Music & The Spoken Word Marks 5,000th Episode

I love Music & The Spoken Word. It’s a program that The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square produces every week. And it’s the world’s longest-running continuous broadcast. It’s uplifting and inspiring. For an hour every Sunday, the choir sings songs connected to a different theme every week. They include an inspiring message, as presented by Derrick Porter with his velvet voice.

What’s happening?

On Sunday, July 13, 2025, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square’s signature program, Music & the Spoken Word, will reach a historic milestone as it airs its 5,000th episode from the Conference Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Music & the Spoken Word has aired weekly since July 15, 1929. Now, more than six million people tune in from more than 50 countries throughout the world on radio, television, and online streaming.

“The 5,000th episode of Music & the Spoken Word represents more than longevity and international reach,” said Perry Sook, Joint-Board Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters. “It represents unwavering excellence, a commitment to public service and the enduring power of faith and music to unite us all.”

Choir President Michael O. Leavitt said, “The Choir’s mission is to perform music that inspires people throughout the world and to feel God’s love for His children. We are grateful that Music & the Spoken Word has brought hope and peace to millions around the world each week and look forward to continuing that legacy for many years to come.”

How long has it been going?

Music & the Spoken Word began in 1929, shortly before the Great Depression. And it has aired each subsequent week for nearly a century. Their first broadcast was a small one with one microphone attached to the ceiling and a wire running a city block back to the control room. For each song, Ted Kimball, the 19-year-old son of organist Edward P Kimball, climbed a 15-foot-tall ladder and announced the titles.

There were pieces by Wagner and Mendelssohn in the program. For the entire 30-minute broadcast, Ted stayed on the ladder, pointing the microphone toward each choral section as they sang their parts. The broadcast wasn’t flawless, with the tapping of the conductor’s baton and shuffling feet heard, but it received a rousing response from the president of NBC, which KZN was an affiliate of, saying he was “Eagerly awaiting your next.”

They likely had no idea what a hit they had on their hands. But over the years, the music and inspirational messages have endured through times of struggle. Including the duration of World War II, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, 9/11, and during the COVID pandemic. They have performed in times of celebration, too, including the end of World War II.

“Music & the Spoken Word is a gift to the people of the world, to any who are looking for peace and solace in a world that is growing increasingly busy. It allows for a moment of peace and stillness that we all need,” said Derrick Porter, executive producer, principal writer, and presenter of Music & the Spoken Word.

About The Tabernacle Choir

The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square is a world-renowned, 360-member volunteer choir. They are credited with over 4,997 episodes of their weekly live performance of Music & the Spoken Word. The program is the longest continuing live network broadcast in history, now in its 96th year.

The Choir has traveled around the world, performing in acclaimed concert halls. They have performed for the inaugurations of seven U.S. presidents, beginning with President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965. They sang at the World’s Fair and expositions, on television and radio broadcasts, and now on internet streams. And they have performed at numerous other prestigious events and occasions.

The Choir has won four Emmy Awards, one Grammy Award, and multiple Grammy nominations. They were awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 2003. And was inducted into the Classical Music Hall of Fame in 2015.

Music & the Spoken Word was awarded a Peabody Award in 1943. It was inducted into the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2004 and the National Radio Hall of Fame in 2010. The Choir has released over 200 recordings. And has earned two platinum and five gold albums and hit #1 on Billboard’s classical music charts 15 times.

And the Orchestra at Temple Square

The Orchestra at Temple Square is a 200-member, all-volunteer symphony orchestra. It was organized in 1999 to perform and accompany the musical ensembles of The Tabernacle Choir organization. The Choir and Orchestra have an incomparable medley of voices and instruments. With their shared faith in God, they are a significant, recognizable presence in the world of music, giving service through song. You can find more info at https://www.thetabernaclechoir.org or by following the Choir on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

My friends and neighbors are so excited for this milestone. My husband’s family has worked with the choir’s production crew for years. And many of my friends have been or are current members of the choir. My neighbor has watched almost every episode of Music & the Spoken Word. She is in her 80s and has been listening to the broadcasts since they were radio shows. The uplifting and moving messages of this iconic program have touched all our lives.