Tracy Young Cannon was an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 Latter-day Saint musician, composer, and musicologist.

Early life

Cannon was born in Salt Lake City, Utah Territory

Utah Territory

The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....

. He was the son George Q. Cannon

George Q. Cannon

George Quayle Cannon was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and served in the First Presidency under four successive presidents of the church: Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and Lorenzo Snow...

 and his wife Caroline Young.

Cannon joined the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

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...

 at the age of 15. Cannon became the director of the Cannon Ward choir at age 16. He studied piano

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 composition under John J. McClellan

John J. McClellan

John Jasper McClellan, Jr. served as the chief organist of the organ in the Salt Lake Tabernacle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1900 to 1925....

. He later studied in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...

, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

, Berlin

Berlin

Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...

, Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

, New York City

New York City

New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...

, and Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

. He received an honorary Master of Music

Master of Music

The Master of Music is the first graduate degree in Music awarded by universities and music conservatories. The M.Mus. combines advanced studies in an applied area of specialization with graduate-level academic study in subjects such as music history, music theory, or music pedagogy...

 degree from the Chicago Music College in 1930.

Leadership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

In 1909, Cannon became assistant organist

Organist

An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...

 for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He served in this position for 21 years. In 1930, Cannon served as the organist for the presentation of The Message of the Ages.

In 1920, Cannon was appointed to the General Music Committee of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1939, he was made second assistant to Melvin J. Ballard

Melvin J. Ballard

Melvin Joseph Ballard was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . He was born in Logan, Utah Territory. His grandson, M. Russell Ballard, was also ordained an apostle.Prior to his birth, his mother had an experience that led her to believe...

, supervisor of the committee.

From 1915 to 1927, Cannon was a member of the high council of the Pioneer Stake of the LDS Church. In 1917, he became a member of the Deseret Sunday School Union General Board. From 1930 through 1936, Cannon was bishop of the Cannon Ward in Salt Lake City.

Cannon was an editor of the 1927 LDS Church hymnal.

In 1925, Cannon was appointed director of the McCune School of Music and Art. He served in this position until 1950.

Cannon wrote The Organist's Manual.

Compositions

In the 1985 English edition of the LDS hymnal

Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (1985 book)

Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the official hymn book of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ....

, the following hymns are by Cannon:

• 9 "Come, Rejoice" (Words and music)
• 20 "God of Power, God of Right" (music)
• 73 "Praise the Lord with Heart and Voice" (words and music)
• 161 "The Lord Be with Us" (music)
• 167 "Come, Let Us Sing an Evening Hymn" (music)
• 234 "Jesus, Mighty King in Zion" (music)
• 288 "How Beautiful Thy Temples, Lord" (music)