[Narrator: Coming up next] 20 Years of Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir Hosted by Brian Stokes Mitchell With over 40 guest artists and 60 beloved songs and caroles.
It's a Christmas celebration you'll never forget.
♪ Be home for Christmas Day.
♪ (Applause) [WIND BLOWING] ♪♪ NARRATOR: More than 2000 years ago in the village of Bethlehem, a holy child was born.
That night, scripture says an angel appeared to shepherds, and the heavenly host proclaimed peace on Earth and good will to all people everywhere.
♪♪ Since then, choirs have commemorated the holy birth with singing, and that has been the tradition of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Tonight, I'm in the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, where the choir has performed its annual Christmas concert for the past 20 years.
Every December, on three consecutive nights, over 60,000 people course through these lobbies eager for the celebration that has aired on national television since 2004.
But at the moment, the world is not gathering for live events, so this magnificent building is dark and empty.
[WIND BLOWING] Or is it?
If these walls could talk, what would they tell us about Christmas concerts of the past?
What music, images, stories would they recall?
What moments would we remember with the choir, the orchestra, the bells, the herald trumpets, the dancers, and the guest artists who have joined them.
♪♪ We invite you to help us answer that question as we let these walls speak to us, sing to us, and tell us about the joy that music brings into the world at Christmastime, when heaven and nature sing.
["Joy to the World"] ♪ Joy to the world, the Lord is come.
♪ ♪ Let earth receive ♪ ♪ her king.
♪ ♪ Let every heart ♪ ♪ prepare Him room.
♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing.
♪ ♪ And heaven and nature sing.
♪ ♪ And heaven, and heaaven and nature sing.
♪ ♪ Rejoice, rejoice, when Jesus reigns.
♪ ♪ And saints, their songs employ.
♪ ♪ While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, ♪ ♪ repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, ♪ ♪ repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, ♪ ♪ repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy.
♪ ♪ No more will sin and sorrow grow, ♪ ♪ nor thorns infest the ground.
♪ ♪ He'll come and make the blessings flow ♪ ♪ far as the curse was found, ♪ ♪ far as the curse was found, ♪ ♪ far as the curse was found, ♪ ♪ far as the curse was found, ♪ ♪ far as, far as the curse was found.
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Rejoice, rejoice in the most high ♪ ♪ While Israel spreads abroad.
♪ ♪ Like stars that glitter in the sky, and ever worship God, ♪ ♪ and ever worship God, and EVER AND ever worship God.
♪ ♪♪ ♪ And ever and ever worship God.
♪ ♪♪ [applause] ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Before we go into the hall where the concerts are given, I wanted to show you where the choir warms up.
Yes, it is a small theater.
Obviously, with nearly 400 singers, you can't hold a practice just anywhere.
And by the way, I should tell you that the choir's Christmas music is mostly arranged by my friends Mack Wilberg and Ryan Murphy, the music director and associate music director of the choir.
Without question, their work is one of the reasons that the concert is fresh and interesting year after year.
Let me show you what I mean.
When I was here for the concert 13 years ago, our performance opened with a familiar English carol.
You probably know it.
♪ God rest ye, merry gentlemen.
♪ ♪ Let nothing you dismay.
♪ ♪ Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day.
♪ >> You get the idea.
But when you put that carol into the concert with one of Mack or Ryan's original arrangements, well, this is what you get.
["God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen"] ♪ Now to the Lord, sing praises, ♪ ♪ all you within this place.
♪ ♪ And with true love and brotherhood, ♪ ♪ each other now embrace.
♪ ♪ This holy tide of Christmas all others doth efface.
♪ ♪ O tidings of comfort, tidings of comfort, ♪ ♪ tidings of comfort, and joy, of joy, of joy, ♪ ♪ ♪ tidings of comfort, and joy, of joy, of joy, ♪ ♪ comfort and joy.
♪♪ [applause] >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: That was just one of the opening numbers.
Each one of them introduced the concert theme and a preview of what's to come.
The choir and orchestra are always the anchor.
♪♪ And for Christmas concerts, they invite a host of additional volunteer performers.
♪♪ Each concert is different.
The opening could be a page from Dickens or a Baroque scene with singers from the Metropolitan Opera.
It might be a panorama of people through the ages, a country village celebration, or a festive family party.
However the concert begins, the opening selection is a kind of processional of performers, and it sets the tone for everything that follows.
♪♪ Every year, the music comes first, with a traditional carol or an original composition, like this one from the Christmas concert broadcast in 2013.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ["Sing Noel!]
♪ Bring the gifts with shiny ribbons ♪ ♪ wrapped in paper, bright and bold ♪ ♪ Run with bags and baskets brimming ♪ ♪ with a secret yet untold.
♪ ♪ Soon will come the wondrous morning, ♪ ♪ when the joyous season greets.
♪ ♪ Can't be kept within our boxes ♪ ♪ and the bells of Christmas ring.
♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: There was a memorable pioneer Christmas.
["A Christmas Roundelay"] ♪ See the wagon pressing on to the cabin bright.
♪ ♪ gather round the , the family waits for me ♪ ♪ Sing the Christmas Roundelay song and follow me ♪ ♪ String the bright red berries up, bake a Christmas pie.
♪ ♪ Dress the tree with nuts and twigs, ♪ ♪ Trim the candles high.
♪ ♪ Here upon this prairie hill, ♪ ♪ Shepherds all are we.
♪ ♪ Watching o'er our flocks by night ♪ ♪ Angels come and see!
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And one year, a new setting of a familiar French carol.
["Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella"] ♪ Hay of gold is the crown of his coming.
♪ ♪ Swaddling clothes, his robes of glory.
♪ ♪ Hush, hush.
Joseph beholds the baby.
♪ ♪ Hush, hush.
Angels begin to sing.
♪ ♪ Peace, peace.
Cattle are softly lowing.
♪ ♪ Peace, peace.
Heaven is caroling.
♪ ♪ Ah, ah, Mary is sweetly singing.
♪ ♪ Ah, ah, wise men their treasures bring.
♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: There was a colorful tribute to the gifts of Christmas.
["GIFT OF CHRISTMAS, EVERYWHERE!"]
♪ See the gleaming stars above us.
♪ ♪ Still we seek more Christmas light.
♪ ♪ Wrap us in forgiving feelings.
♪ ♪ Tie the bow of tender care.
♪ ♪ Make us one with one another.
♪ ♪ This is Christmas everywhere!
♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: It's true.
With 200 recordings, multiple Grammy and Emmy awards, and performances in concert halls around the world, the choir has earned a reputation for making music at the highest levels.
And yet at Christmas time, the choir's most important accomplishment--at least for the youngest members of the audience--is achieving moments of true whimsy and delight.
["I Saw Three Ships"] ♪ And all the bells on earth shall ring ♪ ♪ on Christmas day, on Christmas day.
♪ ♪ And all the bells on earth shall ring ♪ ♪ on Christmas day in the morning.
♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: With a choir and orchestra, making music for children, about children is one of the greatest joys of the concert.
["CAROL OF THE DRUM"] ♪ I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum.
♪ ♪ I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum, ♪ ♪ rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum.
♪ ♪ Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum, ♪ ♪ me and my drum.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And there was the unforgettable procession, when every member of the choir carried a lighted candle to the stage.
♪♪ ["Star In The East"] ♪♪ ♪ Brightest and best, all ye angels of morning.
♪ ♪ Dawn on our darkness and lend us some aid.
♪ ♪ Star in the east, our horizon adoring.
♪ ♪ Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.
♪ ♪ Guide where our infant Redeemer was laid.
♪ ♪ Was laid, ♪ ♪ Was laid, ♪ ♪ Was laid, ♪ ♪ Was laid.
♪♪ [applause] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: So that's a peek at the processionals.
Spectacular, aren't they?
And a perfect way to open the concerts.
After the choir finishes warming up, they make their way out into this hallway.
And right here, it's not unusual for them to run into a new friend coming out of the dressing room door and getting into a cart, just like this one, on their way to the stage.
Hey, Finn.
How are you?
Want to head down?
Thanks.
I was one of those friends.
One of more than 40 guest artists who have performed in these Christmas concerts since the year 2000.
What's it like coming to work with the choir?
Well, most of us arrive the week of the performance.
First, there's a music run-through with the piano.
Then staging.
After that, we meet the choir and orchestra for the first rehearsal.
Then a dress rehearsal with the camera.
And finally, three sold out performances with audiences that are truly generous.
Hey, Finn, let's stop here.
Thanks.
Speaking of audiences, they come through the lobbies upstairs, but we come through this door.
And it's here we-- and it's here we meet the arm-- And it's here we meet the army of people who create this one-of-a-kind celebration.
There's a feeling of family, really.
Volunteers and full-time professionals working side by side with great energy and commitment.
Every year, at the end of performance week, the choir and orchestra share a farewell hymn with their guests.
I still remember when the choir and orchestra sang to me.
It's kind of hard to put into words what it feels like having more than 400 people sing straight into your heart.
It's kind of like a blessing that goes right into you and resonates with every cell of your body.
I think love has many sounds.
That's definitely one of them.
And the spirit of Christmas is undeniable.
Which is to say, if these walls could talk, they would tell us about 20 years of renowned guest artists, including this dear friend of mine.
(applause) >> ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Tony award winning singer and actor, Audra McDonald.
♪♪ ["RISE UP, SHEPHERD, AND FOLLOW"] ♪ There's a star in the East on Christmas morning.
♪ ♪ Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
♪ ♪ It will lead to the place where the savior's born.
♪ ♪ Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
♪ ♪ Oh, leave your sheep and leave your land.
♪ ♪ Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
♪ ♪ Oh, leave your ewes and leave your rams.
♪ ♪ Rise up, shepherd, and follow, come follow.
♪ ♪ Follow, follow, rise up, shepherd, and follow.
♪ ♪ Rise up, shepherd, and follow.
♪ ♪ Follow the Star of Bethlehem.
♪ ♪ Rise up, shepherd, and rise up, shepherd.
♪ ♪ Oh, rise up, shepherd, and follow.
♪ ♪ Follow.
♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: From Broadway and opera, the recording studio and the concert stage, these Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Academy Award winning friends of the choir have celebrated Christmas through traditional carols and contemporary songs.
The music recalls festive images, favorite traditions, and the stories of the nativity beloved by so many.
Stories of angels, shepherds, wise men, and that spectacular Christmas star.
["DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR?"]
♪ Said the night wind to the little lamb.
♪ ♪ Do you see what I see?
♪ ♪ Way up in the sky, little lamb.
♪ ♪ Do you see what I see?
♪ ♪ A star, a star, dancing in the night ♪ ♪ with a tail as big as a kite, ♪ ♪ with a tail as big as a kite.
♪ ♪ Said the little lamb to the shepherd boy, ♪ ♪ do you hear what I hear?
♪ ♪ Ringing in the sky, shepherd boy, ♪ ♪ do you hear what I hear?
♪ ♪ A song, a song, high above the trees ♪ ♪ with a voice as big as the sea, ♪ ♪ with a voice as big as the sea.
♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: These musical friends have helped us recall our deepest Christmas wishes, for ourselves, our loved ones, indeed, for the entire human family.
["MY GROWN-UP CHRISTMAS LIST"] ♪ So here's my lifelong wish.
♪ ♪ My grown-up Christmas list.
♪ ♪ Not for myself, but for this world, indeed.
♪ ♪ No more lives torn apart.
♪ ♪ That wars would never start.
♪ ♪ And time would heal all hearts.
♪ ♪ Every man would have a friend.
♪ ♪ And right would always win.
♪ ♪ And love would never end.
♪ ♪ This is my grown-up Christmas list.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And with these friends, we've offered Christmas prayers.
["Bring Him Home" from "Les Miserables"] ♪ Bring him peace.
♪ ♪ Bring him joy.
♪ ♪ He is young.
♪ ♪ He is only a boy.
♪ ♪ You can take.
♪ ♪ You can give.
♪ ♪ Let him be.
♪ ♪ Let him live.
♪ ♪ If I die, let me die.
♪ ♪ Let him live.
♪ ♪ Bring him home.
♪ ♪ Bring him home.
♪ ♪ Bring him home.
♪♪ ♪ Bring him home.
♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: It's no coincidence that Christmas is celebrated in the bleak midwinter, during the shortest, darkest days of the year.
At Christmastime, symbols of life and light abound from Evergreen, everliving trees and boughs to glowing lanterns and Christmas candles.
In our darkest hours, the spirit of Christmas brings the light of healing, hope, and peace.
["IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER"] ♪ In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind may moan.
♪ ♪ Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
♪ ♪ Snow had fallen, snow, snow.
♪ ♪ Snow on snow on snow.
♪ ♪ In the bleak midwinter, long, long ago.
♪ ♪♪ >> ANGELA LANSBURY: You know, the attacks of the last September the 11th have had an immeasurable impact on the minds and indeed the lives of millions of children throughout America.
Their little fears and often secret terrors, they need to be addressed so very carefully.
And all of us--grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles--we all have to try to do everything that we possibly can to reassure these little ones that they are safe and loved and that good will triumph over evil and right will prevail.
You know-- [applause] I believe this lovely song that I sang in "Sweeney Todd" by the great Stephen Sondheim really says it all.
["Not While I'm Around" from "Sweeney Todd"] ♪♪ ♪ Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around.
♪ ♪ Nothing's gonna harm you.
No, sir.
♪ ♪ Not while I'm around.
♪ ♪ Demons are prowling everywhere nowadays.
♪ ♪ I'll send them howling.
I don't care.
I've got ways.
♪ ♪ No one's gonna hurt you.
No one's gonna dare.
♪ ♪ Others may desert you.
Not to worry.
♪ ♪ Whistle, I'll be there.
♪ ♪ Demons will charm you with a smile for a while, ♪ ♪ but in time, nothing can harm you, not while I'm around.
♪ ♪♪ ["SWEET LITTLE JESUS BOY"] ♪ You have told us how and we are trying.
♪ ♪ Master, you have shown us how, even when you were dying.
♪ ♪ Master, you have shown us how, even when you were dying.
♪ ♪ Just seems like we can't do right.
♪ ♪ Look how we treated you.
♪ ♪ But please, sir, forgive us, Lord.
♪ ♪ We didn't know it was you.
♪ ♪♪ ["O Holy Night"] ♪ Truly he taught us to love one another.
♪ ♪ His law is love, and His gospel is peace.
♪ ♪ Bonds shall He break until we all are brothers.
♪ ♪ And in his name, all oppression shall cease.
♪ ♪ Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we.
♪ ♪ Let all within us praise his holy name.
♪ ♪ Fall on your knees.
♪ ♪ Oh, hear the angel voices.
♪ ♪ Oh, night divine, ♪ ♪ oh, night when Christ was born.
♪ ♪ oh, Night, oh, night.
♪ ♪ Oh, night.
Oh, night divine.
♪ ♪ Oh, night.
Oh, night divine.
♪ ♪ Oh, night divine ♪♪ ♪♪ [applause] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: As part of its annual holiday celebration, the choir and orchestra have shared music from a variety of traditions and cultures.
Through this music, they have reached out to build bridges of understanding and respect to unite joyful people everywhere.
["Rejoice and Be Merry"] ♪ Rejoice and sing.
♪ ♪ Rejoice and sing.
♪ ♪ Rejoice, rejoice, his praises we'll sing.
♪ ♪ Rejoice and sing.
♪ ♪ Rejoice and sing.
♪ ♪ Rejoice, rejoice, his praises we'll sing.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: The choir's Christmas music reaches from the Caribbean to the Czech Republic, employing everything from island steel drums to brass trumpets of mariachi bands.
The choir's guests also bring the culture of their ancestral homelands so that every Christmas, families and communities are invited to remember the musical heritage that makes them who they are.
["THE VIRGIN MARY HAD A BABY BOY"] ♪ The Virgin Mary had a baby boy.
♪ ♪ The virgin Mary had a baby boy.
♪ ♪ The virgin Mary had a baby boy.
♪ ♪ And they said that his name was Jesus.
♪ >> BRYN TERFEL: When I come from Wales, I always carry something with me.
Either a piece of gold from Wales, or the flag of Wales.
[laughter] [applause] Now, I'd like to sing a little lullaby.
Think of Mary in Bethlehem, holding baby Jesus and trying to make him to go to sleep.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Some of the most memorable moments are when great artists share the music that they have learned in the arms of their mothers and at the hearths of their homes.
["Suo Gân"] (SINGING IN WELSH) ♪ Paid ag ofni, dim and deilen ♪ ♪ Gura, gura ar y ddoô; ♪ ♪ Paid ag ofni,ton fach unig ♪ ♪ Sua, sua ar lan y môr; ♪ ♪ Huna blentyn, nid oes yma ♪ ♪ Ddim i roddi iti fraw; ♪ ♪ Ddim i roddi iti fraw; ♪ ♪ Gwena'n dawel yn fy mynwes.
♪ ♪ Ar yr engyl gwynion draw.
♪ ♪ Ar yr engyl gwynion draw.
♪ ♪♪ ["Polonaise" from "Christmas Eve" Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov] (SINGING IN RUSSIAN) ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ["Allons vite à Bethléem"] ♪♪ (SINGING IN FRENCH) ♪♪ ♪♪ ["Los pastores a Belén"] (SINGING IN SPANISH) ♪ La la laaaa ♪ ♪ Los pastores a belen Estan muy contento ♪ ♪ Porque nació el Niño Dios Un como ellos ♪ ♪ Hay hay hay, Que alegres van Hay hay hay, Si volverán ♪ ♪ Con la pan pan pan Con la pan ♪ ♪ Con la pandereta Y las castañuelas ♪ ♪ Laa Lalala lalala lalalaalaaaaaa ♪ [applause] ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: For these 20 years, whatever the culture of the music, the message is always the same.
Rejoice and be merry.
[REJOICE AND BE MERRY] ♪ Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice and be merry, ♪ ♪ His praises we'll sing.
♪ ♪ Rejoice, rejoice, rejoice and be merry, ♪ ♪ His praises we'll sing.
His praises we'll sing.
♪ ♪ His praises, his praises, his praises we'll sing.
♪ ♪♪ ♪ Praises we'll sing.
♪♪ [applause] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: There's been something for nearly everyone in these concerts, but not just because of the different musical styles and traditions.
The purpose of the choir is to connect with people.
Oh, wow.
[laughs] Uh, it's been a while since I've been on this stage.
And as you can see, there have been a lot of people here.
I wish everybody could stand on this stage right now, because... well, how do I explain the feeling?
It's--well, actually, here's how it felt to me more than a decade ago.
♪♪ >> ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Brian Stokes Mitchell.
♪♪ (applause) ♪♪ [A Crazy Christmas List/ The Christmas Song] ♪♪ ♪ Christmas is here again.
♪ ♪ Gotta shop; don't know when.
♪ ♪ Buy the food.
Deck the halls.
♪ ♪ Wrap the gifts.
Climb the walls.
♪ ♪ Chestnuts roasting on an open fire.
♪ ♪ Jack Frost nipping at your nose.
♪ ♪ Yuletide carols being sung by a choir, ♪ ♪ and folks dressed up like Eskimos.
♪ ♪ Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe ♪ ♪ help to make the season bright.
♪ ♪ Tiny tots with their eyes all aglow ♪ ♪ will find it hard to sleep tonight.
♪ ♪ They know that Santa's on his way.
♪ ♪ He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh.
♪ ♪ And every mother's child is going to spy ♪ ♪ to see if reindeer really know-- ♪ ♪ do they really know how to fly?
♪ ♪♪ ♪ Clean the house.
Decorate.
♪ ♪ Trim the tree.
Gain some weight.
♪ ♪ Make a list.
Fall behind.
♪ ♪ Lose the list.
Lose your mind.
♪ ♪ Everything's humming 'cause Christmas is coming.
♪ ♪ And Santa's on his way.
♪ ♪ He's loaded lots of toys and goodies on his sleigh.
♪ ♪ And every mother's child is going to spy ♪ ♪ to see if reindeer really know-- ♪ ♪ do they really know-- ♪ ♪ if reindeer really know how to fly.
♪ ♪ And so I'm offering this simple phrase ♪ ♪ to kids from 1 to 92.
♪ ♪ Although it's been said many times, many ways, ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, a joyful Christmas, ♪ ♪ not too crazy Christmas to you.
♪♪ ♪♪ [applause] >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Thank you very much.
I am so pleased to be back here in this beautiful hall.
I had the joy of performing here a few months back.
And I have to say, as large as this place is, somehow it still feels like I'm in my living room performing for friends.
[applause] OK, it's 21,000 friends.
But you can't have too many friends, right?
And that really is how it feels to be standing here.
Without columns or supports, this really is an intimate setting, and you feel like you could personally reach out and connect to every member of the audience.
♪♪ That people connection is a big part of what makes Christmas Christmas, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
♪♪ Speaking of Christmas, you hear that music?
Hey, Mack, is that you?
>> MACK WILBERG: It's me.
Hello.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: [chuckles] I guess these walls can talk.
I'm so excited to introduce you to one of my favorite conductors, arrangers, orchestrators on the entire planet.
I'm also very happy to call him my friend.
This is Mack Wilberg, who is also the music director of the choir.
Hey, Mack.
>> MACK WILBERG: How are you doing?
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: I'm great.
Merry Christmas.
>> MACK WILBERG: Merry Christmas to you.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Nice to be here on this stage with you once again, even though it's empty.
It's-- >> MACK WILBERG: Well, we're honored that you're with us.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Thank you.
I am honored to be here with you again.
In--I think it was 2008, right?
>> MACK WILBERG: It was.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Yeah.
When we first did the Christmas show.
And I remember we were brainstorming about what songs we might do.
>> MACK WILBERG: I remember it very well.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Yeah.
We came up with a bunch of different ideas.
I think one of the ones we ended up doing was a song about new words.
>> MACK WILBERG: That's right.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And we did a song about gratitude called-- >> MACK WILBERG: I remember.
That was an audience favorite.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Yeah.
"Grateful."
One of my favorite songs, too.
Well, this year, throwing ideas back and forth with you.
We've come up with a few things now.
One was, you know, I started thinking about how we're all feeling kind of isolated still.
>> MACK WILBERG: That's right.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And it made me think of a Christmas song from World War II that seems appropriate.
I think you're thinking of the same one.
>> MACK WILBERG: I think I am.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Let's do it.
["I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS"] ♪ I'll be home for Christmas.
♪ ♪ You can plan on me.
♪ ♪ Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree.
♪ ♪ Please have snow and mistletoe and presents on the tree.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: But then we both share, I think, a playful spirit as well.
And we thought of an Alfred Burt Christmas song.
He had a playful spirit, too.
There's one especially I think we talked about.
["Caroling, Caroling"] ♪ Caroling, caroling, now we go.
♪ ♪ Christmas bells are ringing.
♪ ♪ Caroling, caroling through the snow.
♪ ♪ Christmas bells are ringing.
♪ ♪ Joyous voices sweet and clear.
♪ ♪ Sing the sad of heart to cheer.
♪ ♪ Ding, dong, ding, dong, Christmas bells are ringing.
♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Then Mack and I talked, and the more we thought about it, the more we realized that Christmas really does fill a different need for each of us.
So we decided on this new song, which you may not have heard before.
Or it's a new old song, actually, because you might have heard it a long time ago.
Because if these walls could talk, they'd tell us that Christmas concerts here are meant to lift people, wherever they are, in whatever way they need, and sometimes in their greatest hour of need.
["THAT'S WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME"] ♪ To see my folks and all my friends again ♪ ♪ around the family Christmas tree.
♪ ♪ To feel the spirit of good will toward them.
♪ ♪ That's what Christmas means to me.
♪ ♪ To hear the sleigh bells ringing soft and clear ♪ ♪ while people sing because they're free.
♪ ♪ To hear my neighbor wish me joy and cheer.
♪ ♪ That's what Christmas means to me.
♪ ♪ And oh, there will be stockings filled with toys ♪ ♪ for all the lonely little girls and boys.
♪ ♪ And in my heart, the feeling is so grand ♪ ♪ to know I've helped the ones that need a hand.
♪ ♪ To look through windows trimmed in green and red ♪ ♪ and pray for all eternity ♪ ♪ to see the star of peace shine overhead.
♪ ♪ That's what Christmas means to me.
♪ ♪♪ ♪ And in my heart, the feeling is so grand ♪ ♪ to know that I'm the one to lend a hand.
♪ ♪ To look through windows dressed in green and red ♪ ♪ and pray for all eternity ♪ ♪ to see the star of peace shine overhead.
♪ ♪ That's what Christmas means to me.
♪ ♪ That's what Christmas means to me.
♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Merry Christmas, Mack.
>> MACK WILBERG: Merry Christmas to you.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ["SOMEWHERE IN MY MEMORY" from "Home Alone" ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Candles in the window, shadows painting the ceiling.
♪ ♪ Gazing at the fire's glow.
♪ ♪ Feeling that gingerbread feeling.
♪ ♪ Precious moments.
Special people.
♪ ♪ Happy faces I can see.
♪ ♪ Somewhere in my memory, Christmas joys all around me.
♪ ♪ Living in my memory, ♪ ♪ all of the music, all of the magic, ♪ ♪ all of the family home here with me.
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Somewhere in my memory, ♪ ♪ all of the music, all of the magic, ♪ ♪ all of the family home here with me.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: So here I am, in the choir loft.
And if these walls and chairs and instruments could talk, they'd tell us that from its pioneer beginnings, the choir and now the orchestra have always performed masterworks from the classical choral tradition.
And the discipline that that requires has prepared them to sing all kinds of music, including these favorites.
["FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN" from "Messiah" ♪ wonderful counselor.
♪ ♪ The mighty God.
♪ ♪ The everlasting Father.
♪ ♪ the Prince of peace.
♪ ♪ for Unto us a child is born.
♪ ♪ for Unto us a child is born.
♪ ♪ for Unto us a son is given.
♪ ♪ Unto us a son is given.
♪ ♪ Unto us a son is given.
♪ ♪ And the government, the government ♪ ♪ shall be upon his shoulders.
♪ ♪ The government shall be upon his shoulder.
♪ ♪ And his name shall be called wonderful, counselor.
♪ ♪ The mighty God.
♪ ♪ The everlasting Father.
♪ ♪ The prince of peace.
♪ ♪ The everlasting Father.
♪ ♪ The prince of peace.
♪♪ ["Unfold Ye Portals" from "The Redemption" ♪ Unfold, unfold, unfold, ye portals everlasting!
♪ ♪ Unfold, unfold, unfold, ye portals everlasting!
♪ ♪ With welcome to receive Him ascending on high.
♪ ♪ Behold the King of Glory!
♪ ♪ He mounts up through the sky, ♪ ♪ Back to the heav'nly mansions hasting,♪ ♪ Unfold, unfold, unfold, for lo, the King comes nigh.
♪♪ ♪♪ [Ring Out, Ye Crystal Spheres" from "Hodie" ♪ Emmanuel, Emmanuel, ♪ ♪ Emmanuel, Emmanuel, ♪ ♪ God with us.
♪ ♪♪ ♪ Ring out ye crystal spheres ♪ ♪ Once bless our human ears, ♪ ♪ If ye have power to touch our senses so; ♪ ["Hallelujah," from Messiah] ♪ King of kings ♪ ♪ forever and ever ♪ ♪ and lord of lords ♪ ♪ hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ And he shall reign forever and ever and ever ♪ King of kings and lord of lords ♪ ♪ King of kings and lord of lords ♪ ♪ And he shall reign forever and ever ♪ Forever and ever and ever and ever ♪ ♪ King of kings and lord of lords ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah, hallelujah ♪ ♪ Hallelujah!
♪♪ [applause] >> BRIAN STOKES mITCHELL: As you have seen, some of the music has been grand, some surprisingly simple, like this one from a 16th-century German manuscript comparing the birth of the Christ child to an ever-blooming rose.
["LO, HOW A ROSE E'ER BLOOMING"] ♪ Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming ♪ ♪ From tender stem hath sprung!♪ ♪ Of Jesse's lineage coming, ♪ ♪ As men of old have sung.
♪ ♪ It came, a flow'ret bright, ♪ ♪ Amid the cold of winter, ♪ ♪ When half spent was the night.
♪ ♪ When half spent was the night.
♪ ♪ This Flow'r, whose fragrance tender ♪ ♪ With sweetness fills the air, ♪ Dispels with glorious splendor ♪ ♪ The darkness ev'rywhere.
♪ ♪ True man, yet very God; ♪ ♪ From sin and death He saves us, ♪ ♪ And lightens ev'ry care.
♪ ♪ And lightens ev'ry care.
♪ ♪ And lightens ev'ry care.
♪♪ ♪ And lightens ev'ry care.
♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Every song has its place.
But lest you think there is only high-minded music here, let me assure you the Christmas concert is filled with music that is just for fun.
Usually, the rows and rows of people in the seats behind me aren't just listening with their ears.
They're participating in their hearts.
And that includes both the young and those who feel young at Christmas.
>> SANTINO FONTANA: Merry hristmas, everybody.
♪♪ ["The Candy Man"] ♪ Who can take a sunrise, ♪ ♪ who can take a sunrise, ♪ ♪ sprinkle it with dew, ♪ ♪ sprinkle it with dew, ♪ ♪ cover it in chocolate with a miracle or two?
♪ ♪ The candy man.
♪ ♪ The candy man.
♪ ♪ Oh, the candy man can.
♪ ♪ The candy man can.
♪ ♪ The candy man can, 'cause he mixes it with love ♪ ♪ and makes the world taste good.
♪ ♪ Makes the world taste good.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Songs that give hope to children always count for Christmas.
["I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE" from "The King and I" ♪ I whistle a happy tune and every single time, ♪ ♪ the happiness in the tune convinces me ♪ ♪ that I'm not afraid.
♪ ♪ Make believe you're brave, and the trick will take you far.
♪ ♪ You may be as brave as you make believe you are.
♪ (WHISTLING) ♪ You may be as brave as you make believe you are.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: For the choir and the orchestra, there really is no Christmas without the bells.
["RING THOSE CHRISTMAS BELLS"] ♪ Up above, the stars are clear and bright ♪ ♪ while all around the snow is soft and white.
♪ ♪ Santa and his reindeer soon will be in sight, ♪ ♪ and you will hear him sing.
♪ ♪ Oh, ring those Christmas bells.
♪ ♪ Ring those Christmas bells.
♪ ♪ While they chime, we'll have a happy time.
♪ ♪ So ring those Christmas bells.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: The bells at Temple Square were first organized in 2005 for a Christmas concert, and audiences have come to love them for speaking the universal language of sparkling joy.
♪ Ding dong ding dong ding dong ding ♪ ["CAMPANA SOBRE CAMPANA" (SINGING IN SPANISH) ♪ Campana sobre campana ♪ ♪ Y sobre campana una ♪ ♪ Asómate a la ventana ♪ ♪ Verás al niño en la cuna ♪ ♪ Belén, Campanas de Belén ♪ ♪ Que los ángeles tocan ♪ ♪ Que nuevas nos traéis ♪ ♪ Belén, Campanas de Belén ♪ ♪ Que los ángeles tocan ♪ ♪ Que nuevas nos traéis ♪ ♪ Belén, ♪ ♪ Campanas de Belén ♪ ♪ Belén ♪ (applause) >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: In every concert, there are musical moments that make you smile-- sometimes playful, and always joyful.
["THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS"] ♪ Ten lords a-leaping, ♪ ♪ Nine ladies dancing, ♪ ♪ Eight maids a-milking, ♪ ♪ Sev'n swans a-swimming, ♪ ♪ Six geese a-laying, ♪ ♪ Five gold rings, ♪ ♪ Four cally birds, ♪ ♪ Three French hens, ♪ ♪ Two turtle doves, ♪ ♪ And a partridge in a pear tree.
♪♪ ♪♪ (laughter) >> DEBRA VOIGT: Happy, happy, happy, happy.
Ring, ring, ring, jing-aling aling aling.
Well, you know, things may be happy and beautiful before Christmas, but sometimes after Christmas, things can go terribly wrong.
[THE TWELVE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS"] ♪ The eighth day after Christmas, ♪ ♪ before they could suspect, ♪ ♪ I bundled up the 8 maids a-milking, ♪ ♪ 9 ladies dancing, 10 lords a-leaping, ♪ ♪ 11 pipers piping, 12 drummers drumming-- ♪ ♪ well, actually, I kept one of the drummers.
♪ (laughter) ♪ And sent them back collect.
♪ ♪ I wrote my true love, "We are through, love"!
♪ ♪ and I said, in so many words, ♪ ♪ "Furthermore, your Christmas gifts are for the birds."
♪♪ ♪♪ [applause] >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Every year, Mack and Ryan find some unexpected gem.
A tune we love but haven't heard for a while.
And with it comes loads of nostalgia.
["OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOOD"] ♪ Over the river and through the wood, ♪ ♪ to Grandmother's house we go.
♪ ♪ The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh ♪ ♪ through the white and drifted snow.
♪ ♪ Over the river and through the wood, ♪ ♪ oh, how the wind does blow.
♪ ♪ It stings the toes and bites the nose ♪ ♪ as over the ground we go.
♪♪ ♪♪ ["'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS"] ♪ And what to my wondering eyes should appear, ♪ ♪ but a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer.
♪ ♪ With a little old driver, so lively and quick, ♪ ♪ that I knew right away that it must be St. Nick.
♪ ♪ More rapid than eagles, his coursers, they came.
♪ ♪ And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.
♪ ♪ Now, Dasher, now, Dancer, now, Prancer, now, Vixen.
♪ ♪ On Comet, on Cupid, on Donner and Blitzen.
♪ ♪ To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall, ♪ ♪ dash away, dash away, dash away all.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: The message is unmistakable.
Christmas, and singing Christmas music, are for everyone.
And if you attend a concert here, "everyone" may mean you.
>> MACK WILBERG: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.
Christmas is a time of music and singing, and not just listening.
So for the first time in-- well, as long as I can remember, we'd like to invite you to sing with us.
["Jingle Bells"] ♪ Dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh.
♪ ♪ O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way.
♪ ♪ Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright.
♪ ♪ What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.
♪ ♪ Oh-- ♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And if you do sing, you'll be in very good company.
♪ O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way.
♪ ♪ Bells on bob-tails ring, making spirits bright.
♪ ♪ What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight.
♪ ♪ Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
♪ ♪ Jingle all the way.
♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
♪ ♪ Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one horse open sleigh.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: In the Conference Center, singing carols together is a lot like being in a sleigh together.
And that, in the end, is Christmas.
♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
♪ ♪ Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: It's Christmas for everyone, including a few of the people in your neighborhood.
♪ In a one horse open sleigh, hey!
♪ >> SANTINO FONTANA: Oh, come on, Cookie.
I'm sure there are a lot of things you like about Christmas.
How about this?
>> COOKIE MONSTER: What, what, what?
♪ Everyone who likes giving gifts, say "I."
♪ ELMO: I. ABBY: I.
BIG BIRD: I.
♪ Everyone who likes giving gifts, say "I."
♪ ELMO: I. ABBY: I.
BIG BIRD: I.
♪ Well, if you want to show it, ♪ ♪ then let the whole world know it.
♪ ♪ Everyone who likes giving gifts, say "I."
♪ >> COOKIE MONSTER: Aye yi yi!
Maybe Christmas without cookies could still be fun.
>> SANTINO FONTANA: Yeah.
When we do things together, Christmas is lots of fun.
>> ELMO: That's right, because Christmas is more than presents.
>> ABBY: Yeah, and more than all the decorations.
>> BIG BIRD: And-- >> COOKIE MONSTER: More than cookies.
Me see the light!
Christmas about friends and family.
>> SANTINO FONTANA: That's right.
And your friends here have brought you a little more of Christmas.
Look at this, Cookie Monster.
>> COOKIE MONSTER: Cookies.
Oh boy!
Oh boy!
Oh boy!
Wait a minute.
Christmas about more than this.
Christmas about sharing.
And me got cookies to share.
There are enough cookies for Santino and Elmo and Big Bird and Abby.
>> ABBY: Aw, thank you, Cookie Monster.
>> BIG BIRD: Really?
>> SANTINO FONTANA: Cookie, you do realize, if you give these cookies away, there won't be as many for you.
>> COOKIE MONSTER: Oh, that's OK, Santino.
Me take one cookie, and me share the rest.
>> SANTINO FONTANA: Are you sure?
>> COOKIE MONSTER: Yeah.
Because now me know, Christmas more than cookies.
Merry Christmas, everybody!
>> SANTINO FONTANA: Everyone, sing along!
>> COOKIE MONSTER: um num num num.
♪ Everyone who likes Christmas, say "I do."
♪ ♪ "I do!"
♪ ♪ Everyone who likes Christmas, say "I do!"
♪ ♪ "I do!"
♪ ♪ If you have the Christmas spirit, ♪ let everybody hear it.
♪ ♪ Everyone who likes Christmas, everyone who likes Christmas, ♪ ♪ everyone who likes Christmas, say "I do!"
♪ ♪ Everyone who likes Christmas, say "I do!"
♪ ♪ Me do.
♪♪ [applause] >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Fun, right?
Listening to these walls talk, you can't help but notice that one of the loudest voices belongs to the ranks of pipes behind me, andit only takes one concert to figure that out.
The original organ solo always seems to steal the show.
[organ playing] From "12 days of Christmas" with Sesame Street's Count von Count to carols with bells, rotating organists and drums and a bluegrass band, Organ solos in these Christmas concerts are moments that make everyone sit up, marvel, and even cheer.
[cheering] The organist is my friend Richard Elliott, who knows how to turn the organ into a symphony.
Here's a brand new performance he created just for us.
Prepare to be wowed!
[Trepak from Nutcracker Suite] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: So what would the walls of this building tell us up here on the rooftop?
For one thing, they'd tell us that what has flowed out of this building is not just thrilling music, but also inspiring stories.
Christmas stories read and performed by gifted film and television actors and trusted newscasters.
And the stories always feature an original orchestral score with singing by the choir.
One year, the choir recounted why Charles Dickens wrote "A Christmas Carol," and how the character Scrooge was a reflection of Dickens' own awakening to the blessings of Christmas.
>> DICKENS: Oh, I always said Christmas is a wonder, sir, what with all its merriment and whatnot.
>> GHOST: You've seen practically nothing.
>> DICKENS: I haven't?
>> GHOST: No.
You haven't.
Look out there.
>> DICKENS: I can't see anything.
>> GHOST: Well, of course you can't.
From where you are, there's nothing to see but yourself.
Hold onto my robe.
Come on, now.
A breeze.
>> DICKENS: Ah!
>> GHOST: [laughs] >> DICKENS: Ah!
Ah!
>> GHOST: Wee!
[applause] >> GHOST: Yes!
This is the wonder, seeing things as they really are.
>> DICKENS: Look.
Look at the city from here.
>> GHOST: Yes, and what do you see, my good man?
>> DICKENS: I see houses and houses.
So many houses.
>> GHOST: Because there are so many people.
>> DICKENS: People?
Yes.
And all of them buying books.
>> GHOST: Oh, it's not about books.
(WHIMPERING) See the people, Charles, with their lives.
>> DICKENS: Lives?
>> GHOST: And troubles, like you.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: All of the stories are about people and the Christmas spirit in their hearts, such as Henry van Dyke's "The Other Wise Man" and the inspiring characters of the Nativity.
Many stories have been about children, including one from the treasury of Hans Christian Andersen.
>> Rolando Villazón: Bowing her head, warm tears fell onto her freezing hands, and she covered the last of her matches.
Fire in the stove, a feast on the table, lights on the tree.
"How could this be gone?"
she wondered.
There was something real in them, something alive, something waiting.
Believing as a child, she lifted the remaining matches and spoke to them, saying, "Can you bring Christmas back?
Can you give me that beautiful world again?"
With a prayer pounding in her heart, she scraped the matches against the stone wall, all of them at once.
SSHHHHHHHH!
For a moment, nothing came But then slowly, a single flame took hold and burst into a bouquet of fire.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: "Good King Wenceslas," originally written as a parable for children, also became a Christmas carol, and it was presented with picture book illustrations.
>> JANE SEYMOUR: From the corner of the cottage, good King Wenceslas watched the boy dance and smiled to himself.
The boy was taking the hands of the children and leading each one, just as he had been led.
Their sweet, innocent laughter was the music of Christmas, filling the room and ringing through the forest.
In time, the King and his pageboy reluctantly left the warm cottage and ventured once more across the snowy fields.
Side by side, they strode, now heedless of the cold night air, and the King knew that it was not too late.
Now, the blessings of Christmas had come to all of his kingdom, because they had come to the boy.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Many of the stories have been about families.
>> CLAIR BLOOM: Through the long winter, she and her father would often sit around their fire, talking and listening to the cold wind blow outside.
On these evenings, her father would sometimes look at her and pause.
So much like her mother.
The same bright smile.
The same dark eyes.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Some of the stories have been favorites for many years, like Pearl Buck's story of the farm boy who got up early to milk the cows as a Christmas gift for his father.
>> RICHARD THOMAS: Robert?
Yes, Dad?
His father was laughing, a strange, sobbing sort of laugh.
You thought you'd fool me, did you?
His father was standing by his bed feeling for him, pulling away the covers.
It's for Christmas, Rob cried, finding his father and clutching him in a great hug.
He felt his father's arms around him in the dark.
Son, I thank you.
Nobody ever did a nicer thing.
Oh, Dad, Rob said.
I just want to be good.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And then there was the classic O. Henry story of Christmas gifts gone wrong and right.
>> KRISTIN CHENOWETH: The best gifts, you see, do not come in packages at all.
What makes them valuable is not what they cost to buy but what they cost to give.
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Many inspiring stories have been found in history, including one from the history of music.
>> MARTIN JARVIS: In late August, Handel picked up his pen and began composing what would become a 260-page score.
But not without a struggle.
Suffering from rheumatism, the paralyzing effects of a stroke, and the psychological burden of enormous personal debt, Handel wrote.
Day by day, note by note, he depicted a Messiah who would bear the griefs and sorrows of all people everywhere, including his own.
♪♪ [Surely He Has Borne Our Griefs" from "Messiah"] ♪ Surely, surely he hath borne our griefs, ♪ ♪ And carried our sorrows, ♪ ♪ Surely, surely ... ♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Choir members were especially grateful to share the beginnings of the Tabernacle Choir in a Christmas setting.
>> MICHAEL YORK: With few earthly belongings, but laden with heavenly gifts, John and Mary joined 249 of their countrymen and boarded a ship bound for America.
Out on the open sea, John organized other Welsh passengers into a choir.
Singing mixed their hearts together and bolstered their faith.
John's little Welsh choir pushed on, singing as they crossed the Western plains.
Along the trail, travelers from other nations put their heads out of their wagons to hear the music.
Some would come running just to be near the singers.
When asked where their choir had learned to sing and who had taught them, one traveler recorded, "The hills of Wales were their schoolhouse and the spirit of God was their teacher."
That spirit was felt whenever they sang a word from their countrymen, words they knew by heart.
♪♪ [GUIDE US, O, THOU GREAT JEHOVAH"] ♪ Guide us, O, thou great Jehovah.
♪ ♪ Guide us to the promised land.
♪ ♪ We are weak, but thou... ♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Three stories have been told about finding and keeping the spirit of Christmas alive in war time.
>> WALTER CRONKITE: Two British officers ventured over to the German line and, against orders, arranged a Christmas truce.
But the negotiation was a mere formality by then.
Up and down the trenches, men from both sides already had begun crossing the line to join in the celebration.
Lieutenant Sir Edward Hulse "assaulted" the enemy with music.
In a letter to his mother, he wrote, "We're going to give the enemy every conceivable song from carols to Tipperary."
The Germans responded with a Christmas concert of their own.
It was not long before the cold air rang with everything from "Good King Wenceslas" to "Auld Lang Syne."
♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: This story included pictures of choir members' great-grandparents, who once fought in the Great War.
♪ Glo-r-ia ... ♪ >> A renowned historian told how one American Christmas carol had an influence in World War II.
>> DAVID McCULLOUGH: Shortly before Christmas 1941, Prime Minister Winston Churchill, at considerable personal risk, crossed the Atlantic in great secrecy to meet with President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
The attack on Pearl Harbor had taken place only weeks before.
On Christmas Eve, from a balcony at the White House, the two leaders spoke to a crowd of 20,000 gathered in the twilight.
Churchill began his remarks.
Here he was, he said, far from his own country, far from his family, "...yet I cannot truthfully say that I feel far from home.
Here in the midst of war, raging, roaring over all the lands and seas, creeping nearer to our hearts and homes, here amid all the tumult, we have tonight the peace of the spirit in each cottage and every generous heart.
Here then, for one night only, should be a brightly lighted island of happiness and peace."
The following morning, Christmas day, the prime minister and the president went to church, where, with the congregation, they joined in singing "O Little Town of Bethlehem," which Churchill had never heard before.
♪ O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see-- ♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: There was the true story of American pilot Gail Halvorsen who, during the Berlin airlift, gave two sticks of gum to children behind enemy lines, then dropped them candy with homemade parachutes and inspired giving throughout the world.
>> TOM BROKAW: Soon hundreds of airmen were donating rations, Operation Little Vittles quickly captured the imagination of people everywhere.
Candy and handkerchiefs poured in from around the world.
Hal became known as "The Candy Bomber" and "The Chocolate Pilot."
Across West Berlin, children gathered to catch the parachutes and share the candy with each other, and they sent hundreds of thank you letters, like the one addressed to "Dear Onkel of the heaven."
Some included maps and instructions: "Fly along the big canal to the second bridge.
Turn right one block.
I live in the bombed-out house on the corner.
I'll be in the backyard every day at 2:00 p.m. Drop the chocolate there."
(laughter) Day by day, the parachutes brought peace, and the candy renewed hope.
The children made friends of their former enemies, and their parents' hearts were softened.
The wounds of war began to heal.
By December, the Little Vittles Operation had gathered 18 tons of candy from American candy makers, and three more tons came in from private donors.
The spirit of Christmas was descending on people everywhere, lifting them up in the joy of giving.
♪♪ (airplane engine sound flies by) ♪♪ ♪ From Heav'n on high to all the earth ♪ ♪ Descend these angels at His birth.
♪ ♪ Come down, ye seraphs bright and fair, ♪ ♪ Sing forth glad tidings in the air.
♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that in times of war and suffering, the spirit of Christmas is needed most.
>> HUGH BONNVILLE: In mid-November 1873, an ocean liner, the Ville du Havre, set sail from New York bound for France with 313 passengers on board.
One can imagine their festive Atlantic crossing with ribbons of red, swags of evergreen, and Christmas carols wafting through a dining room sparkling with candlelight.
But at about 2 o'clock in the morning, they were suddenly jolted awake in their berths.
Despite a clear, starry sky, the Ville du Havre had inexplicably collided with the Loch Earn, an iron-hulled Scottish clipper.
"When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, 'It is well.
it is well with my soul.'"
>> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: And that was the conclusion drawn by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow at Christmas time.
>> EDWARD HERRMANN: Reading his words today, we ask when conflict rages and pain, grief, and loneliness overwhelm us, "where is the music of hope and peace?"
For Henry, the answer to that question has everything to do with Christmas.
After Fanny's death, he had written, "...so strong is the sense of her presence upon me that I should hardly be surprised to look up now and see her in the room.
Death is a beginning, not an end."
On that Christmas morning, it is clear to Henry that war, injury, and even death are not the end.
The rising sun turns the icy river to silver, and the windows of the Longfellow home to gold.
Henry's children, bundled in winter wool, are whisked past snowy fields through wooded hills and valleys along the road to home.
They look up, blinking and giggling in the falling snow, and they hear the sounds that make Christmas Christmas.
They hear the bells.
From his desk, Henry hears them, too.
Renewed, he plunges his pen into fresh ink, joyfully drawing it across a sheet of snow white paper.
[i HEARD THE BELLS ON CHRISTMAS DAY] ♪ I heard the bells on Christmas day.
♪ ♪ Their old familiar carols play.
♪ ♪ And mild and sweet, the words repeat ♪ ♪ of peace on earth, good will to men.
♪ >> EDWARD HERRMANN: In those bells, the message is clear.
On Christmas day, a child was born in a stable.
Of that Child, Henry writes, "Though in a manger Thou draw breath, Thou art greater than life and death."
And so He is.
♪ Then rang the bells more loud and deep.
♪ ♪ God is not dead, nor does he sleep.
♪ ♪ The wrong shall fail, the right prevail ♪ ♪ with peace on earth, good will to men.
♪ >> EDWARD HERRMANN: As the bells ring on, Henry dips his pen again and again.
Because Christmas lives on, Fanny lives on.
Charles lives on.
A nation lives on.
And we, each one of us, may live on as well in hope and peace forever.
♪ 'til ringing, singing on its way, ♪ ♪ the world revolved from night to day.
♪ ♪ A voice, a chime, a chant sublime ♪ ♪ of peace on earth, good will to men.
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Good will to men.
♪♪ ♪ Good will to men.
♪♪ [applause] ♪♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: At the close of every concert, a guest artist shares the biblical story of the nativity.
Notwithstanding troubles in their world, Joseph and Mary went up from Galilee to Bethlehem to be taxed.
And while they were there, Mary brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.
Nearby, shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night must have been startled when an angel came upon them.
The scripture says they were sore afraid.
But the angel said, "fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, which is Christ the Lord."
And that's what these walls would tell us, if they could talk.
Whatever we believe about the meaning of Christmas, its message is universal.
That's what the shepherds learned.
After they received the message from the angel, a multitude of the heavenly hosts appeared, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace, good will toward all."
♪♪ The music, the stories, the singing, the dancing, and the sharing are all a reminder that the birth of Jesus Christ is about peace and good will for everyone.
It's why the joy of Christmas really is joy to all the world.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Infant holy, infant lowly, ♪ ♪ for His bed, a cattle stall.
♪ ♪ Oxen lowing, little knowing ♪ ♪ Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
♪ ♪ Swift are winging, angels singing, ♪ ♪ noells ringing, tidings bringing.
♪ ♪ Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
♪ ♪ Christ the Babe is Lord of all.
♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Flocks were sleeping, shepherds keeping ♪ ♪ vigil till the morning new.
♪ ♪ saw the glory, heard he story, ♪ ♪ tidings of a gospel true.
♪ ♪ Thus rejoicing, free from sorrow ♪ ♪ praises voicing, greet the morrow.
♪ ♪ Christ the Babe was born for you.
♪ ♪ Christ the babe was born for you.
♪ ♪ Christ the babe was born for you.
♪ ♪♪ ♪ Christ was born for you.
♪♪ ♪ Christ was born for you.
♪♪ [ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY"] ♪ Angels from the realms of Glory ♪ ♪ Wing your flight o'er all the earth ♪ ♪ Ye who sang Creation's story ♪ ♪ Now proclaim Messiah's birth ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪♪ >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: If these walls could talk.
Tonight, we've remembered just a few of the joyful moments they hold.
And how much more Christmas joy is ours when we ask the same question about the walls of our homes, and even the recesses of our hearts.
Perhaps the greatest blessing of these concerts is the reminder that the spirit of the season is within us, and the joy of the season is awakened whenever we let heaven and nature sing the songs and carols of Christmas.
May it ever be so.
♪ Shepherds in the fields abiding ♪ ♪ Watching o'er your flocks by night ♪ ♪ God with man is now residing ♪ ♪ Yonder shines the Infant Light ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Sages leave your contemplations ♪ ♪ Brighter visions beam afar ♪ ♪ Seek the Great Desire of Nations ♪ ♪ Ye have seen His natal star ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Saints before the altar bending ♪ ♪ Watching long in hope and fear ♪ ♪ Suddenly the Lord descending ♪ ♪ In His temple shall appear ♪ ♪ Alhough an infant now we view Him ♪ ♪ He shall fill His Father's throne ♪ ♪ Gather all the nations to Him ♪ ♪ Every knee shall then bow down ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a Gloria Deo ♪♪ [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] [APPLAUSE] >> BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: See you later, friend.
♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in excelsis Deo ♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a in Excelsis Deo ♪♪ >> ANNOUNCER: For more music from this performance, behind the scenes videos and information about past concerts, Go to: pbs.org/tabernaclechoir ♪♪ ♪ Glo-ri-a Gloria Deo ♪♪ [applause] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ ♪ Oh wow.
It feels great to be in a room with all my friends again.
I'm really looking forward to doing this with you guys And most of all, let's have a lot of fun doing it, OK?
So everybody, let's make that promise with each other.
[applause] What I like about this show is that the audience is going to get to see under the hood of what it takes to put on a Christmas show like this.
A little bit of a blizzard right before you came.
I saw that.
I was watching from the corner.
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): What it's like backstage, what it's like performing to an empty house as we do when we rehearse-- [vocalizing] DIRECTOR: Six, take two, mark.
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): Doing this concert is different than usual because generally, you get one take.
My voice cracked, I can't do that one.
Come through this door.
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): You get a lot of rehearsal, which is fantastic.
But doing it this way where we get to go back if something's not quite right, it's a little less terrifying.
And tell us about the joy that music brings into the world at Christmastime.
When-- here's my door.
[laughter] Sorry about that.
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): We've got like people holding lights, and these moving shots are really complicated.
It's not just thrilling music.
We've got Jed on the Steadicam and he's walking backwards while he's doing this.
And he has to stay in pace.
We got somebody on a teleprompter and that has to be working right, and then we've got other camera people down there.
There are just a lot of things that need to work perfectly together.
♪♪ BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL: People don't appreciate that, and they shouldn't because they should just enjoy the show.
♪♪ Well, aren't you the surprise?
♪♪ BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): One of the things that is really great about music is it has a way of connecting people and bringing people together in a very profound and deep way.
Speaking of matters of the heart, you hear that music?
I think I know who that is.
Mack Wilberg, is that you?
MACK WILBERG: It's me.
Ah.
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): I love Mack Wilberg Mack, it is so great to be on this stage again.
And I love conversations with him about everything.
I love talking to him about music because what you hear and you feel from his music, that's who that guy is.
♪♪ BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): His string writing is just so luscious.
He literally writes every single note for each of the members of the orchestra.
♪♪ I said, Mack, how do you get that sound?
And I'm not sure if that sound comes from specific articulation that he's using, or am I just hearing this beautiful music that is coming straight from his heart?
♪♪ [playing piano] BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): It's interesting because this show wouldn't have happened without us being in this terrible pandemic.
And it's forced people to become creative in a different way.
For about two or three months in New York City, at 7 o'clock every evening people would open their windows and clap and cheer and make noise, and if they were in their cars they'd honk horns.
And that was to honor all of the frontline workers.
So one day, I just spontaneously started singing The Impossible Dream out the window.
[singing] Everybody on the street stopped and they looked up and they thought, oh, oh, OK. And so the next night I hear from somebody from the street say, sing the song!
And so I thought, oh, oh, OK. And I sang the song again.
But I think the thing that struck me the most about it was I saw a neighbor a few weeks after that, and he came up to me and said, I want to thank you.
I come out every single night.
I come out with my family, and my boys, we come out to hear you sing.
It's the one moment of my day when I get to feel joy.
And I went, Oh-- because I'd forgotten the power of art.
The power that we are able to give as artists.
BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL (VOICEOVER): That, I think, is what the spirit of Christmas is really about.
It's joyous.
It's a celebration of a birth, it's a celebration of art.
It's a celebration of people working together.
That's why people love to come here for the Christmas concert.
That's why it's sold out for all of these 20 years.
When you come and see people singing together and making art together, it's like, oh.
That's what human beings can do when we decide to do something together for a common goal.
Look what beauty we can make.
We can cure a pandemic.
There are so many things we can do when we put our minds to it and work together.
Miraculous things happen.
♪ (Piano cord) ♪ ♪♪
