“Sounds of the Season” with the Bells on Temple Square!
UPDATE: Tickets for both concerts have all been distributed. Patrons are encouraged to come for standby seating which is nearly always available. See below for information about the internet live stream.
The Bells on Temple Square celebrate the beginning of this year’s holiday season with “Sounds of the Season,” their annual holiday concert, on Friday and Saturday, November 22-23, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. (mountain time) in the Salt Lake Tabernacle on Temple Square. Each year, the Bells on Temple Square’s concerts are audience favorites.
The concert will also be streamed live at www.thetabernaclechoir.org on both November 22 and 23, at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are free but required for the concerts and will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Tuesday, November 5, at 9:00 a.m. (mountain time) online through churchofjesuschrist.org/events or by calling 801-570-0080 or toll-free at 1-866-537-8457. Each patron may request four tickets, and admission is open to those eight years and older. Seating will be general admission.
The concerts will be led by LeAnna Willmore, conductor of the Bells on Temple Square, with associate conductor, Geoff Anderson, also directing several numbers performed by the 34-member, all-volunteer ensemble. The bell ensemble uses a 7-octave set of English hand bells, a 6½-octave set of hand bells, and two 6-octave sets of hand chimes.
“You can’t fully appreciate the beautiful and intricate sounds—unless you see and hear the 34 talented bell ringers playing bells and chimes of all sizes and pitches,” remarked Ron Jarrett, president of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square organization. “The performances will provide a wonderful evening of entertainment for everyone.”
Both nights will feature music appropriate for both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The concerts begin with “Vivace con Spirito,” “Comfort, Comfort Ye My People,” and “Toccata,” followed by traditional Christmas pieces “Caroling, Caroling,” “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” and “Carol of the Wise Men.” The concert will finish with light-hearted pieces including “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Hark! Christmas Bells,” and “St. Nick Boogie.”
In keeping with this concert’s tradition, the bell choir numbers will be interspersed with organ solos by Temple Square organist Linda Margetts as well as pieces by members of the Orchestra at Temple Square.
Bells on Temple Square has been performing with The Tabernacle Choir and in separate concerts since they were organized in 2005. Part of The Tabernacle Choir organization, the handbell ensemble includes 34 volunteer musicians drawn from a 100-mile radius of Temple Square.
For your enjoyment, watch the videos of some of the recent and audience-favorite Bells videos:
ABBA's “Dancing Queen”