Actually, we first performed it on campus in the fall of 1992. It was the first time Men's Chorus did 2 back to back concerts on one night. We sold out the first and it was an experience I will never forget. At the end of the song, it seemed like the audience sat there for what seemed like a minute and then the deJong hall erupted in a standing ovation.
I know this because I was the lead drummer for the Music and the Spoken Word performance but was 2nd drummer when we learned it.
This arrangement was written by a graduate student in music from USC in 1988. He was flown to BYU to teach the Men's Chorus the piece in the fall of 1992, and the Men's Chorus first performed the piece off campus on Music and the Spoken Word in 1993.
@JohnathanLingo HA HA HA HA. Talk about giving credit where credit is due. This song was written by Babatunde Olatunji and Arranged by Wendell Whalum. Olaunji is a graduate of Morehouse College as was the late Wendell Whalum who was the 2nd Director of the Morehouse College Glee Club. Betelehemu was written FOR and first preformed by the Morehouse College Glee and it is their signature piece.
@Hyphenated08 You are talking about a different arrangement. This one was arranged by Barrington Brooks, who I met at USC a couple of years before this.
Actually, we first performed it on campus in the fall of 1992. It was the first time Men's Chorus did 2 back to back concerts on one night. We sold out the first and it was an experience I will never forget. At the end of the song, it seemed like the audience sat there for what seemed like a minute and then the deJong hall erupted in a standing ovation.
I know this because I was the lead drummer for the Music and the Spoken Word performance but was 2nd drummer when we learned it.
fourkidsdearly 1 year ago
i love this song, its so fun to sing in choir!!!!!!!
calihorsechick 1 year ago
Just so you know...my high school choir is doing this song, and there is a written version.
timmybro10 1 year ago
WONDERFUL..
MrAlexanderromero 1 year ago
this is one of my favorite christmas songs and I always love listening to this song around my birthday because its in december :)
ctrnoel1 1 year ago
This arrangement was written by a graduate student in music from USC in 1988. He was flown to BYU to teach the Men's Chorus the piece in the fall of 1992, and the Men's Chorus first performed the piece off campus on Music and the Spoken Word in 1993.
JohnathanLingo 2 years ago
The arranger is Barrington Brooks. Credit where credit is due
JohnathanLingo 2 years ago
@JohnathanLingo HA HA HA HA. Talk about giving credit where credit is due. This song was written by Babatunde Olatunji and Arranged by Wendell Whalum. Olaunji is a graduate of Morehouse College as was the late Wendell Whalum who was the 2nd Director of the Morehouse College Glee Club. Betelehemu was written FOR and first preformed by the Morehouse College Glee and it is their signature piece.
Hyphenated08 1 year ago
@Hyphenated08 You are talking about a different arrangement. This one was arranged by Barrington Brooks, who I met at USC a couple of years before this.
JohnathanLingo 1 year ago
@JohnathanLingo He's right. I think that Olatunji/Wendell version is SATB.
Taenyr 6 months ago