Betelehemu--BYU Men's Chorus

This song is the signature piece of the BYU Men's Chorus. Available on the Shout With Glory CD from Tantara Records, this CD may be purchased from Amazon, BYU bookstore, or Deseret Book. It is an African Spiritual about the Savior Jesus Christ's birth in Bethlehem. In keeping with the tradition, there is no written music for this piece, and the piece is taught to new members of the choir by ear. This piece was originally performed on Music and The Spoken Word by the BYU Men's Chorus in 1993 by the BYU Men's Chorus, and after hearing it for the first time in rehearsal, Lloyd Newell exclaimed, "I have to follow THAT!" This piece and the BYU Men's Chorus have been wowing audiences ever since.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Betelehemu
• Mack Wilberg
• BYU
• BYU Men's Chorus
• BYU mens chorus
• acapella
• spiritual
• african spiritual
• Mormon
• LDS
• mens choir
• men's choir
• Bethlehem
• christmas
• Mormon Tabernacle Choir

[JohnathanLingo]

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]

The arranger is Barrington Brooks. Credit where credit is due

[Hyphenated08]

@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.

[JohnathanLingo]

@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.

[Taenyr]

@JohnathanLingo He's right. I think that Olatunji/Wendell version is SATB.

[fourkidsdearly]

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.

[calihorsechick]

i love this song, its so fun to sing in choir!!!!!!!

[timmybro10]

Just so you know...my high school choir is doing this song, and there is a written version.

[MrAlexanderromero]

WONDERFUL..

[ctrnoel1]

this is one of my favorite christmas songs and I always love listening to this song around my birthday because its in december :)