The theme for this year's concert was "For Those Who Follow." It was a tribute not only to the pioneers who crossed the plains, but to the men and women of the armed forces, now and in the past, who have paved the way and who continue to fight for the freedoms we enjoy.
There were a couple of traditional Pioneer Day hymns. It wouldn't be Pioneer Day without "Come, Come, Ye Saints." I love the arrangement the choir sang, though! Unlike many others, it actually emphasizes "Happy day!" in the fourth verse. It does not get slower or switch to a minor key. In fact, the interlude between the third and fourth verses includes a modulation into a higher key. "And should we die before our journey's through, Happy day! All is well!" :)
Several of the other songs the choir shared are some of my favorites from them: America, the Dream Goes On; God Bless America; Battle Hymn of the Republic; and others
The first song Brian Stokes Mitchell sang was "What a Wonderful World." It was interesting to see others' faces during the singing: some of the choir members immediately behind him, and some of the people around me. You could tell by the eyes and the soft smiles who has a connection with the song. I love it. I'm not sure anything can outdo the Louis Armstrong version for me, but I love the song anyway.
He also sang "Wheels of a Dream." I don't remember hearing that one before, but it has such a wonderful message. For those who are not familiar with the song, it's a father singing to his newborn son, describing how he will show him America.
Then we got to hear Linda Eder. Her voice is gorgeous! It helps that it's a comfortable range to listen to, of course, but I'd love to hear more of her. She sang "If I Had My Way," written after September 11, 2001, and describing the peace we would love to see for all people. She also sang "I'll Be Seeing You." If I were typically a crier, I probably would have cried at that one! As she sang, they projected pictures of family members bidding goodbye to loved ones going off to war. Nearer to the end of the song, it changed to family members greeting their returning loved ones. It's a good reminder of the sacrifices made continually--not just by our armed forces, but by their families. It' a reminder that even though we have not all sent loved ones off to war, that as we go about our lives, we need to remember even the small freedoms we enjoy and the people who are still sacrificing to make that possible.
Brian Stokes Mitchell and Linda Eder joined each other, backed up by the choir, on the final song: "Let There Be Peace On Earth." The words are so simple, but the message is so powerful. Peace begins with individuals. We are children of God--meaning we are all family! I believe we can do our part to create peace, and to pray for peace. Even amidst the turmoil of the world, we can find peace within ourselves through the gospel of Jesus Christ, whose message is one of peace.
I can't really do the concert justice through my words. If you are able, I strongly recommend that you view it tonight on BYU-TV or online at 7 pm MDT. (That's 9 Eastern or 6 Pacific.) There will not be archives; I think it's either tonight or whenever it comes out on DVD. I hope you get a chance to see it; it seems like every time I go to one of these concerts, I think they can't possibly get any better. And then the next one is even better than the last. :)
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