BYU’s Tantara Records: A Joyful Noise

Led by Ronald W. Simpson, ’82, veteran publisher, producer, and composer, BYU’s School of Music has produced more than 35 music CDs under the Tantara Records label. One of the most popular has been A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns, a remarkable production of BYU choirs and orchestra that was also translated into video and has been seen on more than 250 public television stations. Another in the Celebration Series (initiated with A Celebration of Christmas) is Songs of Praise and Remembrance, which features many arrangements from award-winning conductors Ronald J. Staheli, ’72, and Mack J. Wilberg, ’79. It includes such selections as “Turn Around,” “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” and the traditional favorite, “We’ll Shout and Give Him Glory,” sung by the BYU Men’s Chorus.

Another series of Tantara-produced CDs is the Heritage Series. Each CD highlights the composition or performance talents of one of the great LDS musicians, such as Leroy J. Robertson, ’32, Robert M. Cundick, ’57, (The Redeemer), Arthur Shepherd, Helen Taylor (composer and deceased wife of pianist Grant Johannesen), and JoAnn South Ottley, ’59. The oft-requested “Vocalise” (by Wilbur Chenoweth) is on the CD JoAnn Ottley: Retrospective.

web: For a complete list of Tantara Records offerings, see www.tantara.byu.edu.