Tracy Young Cannon (July 23, 1879 – November 6, 1961) was an American

Latter-day Saint Mormons are a religious and cultural group related to Mormonism, the principal branch of the Latter Day Saint movement started by Joseph Smith in upstate New York during the 1820s. After Smith's death in 1844, the movement split into several ...

musician, composer, and musicologist.

Early life

Cannon was born in

Salt Lake City Salt Lake City (often shortened to Salt Lake and abbreviated as SLC) is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Utah, most populous city of Utah, United States. It is the county seat, seat of Salt Lake County, Utah, Sal ...

, Utah Territory. He was the son of

George Q. Cannon George Quayle Cannon (January 11, 1827 – April 12, 1901) was an early member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and served in the First Presidency under four successive pr ...

and his wife Caroline Young. Cannon joined the

Mormon Tabernacle Choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, formerly known as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, is an American choir, acting as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). It has performed in the Salt Lake Tabernacle for ov ...

at the age of 15.Cornwall, J. Spencer. ''Stories of Our Mormon Hymns''. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1975) p. 4-5 Cannon became the director of the Cannon Ward choir at age 16. He studied

piano The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...

composition under John J. McClellan. He later studied in

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, and

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. In

he studied with Pietro Yon, organist of St. Patrick's Cathedral. He received an honorary Master of Music 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 An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ (music), organ. An organist may play organ repertoire, solo organ works, play with an musical ensemble, ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumentalist, instrumental ...

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 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a Nontrinitarianism, nontrinitarian Christianity, Christian church that considers itself to be the Restorationism, restoration of the ...

(LDS Church). In 1939, he was made second assistant to

Melvin J. Ballard Melvin Joseph Ballard (February 9, 1873 – July 30, 1939) was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). His grandson, M. Russell Ballard, also became an apostle. Birth a ...

, supervisor of the committee. From 1915 to 1927, Cannon was a member of the high council of the Pioneer

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of the LDS Church. Jenson, Andrew. '' Latter-day Saint Biographical Encyclopedia''. (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret News Press, 1936) 4:208 In 1917, he became a member of the Deseret Sunday School Union General Board. From 1930 through 1936, Cannon was

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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

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edition of the LDS hymnal, 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)

Notes

References

* Ludlow, Daniel H. '' Encyclopedia of Mormonism'' p. 976 {{DEFAULTSORT:Cannon, Tracy Y. 1879 births 1961 deaths American Latter Day Saint hymnwriters American leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Burials at Salt Lake City Cemetery Cannon family Musicians from Salt Lake City Richards–Young family Sunday School (LDS Church) people Tabernacle Choir members Tabernacle Choir organists