated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). It encompasses pioneer-era folk songs, hymnody designed for congregational worship, large-scale choral and orchestral works, children’s religious songs, and a stream of contemporary Christian–style pop created by Latter-day Saint artists. From the Church’s beginnings in Kirtland and Nauvoo to the settlement of the American West, early Latter-day Saints favored sturdy, singable folk and hymn tunes that could be performed a cappella due to scarce instruments. In the 19th century, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir (now The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square) emerged and began touring and broadcasting, becoming a global emblem of LDS choral sound. In the late 20th century, a modern devotional pop sector developed in parallel with Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), supported by LDS publishers such as Deseret Book (and its labels/imprints) and organizations like the now-defunct Faith-centered Music Association. Today, Latter-day Saints contribute both to explicitly devotional repertories and to mainstream genres worldwide.

Choral refers to music written for and performed by a choir—an ensemble of voices organized into sections such as soprano, alto, tenor, and bass (SATB), or same-voice groupings (SSA, TTBB). It encompasses both sacred and secular repertoire and may be sung a cappella or with accompaniment by organ, piano, or full orchestra. Stylistically, choral music ranges from chant-like monophony to intricate polyphony and rich homophonic textures. Texts are drawn from liturgy, scripture, poetry, and vernacular sources, and are set in many languages. Performance contexts include church services, concert halls, and community events, making choral one of the most socially embedded and widely practiced forms of ensemble music. Across history, choral music has served as a laboratory for vocal counterpoint, word painting, and text-driven form, while functioning as a cultural bridge among religious rites, national traditions, and contemporary concert practice.

Hymns are strophic, text-driven songs of praise, devotion, or instruction intended for congregational or communal singing, most closely associated with Christian worship. They typically use clear, memorable melodies, regular poetic meters, and straightforward harmonies so that large groups can sing together with ease. While the concept of a hymn as a sacred song predates Christianity (e.g., in Ancient Greek and Jewish traditions), Christian hymnody coalesced late in the 4th century with Ambrosian practice in Milan and then expanded through Latin and Greek liturgical cultures. Over time, hymn singing moved from monastic and cathedral settings into congregational life, especially after the Protestant Reformation, where metrical psalms and vernacular hymns became a defining feature of worship. Modern hymnody ranges from chant-like, modal melodies without accompaniment to robust, four-part chorale harmonizations with organ, and even contemporary arrangements that adapt classic hymn texts and tunes to newer popular styles.