Mormon Tab Choir's ‘Ring Christmas Bells’ on Billboard’s Hot 100

SALT LAKE CITY — Cash register bells are ringing with the sound of sales of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s latest holiday CD.

The “Ring Christmas Bells” CD is on Billboard’s Hot 100 list as one of the 10 top-selling Christian albums.

In addition, the album is No. 4 on the Billboard Classical Crossover chart and No. 5 on the Billboard Classical Overall chart.

“Our annual Christmas albums have been a source of delight for many people, and many folks think that it’s not Christmas without a new Mormon Tabernacle Choir CD,” said Scott Barrick, the choir’s general manager. “We are gratified with its reception in the marketplace and thrilled to be able to be a part of people’s Christmas.”

The album is a collaborative effort of choir music director Mack Wilberg and Broadway leading man Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Wilberg wanted to fill The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Assembly Hall with bells ,so he put bells in the hands of 108 ringers, arranged dancers mimicking ringing bells, chose bell-like skirts for costumes and even had bells flying from the ceiling rafters.

To plan the program, Wilberg traveled to New York for a sit-down with Mitchell.

They chose to perform the charming and playful “The Friendly Beasts,” the stirring “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring”, “Go, Tell it on the Mountain” and “Sleigh Ride” with a new twist along with “And the Glory of the Lord” and “Hallelujah” from the Messiah.

There are 16 tracks on the CD, which is available from Deseret Book, Seagull Book and Amazon.com.

The CD is comprised of live recordings from the choir’s 2008 Christmas concert from Temple Square.

The album received national attention Friday, as the "Today" show featured Mitchell singing a track from the album, “The Christmas Song A Crazy Christmas List.”

E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com