Merrill Jenson
Encyclopedia
Merrill Boyd Jenson is an American composer and arranger who has composed film scores for over thirty films including Emma Smith: My Story, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration
, The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd
, Legacy
, Harry’s War, and Windwalker
. Many of the films Jenson composed music for were directed by Academy Award winning director Kieth Merrill
. Jenson has also composed several concert productions including a symphony that premiered at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he has composed music for many television commercials including the acclaimed Homefront ads, music for three outdoor pageants, and several albums.
on January 20, 1947. He was introduced to music at an early age with his mother teaching him how to conduct music in front of a mirror while listening to recordings of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She also taught him to play the piano while his father taught him the trumpet. He attended Brigham Young University
where he directed the BYU Cougar Marching Band and graduated with a degree in Music Composition. Jenson’s greatest desire was to compose film music and he found himself hanging around film studios in Los Angeles. While there he swept floors and carried microphones in order to be near the industry he loved. This gave him the opportunity to interview some of the great film composers of the day.
Jenson lives in Provo, Utah with his wife Betsy. He is the father of six children: Sonja, Shera, Kris, Rondi, Trevor and Emilia. He and Betsy also have 13 grandchildren.
. Merrill hired Jenson to compose the score to the sequel of his Academy Award winning documentary The Great American Cowboy. Jenson’s score to The Great American Indian was recorded with him conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra
. This was the first of many collaborations between Jenson and Merrill including Windwalker
, Harry’s War, and Takedown.
Jenson worked for many years with Bonneville Communications
writing music for films and commercials for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During this time Jenson composed music for the award-winning Homefront commercials and films such as How Rare a Possession. Later he also wrote the music for the three films that have played in the Legacy Theater in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building
on Temple Square
in Salt Lake City, Utah
: Legacy
, The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd
, and Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration
.
Jenson collaborated with award-winning composer Sam Cardon
to compose the music for three PBS documentaries by producer and director Lee Groberg: Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail, American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith, and Sacred Stone: Temple on the Mississippi. A recent career highlight for him was composing the score for the critically acclaimed film Emma Smith: My Story which played in many theaters across the country.
Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration
Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration is a 2005 film that focuses on some of the events during the life of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, which was both filmed and distributed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
, The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd
The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd
The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd is a 67-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Testaments depicts the life of Jesus in Jerusalem while also depicting the events described in the Book of Mormon from approximately the same time period...
, Legacy
Legacy: A Mormon Journey
Legacy: A Mormon Journey is a 53-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Legacy depicts the life of two recent converts from the 1830s to the 1890s...
, Harry’s War, and Windwalker
Windwalker (1980 film)
Windwalker is a 1981 western adventure film, based on a novel by Blaine M. Yorgason, starring Trevor Howard and Nick Ramus. It was shot in various outdoor locations in Utah. To maintain authenticity to the story, the film's dialogue is subtitled in English with Cheyenne and Crow languages spoken...
. Many of the films Jenson composed music for were directed by Academy Award winning director Kieth Merrill
Kieth Merrill
Kieth W. Merrill is an American filmmaker who has worked as a writer, director, and producer in the film industry since 1967...
. Jenson has also composed several concert productions including a symphony that premiered at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he has composed music for many television commercials including the acclaimed Homefront ads, music for three outdoor pageants, and several albums.
Personal life
Jenson was born in Richfield, UtahRichfield, Utah
Richfield is a city in and the county seat of Sevier County, Utah, in the United States, and is the largest city in southern-central Utah. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 7,551. It lies in the Mormon Corridor, just off of Interstate 70 about 40 miles east of its junction with...
on January 20, 1947. He was introduced to music at an early age with his mother teaching him how to conduct music in front of a mirror while listening to recordings of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She also taught him to play the piano while his father taught him the trumpet. He attended 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...
where he directed the BYU Cougar Marching Band and graduated with a degree in Music Composition. Jenson’s greatest desire was to compose film music and he found himself hanging around film studios in Los Angeles. While there he swept floors and carried microphones in order to be near the industry he loved. This gave him the opportunity to interview some of the great film composers of the day.
Jenson lives in Provo, Utah with his wife Betsy. He is the father of six children: Sonja, Shera, Kris, Rondi, Trevor and Emilia. He and Betsy also have 13 grandchildren.
Career
Jenson eventually landed a few tiny composing projects at the LDS Motion Picture Studio. His big break came when he met director Kieth MerrillKieth Merrill
Kieth W. Merrill is an American filmmaker who has worked as a writer, director, and producer in the film industry since 1967...
. Merrill hired Jenson to compose the score to the sequel of his Academy Award winning documentary The Great American Cowboy. Jenson’s score to The Great American Indian was recorded with him conducting the London Philharmonic Orchestra
London Philharmonic Orchestra
The London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
. This was the first of many collaborations between Jenson and Merrill including Windwalker
Windwalker (1980 film)
Windwalker is a 1981 western adventure film, based on a novel by Blaine M. Yorgason, starring Trevor Howard and Nick Ramus. It was shot in various outdoor locations in Utah. To maintain authenticity to the story, the film's dialogue is subtitled in English with Cheyenne and Crow languages spoken...
, Harry’s War, and Takedown.
Jenson worked for many years with Bonneville Communications
Bonneville International
Bonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
writing music for films and commercials for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During this time Jenson composed music for the award-winning Homefront commercials and films such as How Rare a Possession. Later he also wrote the music for the three films that have played in the Legacy Theater in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building
Joseph Smith Memorial Building
The Joseph Smith Memorial Building is named in honor of Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. It is located on the corner of Main Street and South Temple in Salt Lake City. Previously the Hotel Utah, it is now an administrative building...
on Temple Square
Temple Square
Temple Square is a ten acre complex located in the center of Salt Lake City, Utah, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . In recent years, the usage of the name has gradually changed to include several other church facilities immediately adjacent to Temple Square...
in Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
: Legacy
Legacy: A Mormon Journey
Legacy: A Mormon Journey is a 53-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Legacy depicts the life of two recent converts from the 1830s to the 1890s...
, The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd
The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd
The Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd is a 67-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Testaments depicts the life of Jesus in Jerusalem while also depicting the events described in the Book of Mormon from approximately the same time period...
, and Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration
Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration
Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration is a 2005 film that focuses on some of the events during the life of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, which was both filmed and distributed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
.
Jenson collaborated with award-winning composer Sam Cardon
Sam Cardon
Sam Cardon is an Emmy Award winning composer whose credits include 9 large-format films:Texas, The Big Picture, Lewis and Clark, The Legendary Journeys, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, Mysteries of Egypt, Olympic Glory, Whales, Building the Dream at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California;...
to compose the music for three PBS documentaries by producer and director Lee Groberg: Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail, American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith, and Sacred Stone: Temple on the Mississippi. A recent career highlight for him was composing the score for the critically acclaimed film Emma Smith: My Story which played in many theaters across the country.
Film scores
- The First Vision (1976)
- John Baker's Last Race (1976)
- The Great American Indian (1976)
- The Mailbox (1977)
- The Phone Call (1977)
- The Great Brain (1978)
- Three Warriors (1978)
- Where Jesus Walked (1978)
- The Emmett Smith Story (1979)
- Take Down (1979)
- WindwalkerWindwalker (1980 film)Windwalker is a 1981 western adventure film, based on a novel by Blaine M. Yorgason, starring Trevor Howard and Nick Ramus. It was shot in various outdoor locations in Utah. To maintain authenticity to the story, the film's dialogue is subtitled in English with Cheyenne and Crow languages spoken...
(1980) - Harry's War (1981)
- The Red Fury (1984)
- How Rare a Possession: The Book of MormonHow Rare a PossessionHow Rare a Possession is a 64-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It depicts the conversion stories of Parley P. Pratt, a Church leader in the 19th century, and Vincenzo di Francesca, an Italian pastor in the 20th century, who both join the Church after studying...
(1987) - Alamo: The Price of Freedom (1988)
- On Our Own (1988)
- Nora's Christmas Gift (1989)
- LegacyLegacy: A Mormon JourneyLegacy: A Mormon Journey is a 53-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Legacy depicts the life of two recent converts from the 1830s to the 1890s...
(1990) - Polynesian Odyssey (1991)
- Second Chance (1996)
- Trail of Hope: The Story of the Mormon Trail (1997)with Sam CardonSam CardonSam Cardon is an Emmy Award winning composer whose credits include 9 large-format films:Texas, The Big Picture, Lewis and Clark, The Legendary Journeys, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, Mysteries of Egypt, Olympic Glory, Whales, Building the Dream at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California;...
- The Witness (1997)
- Alyson's Closet (1998)
- The Testaments of One Fold and One ShepherdThe Testaments of One Fold and One ShepherdThe Testaments of One Fold and One Shepherd is a 67-minute film produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Testaments depicts the life of Jesus in Jerusalem while also depicting the events described in the Book of Mormon from approximately the same time period...
(2000) - American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith (2000) with Sam CardonSam CardonSam Cardon is an Emmy Award winning composer whose credits include 9 large-format films:Texas, The Big Picture, Lewis and Clark, The Legendary Journeys, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, Mysteries of Egypt, Olympic Glory, Whales, Building the Dream at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California;...
- Bug Off! (2001)
- Water with Food Coloring (2001)
- Horse Crazy (2001)
- Out of StepOut of Step (film)Out of Step is a 2002 film about an LDS young woman from Utah who moves to New York, New York to pursue an education in dance at New York University. There, she receives the affections of two young men and must eventually chose between them.-Plot:...
(2002) - Sacred Stone: Temple on the Mississippi (2002) with Sam CardonSam CardonSam Cardon is an Emmy Award winning composer whose credits include 9 large-format films:Texas, The Big Picture, Lewis and Clark, The Legendary Journeys, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure, Mysteries of Egypt, Olympic Glory, Whales, Building the Dream at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California;...
- Joseph Smith: Prophet of the RestorationJoseph Smith: Prophet of the RestorationJoseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration is a 2005 film that focuses on some of the events during the life of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, which was both filmed and distributed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints...
(2005) - Praise to the Man (2005)
- Emma Smith: My StoryEmma Smith: My StoryEmma Smith: My Story is a 2007 film that focuses on the life of Emma Smith, wife of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement...
(2008) - Friends for Life (2008)
- Demographic Winter (2008) with Arlen CardArlen CardArlen Card is an American composer and arranger. He is a Latter-day Saint and is the younger brother of Orson Scott Card. He was, among other interests, actively involved in both basketball and the saxophone during his youth. After serving two years as a missionary for the LDS Church in Chile, he...
- Horse Crazy Too (2009)
- Demographic Bomb (2009)
- The Lost Civilizations of North America (2010)
- The Boathouse Detectives (2011)
- Mask of Redemption (working title - post production)
Concert productions
- The Clancy Brothers (1992). Irish folk music for the Utah Symphony.
- The Garden (1995). Allegorical oratorio cowritten with Michael McLeanMichael McLean (composer)Michael McLean is an American composer, singer, author, and filmmaker based in Heber City, Utah.-Early life:McLean attended high school in the Chicago area...
and Bryce Neubert. - Pioneer Portrait (1998). Suite for concert band.
- Come Unto Christ (1999). Oratorio commissioned by Brigham Young University-IdahoBrigham Young University-IdahoBrigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
. - This is Christmas (2000). Mormon Tabernacle ChoirMormon Tabernacle ChoirThe 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...
Christmas concert with Roma DowneyRoma DowneyRoma Downey is an actress, singer, and producer, from Derry, Northern Ireland. She is best known as Tess's angel/employee, Monica, the main character of the TV series Touched by an Angel. She is also the wife of television producer, Mark Burnett.-Early life:Downey was born and raised in Derry...
and Gladys KnightGladys KnightGladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
. - Viking Saga (2003). Symphony that premiered at Carnegie HallCarnegie HallCarnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. - Legacy Suite for Orchestra (2004). Performed in Park City, UtahPark City, UtahPark City is a town in Summit and Wasatch counties in the U.S. state of Utah. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and from Salt Lake City's east edge of Sugar House along Interstate 80. The population was 7,558 at the 2010 census...
. - String Quintet in F Major (2004). For the Brigham Young University-IdahoBrigham Young University-IdahoBrigham Young University–Idaho is a private university located in Rexburg, Idaho. Founded in 1888, the university is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and transitioned from a junior college to a four-year institution in 2001, known for the greater part of its...
Faculty String Quintet. - How Glorious the Voice of God (2005). Song cycle for the Brigham Young UniversityBrigham Young UniversityBrigham 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...
Opera Department. - Music & the Spoken Word (2006). With SisselSissel KyrkjebøSissel Kyrkjebø , also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano.Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias...
and the Mormon Tabernacle ChoirMormon Tabernacle ChoirThe 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...
commemorating the centennial of Norwegian independence. - Concert of Orchestral Works (2010). Conducting the Murray, UtahMurray, UtahMurray is a city situated on the Wasatch Front in the core of Salt Lake Valley in the U.S. state of Utah. Named for territorial governor Eli Murray, it is the state's fourteenth largest city. According to the 2010 census, Murray has approximately 46,746 residents.Murray is close to Salt Lake City,...
Symphony. - O Little Town of Bethlehem (2010). Performed in the Libby Gardner Concert Hall at the University of UtahUniversity of UtahThe University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
.
Discography
- Beyond (1992) with the London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic OrchestraThe London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
- Encore (1992)
- In A Land Called Israel (1993) with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- Noel (1993) with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- This Is Christmas (1994) with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- The Nativity Story (1994) with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir
- The Garden (1995) with Michael McLeanMichael McLeanMichael McLean or Mike McLean may refer to:* Michael McLean , Australian broadcaster who appears on Triple M* Michael McLean , American composer* Michael McLean , former Australian Football League player...
and Bryce Neubert - Pioneer Portrait (1996)with the London Philharmonic OrchestraLondon Philharmonic OrchestraThe London Philharmonic Orchestra , based in London, is one of the major orchestras of the United Kingdom, and is based in the Royal Festival Hall. In addition, the LPO is the main resident orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival Opera...
- Merry Christmas (1997)
- High on a Mountaintop: Hymns of the Restoration (2004) with the Prague Symphony OrchestraPrague Symphony OrchestraThe Prague Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1934 by Rudolf Pekárek. In the 1930s the orchestra performed the scores for many Czech films, and also appeared regularly on Czech radio. An early promoter of the orchestra was Dr...