When I Survey the Wondrous Cross | The Tabernacle Choir

[@alancrookston5906]

I was hoping this would make the new hymn book cut. Love it!

[@randygayletowery8338]

I love it. And I am happy I'm old enough that I just enjoy it, and am not required to critique like I did in college. So beautiful and so powerful.

[@Jbutters616g]

Performing this in college many times , it never get old, just majestic and powerful with that organ ❤

[@Danmc50]

One of my favorites. Gilbert Martin is a very talented composer / arranger. As organist, I have accompanied our church choir when they sang it. It is also available as an organ solo, which I enjoyed playing as well.

[@SingerGuy59]

In the late 80's I sang this piece with the Mormon Youth Chorus. It was one of our staples. We had to do it from memory, so I really got to focus on the words as I was learning it. There is a phrase in this song that always brings me to tears, “Or thorns compose so rich a crown.” I always thought to myself, what if the thorns had some primitive awareness of the role they were playing in the atonement. Would they be sad they were causing pain, or overjoyed they got to be part of the redemption of all mankind? That thought remains with me to this day whenever I hear this grand piece of music. To be thorns, or the wood of the cross, and know you were participating in the most glorious event of all human history. Of course, it is unknown whether such objects have any awareness, but it got me thinking about my own involvement, and whether I am claiming this grand gift of the atonement by daily repentance and sacrifice to live up to this supreme suffering that was performed in my behalf. Thank you, my Savior Jesus Christ!

[@laneferrin8675]

I was in Mormon Youth at that time, and I feel the same about this song. So special

[@wa081184]

The most difficult thing about singing this piece it to not start crying!

[@markslay1]

I have to remind myself to continue breathing as I listen to those last stances where the emotions are so raw...

[@cheerjim]

I love it when you close with "Amen." Most churches including the Presbyterian no long say Amen at the close of their hymns.

[@wa081184]

I have been Presbyterian for 38 years and have never heard of this restriction. We did have a minister who insisted we hold our Hallelujah's during Lent and save them for Easter, but I have never heard of restrictions on "Amen". Amen to that! :) :O

[@jessicajohnson900]

This is one of my absolute favorite songs. The love that Jesus Christ has for us all is so amazing and so divine, as the song beautifully states. Thank you for singing it so wonderfully and full of the Spirit. It truly touched my heart.

[@MrBluegrouse]

When you’re in the tabernacle listening to this song, you can feel the organ shake the pews at the end. It’s amazing live and in person. Maybe my favorite song the choir sings...

[@lovesColdplay]

FINALLY! A song that is so close to my heart. This song captures exactly all feelings I have for my Saviour.

[@VEBAGURU]

As it does for all of us who love the Saviour, no matter which church they may belong to.

[@Matthew-pj5zl]

Me and the choir at my church in Auburn, AL did this along with Love Devine, O Love That Will Not Let Me Go, and A Child's Prayer with Craig Jessop who was wonderful to meet and a really great man! And we've been invited to sing there as well as attend their Music and the Spoken Word Sunday service and I can't wait!

[@montematheson1517]

One of the most underrated of the choir's repetoir.

[@randygayletowery8338]

Agreed!

[@wa081184]

My choir will sing this as part of our dear choir conductor, Ara Carapetyan's memorial service. He planned it all, so there is lots of singing. We will also sing Unclouded Day.

[@tabeakalimeris1230]

Lyrics: When I survey the wondrous cross On which the prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my god; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to his blood. See, from his head, his hands, his feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did ever such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all!

[@mkl62]

I am an ELCA Lutheran from South Carolina. I play the piano and organ. Today (September 14), we held an outdoor worship service at Dreher Island State Park on Lake Murray. We sang this as our Hymn of the Day. It is #803 in Evangelical Lutheran Worship.

[@CJCappella]

And?

[@hadassa8H15]

You have a beautiful hymn then!

[@globalnettuber]

2nd verse Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

[@jamesreed7528]

My favorite vocal group, and one of my favorite hymns, so beautifully done. Inspiring.

[@anubhaacharjee6509]

simply beautiful can't stop listening.

[@patriciaoketch2877]

Beautiful. The dynamics are great too

[@AnnaLeeTi11man]

I have sung this song and have felt the beauty, meaning, and Love of God conveyed to my heart and expressed by these words to those whom we have sung. Brings happy tears to my eyespecially every time I hear it.

[@rhythm2earth]

First time to hear this arrangemet and sing by this professional choir, just beautiful and in awe.......!

[@ronaldsnyder8522]

While no insult was meant by rhythm2earth, the Mo Tabs are not "professional" in that they receive no compensation for their participation in the choir, although their travel is paid for. They are, however, the most exclusive choir in Salt Lake City and the hardest to get into, including professional groups.

[@rogermetzger7335]

+Ronald Snyder Ever heard the Tongan Methodist Choir in Salt Lake City? Best kept secret in town! (Take a good book. Much of their singing is in Tongan but worth the trip.)

[@ronaldsnyder8522]

+Roger Metzger No, but I attended a Tongan LDS ward in Honolulu and heard their singing. Quite an experience. Lots of altos and basses, not so many sopranos and tenors.

[@clarklambert]

The point about professionalism is straining at a gnat. We're looking for indicators of quality. You can't just take any choir, PAY them with salary or donations and expect the musicality to change. Yes, the board and room is covered during travel, and their outfits and music are also covered. I'd imagine it's more logical to look at audience response, performance contracts, recording schedules and sales instead, do you see? The whole thing is incomparable (literally, what other groups function at this magnitude or size?)

[@rogermetzger7335]

When we lived in Salt Lake City, the Tongan United Methodist choir sang exclusively a cappella. The members of the choir had been singing a cappella since children so the harmony was exquisite. I also had opportunity to hear a Tongan methodist high school band while it was turing the U.S. Best high school band I ever heard--and they were playing classical music as well as old methodist hymns. I love to hear music by world-class groups like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and those Tongan methodists. Our daughter recently sang in the chorus of an opera production at the University of Maine. That opera troupe was very good but maybe not in the top 10% of musical groups I have heard. (My mother married her college voice teacher's brother who wasn't a professional (paid) musician but a musician nonetheless. I was soooo blessed to be expose to good musicianship my whole life!)

[@mr.booker9263]

Beautifully done...I wouldn't change a thing!

[@filipinodunker]

My favorite piece! I sang this beautiul song when I was in choir at San Diego Academy.

[@wimschaap9911]

JC24 abidewithme

[@leandraalves6941]

Senti muito o espírito. Amo o Coro do Tabernáculo!

[@Dena6788]

BEAUTIFUL

[@luiinsac2]

**crying** that was beautiful

[@Delete-f3k]

Beautiful

[@bettywells5893]

Beautiful ❤️

[@daveandannalyn]

Got a small close-up in this one. See? I really am in the choir!

[@Delete-f3k]

❤❤❤😁👏👏👏👏👏

[@davidzoschke6127]

I agree with Dix Gib. The vowel sound of the men is so thin to start. To their credit is the impeccable diction and precise consonants This arrangement is a classic, and Martin's arrangement really brings emotion to the depth of the lyrics, "Love so amazing, so divine demands my soul, my life, my ALL"

[@pamelareynolds4232]

Amen

[@julieschultz6363]

We're singing this song at a funeral tomorrow.

[@princewillchinasa3362]

😇

[@cloudydaez]

@gibson Dixon uhh it's supposed to be like that in the beginning. I mean it can't be like that at the end can it? Wouldn't sound right.

[@clarklambert]

Exactly, then you create a dynamic to build from. Tab choir doesn't do this, but another way to thin out for extra pianissimo is to count off, and have even numbers lip synch during pp or ppp passages.

[@SamVillano]

Their mf entrance is way too much; though, to be honest, I'm still impressed by how well they were able to do with a piece that demands such quiet intensity with such a large choir.

[@gaboy4553]

Here the organ is the right sound, but the opening in the men's voices is too brilliant, not enough covering of vowel sounds. ( It comes off sounding a little too cute!) It improves later in the piece.

[@Organ1958]

My favorite hymn the choir sings. And, they do it with the organ accompanying. A real bonus. I don't like the choir singing with with the orchestra.

[@pnbrinton1]

This is one of my top 5 choir favorites, I think. I enjoy the orchestra, but like you, prefer the choir singing with the organ. Which is one reason why I really enjoy the MTC's General Conference music.