Robert M. Cundick
Encyclopedia
Robert Milton Cundick Sr. (born 1926) is a Latter-day Saint composer. He was also for many years one of the organists of the Mormon Tabernacle and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
.
Cundick grew up in Sandy, Utah
. By age 12, he had become the organist in his congregation. Cundick received a degree in music from BYU in 1957. Cundick was a Tabernacle Organist from 1964–1991, and for a time he was also a professor at Brigham Young University
. Since his retirement as Tabernacle Organist, Cundick has sought to publicize serious works of Utah and Mormon composers. In 2004 he won the Life Time achievement Pearl Award.
The current edition of the English LDS hymnal has two hymns with music by Cundick: hymn number 198 "That Easter Morn" (words by Marion D. Hanks
) and hymn number 279 "Thy Holy Word" (words by Marvin K. Gardner
). Cundick has written many vocal works, such as the cantata The Song of Nephi, as well as The Redeemer, an oratorio with the text selected by Brigham Young University
professor Ralph Woodward
. Cundick also provided music for the 2004 film Woman, The Pioneer, and he composed the music for The Brothers, a musical play based on the life of Karl G. Maeser
, with text by Keith Engar. Most recently, Cundick composed the music to an oratorio with text by David A. Bednar
, performed in the fall of 2009 by the BYU-Idaho choirs and orchestras.
Mormon Tabernacle Choir
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, sometimes colloquially referred to as MoTab, is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning, 360-member, all-volunteer choir. The choir is part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . However, the choir is completely self-funded, traveling and producing albums to...
.
Cundick grew up in Sandy, Utah
Sandy, Utah
Sandy is a city in Salt Lake County, Utah, United States. It is a suburb of Salt Lake City. The population was 87,461 at the 2010 census, making it the sixth-largest city in Utah....
. By age 12, he had become the organist in his congregation. Cundick received a degree in music from BYU in 1957. Cundick was a Tabernacle Organist from 1964–1991, and for a time he was also a professor at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. Since his retirement as Tabernacle Organist, Cundick has sought to publicize serious works of Utah and Mormon composers. In 2004 he won the Life Time achievement Pearl Award.
The current edition of the English LDS hymnal has two hymns with music by Cundick: hymn number 198 "That Easter Morn" (words by Marion D. Hanks
Marion D. Hanks
Marion Duff Hanks was a general authority of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1953 until his death.-Early life:...
) and hymn number 279 "Thy Holy Word" (words by Marvin K. Gardner
Marvin K. Gardner
Marvin Kent Gardner is a Latter-day Saint hymnwriter and editor.Gardner served as a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Colombia. He then studied at Brigham Young University . After that he served as an editor of the Ensign. Gardner also was an editor of the New Era...
). Cundick has written many vocal works, such as the cantata The Song of Nephi, as well as The Redeemer, an oratorio with the text selected by Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
professor Ralph Woodward
Ralph Woodward
Ralph Woodward is an English classical conductor, arranger andorganist. His main focus is on conducting choirs.-Education:...
. Cundick also provided music for the 2004 film Woman, The Pioneer, and he composed the music for The Brothers, a musical play based on the life of Karl G. Maeser
Karl G. Maeser
-Brigham Young Academy:When Maeser arrived at Brigham Young Academy in 1876 it was dying. Enrollment had declined since Warren N. Dusenberry had started the school a few months before. There were only 29 students at the time of Maeser's arrival....
, with text by Keith Engar. Most recently, Cundick composed the music to an oratorio with text by David A. Bednar
David A. Bednar
-External links:*, lds.org**...
, performed in the fall of 2009 by the BYU-Idaho choirs and orchestras.