Mormon Studies Commons^™

Marie Nelson Bennett, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Marie Nelson Bennett (June 15, 1926 – November 18, 2018) was an American composer.

Moiselle Renstrom, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Katherine Moiselle Renstrom (June 23, 1889 – September 28, 1956) was a Utah educator, author, lyricist and composer of music for children.

Newel Kay Brown, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Newel Kay Brown (February 29, 1932 – ) is an American composer, conductor, and arranger. He was chair of the Composition Division in the College of Music at the University of North Texas before his retirement.

Marie Manwaring Anderson, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Teresa Marie Manwaring Anderson (July 8, 1913 – February 23, 2002) was an Idaho composer, pianist, music teacher and choral director.

Georgia Mae Wahlin Bello, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Georgia Mae Wahlin Bello (February 13, 1924 – November 5, 2007) was an accomplished vocalist and pianist who was also a “one hit wonder” composer.

Earl C. Hazelle, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Earl Charles Hazelle (February 1, 1906 – November 22, 1993) was a pianist, organist, accordionist and a composer of music for all three instruments as well as vocal music. He was also an accomplished painter in oils. Hazelle taught both music and art lessons for many years.

Frances K. Thomassen Taylor, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Frances Eliza Warren Kingsbury Thomassen Taylor (January 21, 1870 – November 17, 1952) was an organist, composer and member of the General Board of the Primary Associations.

Irene (Christopherson) Tempest, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Irene Ellen Nelson Christopherson Tempest (January 19, 1904 – February 9, 1988) was a Utah pianist, organist and composer.

Mildred Tanner Pettit, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Laura Mildred Tanner Pettit (August 9, 1895 – April 9, 1977) is best known as the composer of the iconic Primary song, I am a Child of God. Much of the music composed by Sister Pettit was aimed at children and can be found in various publications of the Primary Association of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. However, Sister Pettit wrote dance music and operettas which were performed widely. She sometimes choreographed and directed the productions as well.

Edwin F. Parry, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Edwin Francis Parry (June 11, 1860 – September 16, 1935) was a Utah typesetter, printer and writer who also loved music. He sang, played the organ and piano, wrote song lyrics and composed many songs and hymns.

Maurine Dewsnup, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Grace Maurine Dewsnup (February 8, 1909 – February 1, 1998) was a Utah piano soloist, dance accompanist, composer, music theorist and teacher.

Ruth Gatrell, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Ruth Josephine Barton was born on December 23, 1921, in Farmington, Utah. Her parents were Lloyd and Edna (Cottrell) Barton. When the Bartons married, Edna already had a five-year-old daughter, Helen, from a previous marriage. Ruth was the first of two children born to Edna’s second marriage. The family was living in Mount Pleasant, Utah, but returned to the home of Edna’s father, Edward Cottrell, for the birth of the baby. She was named Ruth for the biblical heroine, and Josephine because she shared a birthday with the prophet Joseph Smith. A younger sister, Laura Jean, joined the family in …

Vanja Y. Watkins, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Vanja Louise Yorgason was born on September 22, 1938 in Ogden, Utah, the daughter of R. Milton and Norma Johns Yorgason. Vanja grew up in a musical home. Her father was a violinist, and her mother a pianist and an organist. Vanja and her four brothers learned to “sing four-part hymns in tune unaccompanied.”1 Their parents felt that music was an important part of their children’s education, and made the necessary sacrifices to provide music lessons.

Peggy Clinger, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Catherine Peggy Clinger (January 11, 1949 – August 9, 1975) was an American singer, voice actress and composer.

N. Lorenzo Mitchell, Myrna J. Layton

Faculty Publications

Nephi Lorenzo Mitchell (May 4, 1889 – November 9, 1968) was a pianist, organist, music teacher and composer, whose life and work took place in three countries: England, Canada and the United States. Mitchell was named the Aaronic Priesthood Music Director for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1945, and was the director of the McCune School of Music and Art from 1950-1957. He served on the General Music Committee of the Church from 1938-1968.

Bedeviled Beauty: My Journey Through White American Theater Institutions, J'Aila C. Price

LSU New Orleans Theses and Dissertations

Game console: Oculus Quest

World: American Theater Institutions

Player: Minority

Place: United States

Level: “Ain’t no way.”

This thesis explores the contrast between the Westernized philosophies ingrained in my education and my identity as a Black female artist. It sheds light on the difficulties of pursuing higher education in the arts and the gaps that arise from limited exposure to culturally diverse Black resources, revealing the systemic issues in Western performance education. The paper also discusses the insights gained from my journey as a Black female artist, focusing on my thesis performance of Blood at the Root, which is …

Los Artículos De Fe: De La Iglesia De Jesucristo De Los Santos De Los Últimos Días, Joseph Smith, Vanja Y. Watkins, Marvin K. Gardner, María Marta Molina De Monterroso, John C. Leavitt

Books

No abstract provided.

Music Of Christmas, Vanja Y. Watkins, Marvin K. Gardner, Ronald Staheli, Myrna Layton

Books

No abstract provided.

The Symphony In America: Maurice Abravanel, And The Utah Symphony Orchestra: The Battle For Classical Music, Alex D. Smith

Theses and Dissertations

Between 1947 and 1979 the Utah Symphony Orchestra was transformed from an obscure, part-time, amateur orchestra into one of the major symphony orchestras in America. By 1947 the orchestra, which had begun as a Works Progress Administration organization, was barely hanging on. The symphony struggled to remain financially solvent, performing only a few concerts per year. Thirty-two years later the Utah Symphony Orchestra was one of the most prestigious musical ensembles in the country— receiving rave reviews from critics around the world, touring extensively, and with more than a hundred albums to its credit. The remarkable growth of the Utah …

A Mormon Cultural Study Of Musical Preference, Alden L. Weight

Theses and Dissertations

Music is an important yet relatively unnoticed part of the everyday world almost all of us take for granted. Whether in the car, watching television, shopping, at work or at home, even waking up in the morning or going to sleep at night, and so forth, music surrounds us, soothes us, disturbs us, and occasionally goes so far as to persuade us. Although music plays a significant role in many areas of life, its relationship to society is especially evident in the religious sphere. Therefore, the religious sphere is an ideal place to examine what music does and what it …

The Sound Of Utah: The Presence Of Geographical Elements In Music Written About The State Of Utah, Kamia Walton Holt

Theses and Dissertations

Music is a by-product of place and time. Musicians have opportunities to use the idea of place in their music. Thus, music has regionally distinctive characteristics which reflect human perceptions of the physical environment. Artists of the past and present focus on geographical themes, and paint a picture of ‘place’ in their music. This thesis focuses on the music of a geographical location: Utah. Musicians wrote of Utah in hymns of the past, and contemporary musicians continue to write music about Utah. This thesis answers the questions: Is music characterized by geography? How have the local musicians been influenced by …

Some Educational Aspects Of The Music Training Program Of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints, 1935-1969, Grant L. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

This study consisted of two parts: (a) an historical description of the music classes, divided into three time periods for comparison and explanation, and (b) an evaluation of the effort determined from questionnaire sampling of teachers, students and stake music leaders. Historically, music courses for beginning and advanced organists and conductors were organized and maintained by the General Music Committee of the Church, designed to improve musical attitudes and performance in religious services. Many thousands completed the short, comprehensive classes, which offered an opportunity to study and prepare for church music service.

Findings indicated that successful courses were given in …

The Song Of The Righteous: An Historical And Literary Analysis Of The Latter-Day Saint Hymnal, Ruth Alene Thomson Symons

Theses and Dissertations

The hymnal of the Latter-day Saints first proposed only shortly after the organization of the Church and published continually every few years between 1835 and 1871, is a remarkably accurate indicator of the changing fortunes and beliefs of the early Saints. The first hymnal, gathered by Emma Smith, uncompromisingly sets forth the basic Mormon belief in man's free agency, his innate perfectability, and his kinship to his Heavenly Father. Later editions reflect the missionary concerns of the church (1840), the tremendous persecution the saints are subjected to (1841), the Church difficulties after the martyrdom of Joseph Smith (1849), the call …

A Study Of Rock Music To Determine Its Declared Position Relative To Unchastity, The Use Of Drugs And The Departure From Traditional Concepts Of Family And Religion, E. Lynn Balmforth

Theses and Dissertations

One of the social phenomena of our time (1960s) has been the popularization of a kind of music among the youth known as rock 'n' roll. It was the intent of this study to determine if the medium of rock did, in fact, maintain a posture of promulgating unchastity, the use of drugs and departure from traditional concepts of family and religion.

Supported by statements from leading rock musicians it was found that the big beat had a cultural root in the Negroid race. Coupling the big beat gospel rhythms of the south with the white country and western music, …

The Concept Of Zion As Reflected In Mormon Song, Don Bernard Castleton

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis contains an analysis of the concept of Zion as reflected in the songs sung by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The following definitional areas within Zion concept are considered:
1. Zion: A personal spiritual condition.
2. Zion: A perfect society.
3. Zion: Various geographical locations.
4. Events included in the concept of Zion.

Each of the above areas is analyzed first, from a historical and doctrinal viewpoint and finally, as to how it is reflected in the songs of the Mormons.

A Collection And Analysis Of Folk Songs From Wales, Sanpete County, Utah, Leslie E. Rees

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to collect and record folk songs known to some of the older inhabitants of Wales, Utah. An analysis was made of thirty of the forty-six songs for the purpose of attaining a knowledge of their characteristics such as form, rhythm, melody, tempo, tonality, melodic interval range, phrase and period length, theme repetition, texture, and ornamentation. Observations were also made with reference to the textual influence on the overall musical effect.

William Claude Clive His Life And Contribution To Music In Utah, David C. Andersen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence and contribution of William Claude Clive to the musical culture of Utah. In order to determine the measure of his influence and contribution, answers to the following questions were sought: Did William Claude Clive have the necessary training to offer a contribution to the musical culture of Utah? Was his contribution primarily from his performing, composing or teaching? Were Mr. Clive's students instrumental in spreading any contribution offered by him?

Mr. Clive's greatest influence and contribution was in his teaching. He taught hundreds of students the violin, piano and cello. …

The Ogden Tabernacle Choir: Its History And Contributions To The Cultural History Of Utah, Merlin Ray Sorensen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis is to present a history of the Ogden Tabernacle Choir, to ascertain the extent to which it developed musically, and to include any contributions that were made by the various conductors in attaining that degree of artistry achieved by this musical organization. Inasmuch as the choir was disbanded in 1949, this study will encompass its complete history. It will also include a biography of its conductors. Because the choir rehearsed and performed primarily in the Pioneer Tabernacle, a short history of this building and the Ogden Tabernacle Organ will be included, as well.

Pioneer Bands And Orchestras Of Salt Lake City, Martha Tingey Cook

Theses and Dissertations

Early Mormon leaders realized the value of music as an important element in spiritual and recreational activities. Consequently, they encouraged and sponsored musical groups.

Three pioneer bands of Salt Lake City—the Nauvoo Brass Band, Nauvoo Legion Martial Band, and Quadrille Band—had originated during the early 1840's in Nauvoo, Illinois, under the sponsorship of Joseph Smith. They performed at all important civic and social occasions.

Music History Of The Salt Lake Theatre, The Formative Years: 1862-1870, Alfred S. Morris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this thesis was to bring to light as much of the music as possible, all the performers that could be recorded, and sufficient audience reaction to indicate the musical preferences of the area in order to provide an accurate, detailed account of the early years in the Salt Lake Theatre, 1862 - 1870. There was also the desire to present these things in such a way that they would be reliable, factual, complete, and still, if possible, interesting. An attempt was made to capture the spirit of the times, to make the characters "live," to transport the …