Leroy Robertson's
Oratorio From
The Book Of Mormon

History

Leroy Jasper Robertson (1896-1971) was a classical composer and a music educator. Robertson first began thinking about writing an oratorio about the Book of Mormon in 1919. From 1938 to 1946 he worked on it continually. Losing a chance to get it performed in 1947, Robertson put off finishing the work. In 1953, Maurice Abravanel scheduled to perform the work with the Utah Symphony and Robertson quickly finished it. It was a local hit. It was performed to sold out crowds for months. Then, in a recording made in 1961, the work became known nationally and internationally. However, a lack of performances, new recordings, and the original recording going out of print have resulted in the work descending into obscurity.

Story

The oratorio begins 5 years before Christ is born with Samuel the Lamanite prophesying to the wicked Nephites. He tells of the destruction of the Nephite nation and their condemnation in hell. He tells that Jesus Christ will be born in 5 years, that there will be a day and a night and a day with no darkness. And he tells of the death of Jesus Christ. The first part finishes as the Nephites try to kill Samuel. The second part describes the next 5 years, as angles visit the righteous and miracles occur in plain sight, but the wicked Nephites increasing disbelieve. The wicked set a day that Samuel's prophesied sign must occur, the day and a night and a day with no darkness. If it does not occur, then anyone who believes in Christ will be put to death. The second part ends with the prophet Nephi praying the day before the deadline in agony over the wickedness. He is told that Christ will be born the next day and the sign will come to pass. The music tells the rest of the story, with the peaceful Andante.

The third part jumps 34 years. A terrible storm, earthquake, and many other "natural" disasters destroy the Nephite cities. The devil laughs and his angels rejoice. The resurrected Jesus visits the desolate land. He heals the sick and wounded, teaches them similar to the sermon on the mount (including the Lord's Prayer), and ministers to them.

Part I
Sec I - Behold, I Samuel/Oh ye wicked 7:52
Sec II - Sign of birth 2:20
How beautiful upon the mountains 3:12
Sec III - Sign of death 3:46
And there were many who heard 2:06

Part II
Epilogue 1:27
The angels appear 2:10
But they who believed not 2:35
Day set apart 5:38
And the words which came unto Nephi 0:34
Andante 3:26

Part III
Now the people began to forget 5:46
A multitude gathered/Hosanna 3:11
Old things are done away 3:32
The Lord's prayer 3:38
Angels/teachings 1:57
The Lord hath made bare his holy arm 6:48

Music

The style is similar to the expectation of a Classical oratorio. It is written in the tonal language (which is out-of-vogue with the current educational establishment, which may also explain why the work isn't more popular), and uses techniques found in oratorios such as long melismas, sequences, recitatives, arias, etc.,.

However, it is like a programmatic symphony as well. The orchestra is important. The pieces that have orchestra accompaniment would not work with a piano reduction, in particular: Samuel's prophesy of the Nephite lament, "Oh that we had repented"; the destruction at Christ's death, "Oh this day, this terrible day"; and the finale which resembles the end of Beethoven's 9th symphony or Ralph Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem. In addition, there are two orchestral pieces, the Epilogue and the Andante from the second part.

Yet, in some sections, the music resembles protestant choral music. This is especially true with the SATB a cappella rendition of "The Lord's Prayer", probably the most known selection from the oratorio.

Text

Robertson spent a great deal of time reading the book and choosing the text. Naturally, an oratorio must tell a story. The musical accompaniment of the text expresses the emotion and significance of the story of Christ's resurrection. See the link below to the Journal of Book of Mormon Studies where Robertson's daughter, Marian Robertson Wilson, discusses this in depth

Performance Forces

The work employs an orchestra, organ, 4 soloists, and multiple choirs. This huge amount of requirements has contributed to the lack of performances, recordings, and knowledge of the work. Robertson was well aware of this problem when he wrote it.

Availability

Currently, it is difficult, to put it mildly, to get a recording of this work. Recordings were published in 1953 (Studio Records), 1961 (Vanguard Records), and 1979 (Columbia masterworks). They are all out of print. The University of Utah's Marriott Library has recordings of it.

About the composer

Leroy Robertson lived in Utah most of his life. He served a mission to the Eastern States, studied at the New England Conservatory, and he commuted to California in order to earn a PhD. He was one of the first composers to get a PhD (most composers did not seek the degree in his day).

Resources

More can be learned about the oratorio from several books and sources.

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