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Program notes:

(Taken from the original LP recording of the premiere performance)

THE RESTORATION
An oratorio by Merrill Bradshaw
Performed by the Brigham Young University Oratorio Choir, Philharmonic Orchestra, A Cappella Choir, and University Chorale, Dr. John R. Halliday, Conductor, with Christine Rogers, Soprano; Lois Johnson, Mezzo-soprano; Roger Hoffman, Tenor; and Craig Jessop, Baritone.

There is always an air of excitement about the world premiere of a major work. But the electric feeling surrounding the premiere of THE RESTORATION was in many ways unanticipated and unprecedented. Part of the excitement can be traced to the fact that this is the first oratorio on the subject of the restoration and only the second major oratorio in the history of Mormondom.

The restoration of the Gospel through the Prophet Joseph Smith in the 1830s is viewed by Latter-day Saints as one of the most important events in history. In significance it compares with God's covenant with Abraham, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, and the exodus of Lehi's family to the New World. It marks the beginning of the last chapter in God's dealings with mortal man on the earth. Major events in history have often inspired composers to write oratorios: Haydn's Creation, Handel's Messiah, Honegger's King David, Beethoven's Mount of Olives, and Bach's Saint Matthew Passion are but representative of efforts in this vein. Such works give occasion to contemplate great events through the union of text and music on a grand scale. It is most fitting that the restoration of the gospel should also be represented in this medium.

But there are other reasons for the success of THE RESTORATION. It is a new experience in oratorio listening, a different kind of oratorio. To understand this difference, we must first remember that among earlier generations the tight unity of life gave music a special relevance. But with the increasing division of labor and specialization of education this relevance has diminished significantly. And because the artist has all too often retreated to his ivory tower, audiences have turned from him to the easy clichés of commercialism. This trend was of great concern to Merrill Bradshaw as he began his work on this oratorio.

Familiar with the nature of the anticipated audience for THE RESTORATION, he realized that hymns form a body of music of deep emotional significance to the Latter-day Saint, easily accessible to all and well-known enough to provide a means whereby audience and musician can work together for a deep spiritual communication. And so he has used the hymns sung in Mormon meetings every week, especially those about the restoration itself, to build a bridge over the footlights, so that the audience might participate just as intensely as the performers. As a result, a new concept of oratorio was born in which the audience becomes an actual part of the performance.

This new concept was far-reaching in its impact on the style of the music: because Dr. Bradshaw felt the need to make the entire oratorio compatible with the hymns (otherwise the unity of the work would be seriously compromised), the music of THE RESTORATION is accessible to the average concert-goer.

The work is dedicated to President Harold B Lee, whose life was inspiring to the composer. Although President Lee graciously accepted the dedication, his unexpected death came before he had opportunity to hear the work.

All of these elements combine to make THE RESTORATION a moving experience.

As you listen to the records, you may follow the text given on pages 4 and 5 of this brochure and join in the singing whenever “audience and dispersed choir” are indicated.

THE RESTORATION was written between January 1972 and October 1973. With the exception of a few transition movements written by the composer, the texts were all taken from the scriptures. The major impetus for the work was a request by Dr. John R. Halliday for an original oratorio to be sung by the BYU Oratorio Choir. The composition of the work was aided by a sabbatical leave grant by Brigham Young University. The assistance of Drs. Halliday, Ralph G. Laycock, Ralph Woodward, and Clayne Robison was invaluable in the preparation of the performance.

This recording is taken from the premiere performances held 28, 29, 30, and 31 March, 1974, in the de Jong Concert hall on the BYU Campus.

The versatility of Merrill Bradshaw has made him one of the foremost composers in the Mormon Church. With the exception of commercial popular music he has written successful pieces in almost every medium and style. His works in familiar styles have been widely acclaimed. And the pieces he has written in less traditional styles have also been well received, at home and abroad.

One of the constraints in his work is a search for precise formal relationships that will give the most exquisite expression to his ideas. Thus, only one of his four symphonies is in the traditional four-movement form. Another characteristic of his music, careful control of dissonance level and resolution of tendency tones, gives his lines and textures a smoothness and logic that is both convincing and exciting.

He is most at home with orchestral and choral works. although his output of chamber music, piano pieces, and songs is impressive. Through all of his work runs a unifying thread: a search for spiritual and stylistic factors that can bring together the varied styles of music, from the past as well as the present.

His profession life shows the same kind of versatility. In addition to serving as composer-in-residence at BYU, he has been one of the prime movers in the new Expanding Musicianship program, achieving national prominence through his activities in workshops from coast to coast. He serves as editorial consultant for several publishers and has published articles in several national periodicals. Articles about him and his music have appeared in Music Journal, the International Index, the Index of American Composers, and the World Who’s Who in Music. He serves as chairman of composition and theory at BYU. In 1967 he received the prestigious Maeser Award in the Creative Arts.

His Church assignments reflect the same flexibility: teacher, bishop, scoutmaster, missionary. He is chairman of the composition task committee of the Church Music Department. Despite a hectic schedule and vigorous interest in a varied field of activities, he enjoys raising vegetables in his garden, cooking various specialties, and camping with his wife and seven children.

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Text:

Prologue Prophesies The Prophet The Kingdom

THE RESTORATION

PROLOGUE

The singing of the hymn portion of the prologue actually begins before the audience arrives. As you enter the hall you join in singing such well-known hymns as Redeemer of Israel, Oh Say, What Is Truth?, Sweet Is the Work, Come, O Thou King of Kings, and We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet. Then the opening prayer is said. This recording begins after the prayer, from which point the prologue continues as follows:

THE MORNING BREAKS, THE SHADOWS FLEE

(Verse I – Audience)
The morning breaks; the shadows flee;
Lo, Zion’s standard is unfurled!
The dawning of a brighter day,
The dawning of a brighter day
Majestic rises on the world.

(Verse II – Angelic Choir)
The clouds of error disappear
Before the rays of truth divine;
The glory bursting from afar,
The glory bursting from afar
Wide o’er the nations soon will shine.

INTRODUCTION (Principal Choir, Angelic Choir, and Orchestra)

Brothers and sisters!
Tonight we have assembled together
To sing to each other
With each other
And to God our Father.

We sing of his goodness to us
And the restoration of his kingdom
In these the latter days.

Hosanna to God!
Blessed be his name!
Forever and ever!
Amen, Amen, Amen!

We will sing of the prophecies from the scriptures.
We will sing of the precious thoughts of our hearts.
Hosanna to God!
We will sing of that glorious vision in the grove,
Of the Father and the Son,
Hosanna to God!
Of the Prophet and his calling to lead the dispensation of the fullness of times,
Hosanna to God!

We will sing of his kingdom here on the earth,
And most of all,
We will sing praises to his great name.
Hosanna to God!

Prologue Prophesies The Prophet The Kingdom

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PROPHECIES

FANFARE: SURELY (Principal Choir and Orchestra)

(Amos 3:7)
Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

THE MARVELOUS WORK (Tenor Aria, with Principal Choir and Orchestra)

(Isaiah 29:11-14, 18-19, 23)
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men delivered to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near unto me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder:

…And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel… They shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

PRAYER NO. 1 (Principal and Angelic Choirs)

Oh Lord, I would hear thy word
Which thou sendest me
In thy mercy.

Unseal my heart that I may lift it unto thee.
Unlock my searching spirit that I may seek thee.

Heal thou my deafened ears.
Touch thou my blinded eyes.

Increase my joy in thee
That I may rejoice in thee.

Thou Holy One of Israel
That I may sanctify thy name.

I SAW ANOTHER ANGEL (Mezzo-Soprano Aria with Orchestra)

(Revelation 14:6-7)
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

FANTASY: FOR GOD REMEMBERS STILL (Principal Choir and Orchestra)

For God remembers still his promise made of old
That He on Zion’s hill Truth’s standard would unfold!
Her light should there attract the gaze
Of all the world in latter days.

(Audience joins in at the conductor’s signal.)
His house shall there be reared His glory to display;
And people shall be heard in distant lands to say,
We’ll now go up and serve the Lord, Obey his truths and learn his word.

THE SEER (Baritone Aria)

(2 Nephi 3:11, 14-15)
Yea the Lord said unto Joseph of Old:…A seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins….

Yea, thus prophesieth Joseph: Behold, that seer will the Lord bless; and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise…shall be fulfilled…And his name shall be called after me; and it shall be after the name of his father. And he shall be like unto me; for the thing, which the lord shall bring forth by his hand, by the power of the Lord shall bring my people unto salvation.

PRAYER NO. 2: BLESSED IS THE MAN (Principal and Angelic Choirs)

Blessed is the man whom thou shalt call, O Lord,
To guide us in thy work here on earth.

Blessed is the man who serveth thee with all his heart.
Blessed am I when I may serve thee.

Blessed our seer! Blessed our president!
Blessed our bishop! Blessed our teacher!

AND IN THE DAYS OF THESE KINGS (Principal and Angelic choirs)

(Daniel 2:44, D&C 1:38)
And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break into pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever (Hosanna to God, Blessed be his name).

What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself;…Heaven and Earth [shall] pass away, [but] my word shall not pass away…[Whoso hath ears to hear, let him hear.]

Prologue Prophesies The Prophet The Kingdom

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THE PROPHET

MEDITATION ON THE VISION (Orchestra)

PRAYER NO. 3 (Principal Choir, Sopranos)

When Joseph prayed that morning
He prayed of simple questions,
Not wide and intricate affairs.
Yet called of God to lead this dispensation
He felt the anger of the wicked one,
But called of God to usher in the fullness of time,
Received the visitation: The Father and The Son.
I like to think that nature stilled and listened
When Joseph prayed.

OH, HOW LOVELY WAS THE MORNING (Orchestra, Choir, and Audience)

Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet birds singing,
Music ringing through the grove,
When within the shady woodland,
Joseph sought the God of love.

Humbly kneeling, sweet appealing—
‘Twas the boy’s first uttered prayer—
When the powers of sin assailing
Filled his soul with deep despair;
But undaunted still, he trusted
In his heavenly Father’s care.

Suddenly a light descended,
Brighter far than noonday sun,
And a shining glorious pillar
O’er him fell, around him shone,
While appeared two heavenly beings,
God the Father and the Son.

“Joseph, this is my beloved;
Hear Him!” Oh, how sweet the word!
Joseph’s humble prayer was answered,
And he listened to the Lord.
Oh, what rapture filled his bosom,
For he saw the living God.

THE RESTORATION (Tenor Aria)

(D&C 35:17-18, 20, 21; 115:19)
And I have sent forth the fullness of my gospel by the hand of my servant Joseph; and in weakness have I blessed him; and I have given unto him the keys of the mystery of those things…[that] were from the foundation of the world, and [of] the things [that] shall come from this time until the time of my coming,…[for] the salvation of mine own elect; for they [shall] hear my voice, and shall see me, and shall abide the day of my coming; for they shall be purified,…as I am pure.

For behold saith the Lord: I will be with him, and I will sanctify him before the people: for unto him have I given the keys of this kingdom and ministry.

PRAYER NO. 4: ODE TO JOSEPH (Principal and Angelic Choirs)

Joseph! Joseph! of thy name hath been spoken
Good and evil among all people. Yet unto us
Thou has brought salvation.
Brother Joseph, Brother Joseph, with our
hearts we thank you.

A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER (Baritone Aria)

(D&C 135:4)
I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summers morning; I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me: He was murdered in cold blood.

THE MARTYRDOM (Narrator and Orchestra)

(D&C 135:1-3)
Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain. He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people....

PRAYER NO. 5: THE LIGHT FROM HEAVEN (Mezzo-Soprano Aria)

The light from heaven protect thee.
May it turn away the wrath of mine enemy,
For thou hast struggled with the power of darkness
And has wrestled on the lawn with thy friends.
For thou has spoken with the Father and the Son
And chatted with the poor, the weak, the lost.
In bonds—yet not robbed of majesty,
In prisons—yet inspiring with thy word.
Oh Joseph, bridge between the glories of heaven
And the common things of earth,
God rest thee well, God rest thee well.

THOUGH DEEPENING TRIALS (Four Horns)

Prologue Prophesies The Prophet The Kingdom

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THE KINGDOM

AND THE KINGDOM (Principal and Angelic Choirs and Orchestra)

(Daniel 7:27)
And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under…heaven, shall be given to the…saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Praise the Lord all ye mighty
Praise the Lord all ye people
Praise the Lord God Almighty.

High on the mountain top, a banner is unfurled.
Ye nations now look up, it waves to all the world.
Her light should there attract the gaze
Of all the world in latter days.

THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS (Soprano Aria)

(Micah 4:1-3, 5)
But in the last days it [has] come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord [is] established in the top of the mountains, and it [is] exalted above the hills; and people…[from] many nations [do] come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain [of the house] of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob.

And he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth [out] of Zion,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke [many] nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up…sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more…For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

FOR THE STRENGTH OF THE HILLS (Audience, Choirs, and Orchestra)

For the strength of the hills we bless thee,
Our God, our fathers’ God;
Thou hast made thy children mighty
By the touch of the mountain sod;
Thou hast led thy chosen Israel
To freedom’s last abode.
For the strength of the hills we bless thee,
Our God, our fathers’ God.

Thou hast led us here in safety
Where the mountain bulwark stands
As the guardian of the loved ones
Thou hast brought from many lands.
For the rock and for the river,
The valley’s fertile sod,
For the strength of the hills we bless thee,
Our God, our fathers’ God.

THE NEW COVENANT (Choirs and Orchestra)

(Jeremiah 31:31, 33)
Behold, the days [are] come,…that I [have made] a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: …I [have] put my law in their inward parts, and [have written] it in their hearts.

(Isaiah30:21)
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, Saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, …Turn ye to the right hand…Turn ye to the left.

(Isaiah 35:5-7)
[And] the eyes of the blind [are] opened, and the ears of the deaf [are] unstopped…and the tongue of the dumb sing[s]: for in the wilderness waters break out,…and the parched ground…become[s] a pool.

(Isaiah35:10)
And the ransomed of the Lord [do] return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads.

QUARTET: THE SPIRIT IS POURED UPON US (Soloists and Orchestra)

(Isaiah 32:15-18)
The spirit [is] poured upon us from on high,
and the wilderness [is] a fruitful field,
And the fruitful [field is] counted for a forest.
Judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and
righteousness remain in the fruitful field.

And the work of righteousness shall be peace;
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever.
And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.

GREAT AND MARVELOUS ARE THY WORKS (Soloists, Choirs, Audience, Orchestra)

(Revelation 15:3-4, 19:1)
Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? For thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest,…

Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: …Alleluia.
Hosannas...

Prologue Prophesies The Prophet The Kingdom

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