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Author

Lisa Peterson
May 19, 2025

Week #21

Judy Garland/Mormon Tabernacle Covered Songs

This is week 21 of the year and we will be celebrating some of the songs that Judy Garland and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir covered by delving into the songs and applying concepts to create more joy and connection during caregiving routines with music.

The songs are:

  • Alexander’s Ragtime Band

  • Battle Hymn of the Republic

  • Chicago

  • Danny Boy

  • For Me and My Gal

  • You Made Me Love You

  • America the Beautiful

  • Caissons Song 

  • Shenandoah 

  • Simple Gifts

  • When Johnny Comes Marching Home 

  • Yankee Doodle

Featured Song

BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC

“Battle Hymn of the Republic” was published in 1861 with lyrics by Julia Ward Howe, and set to music from the folk song “John Brown’s Body.” Howe was an abolitionist and her lyrics connect imagery from Biblical passages describing the end of days with the events of the American Civil War. The lyrics have been quoted by orators including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bishop Michael B. Curry in their speeches against injustice. The song is known as an American patriotic song and was a favorite of several famous figures including Walt Disney and Winston Churchill.

  • Is this melody familiar to you?

  • Are the words familiar?

  • Did you find yourself humming along?

  • How did it affect you? Did your awareness change? Your breath? Your focus? Your mood?

  • Would you feel comfortable playing this in the background and allow yourself to hum or sing along? By yourself and/or with the one(s) you care for?

Did you ever hear Judy Garland sing this song? Judy calls The Battle Hymn of the Republic “one of the greatest songs ever written”. Go ahead and sing along with Judy!

Creative Ideas

HOW TO USE THE MUSIC

  • Try humming or singing along with the provided recording, or one of your choosing for increased feeling of ______.

  • Listen to a recording to create a shared experience.

  • Listen while engaged in daily routines, to add a feeling of familiarity and comfort (if the song is known and loved)

  • Try reminiscing with the song history, or singers of the song. Look at pictures famous singers who performed the song.

CAREGIVER TIPS

Tina Warnock, PhD Researcher at ARU's Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, observes that our voice is "intricately entwined with our sense of identity". As dementia progresses, it becomes more and more difficult to express one’s thoughts and feelings through words. When we use music, though, it is easier to bring out sounds that naturally fit into the context of a song. Sounds such as “la, do, oh, oo, dee, etc” can easily be used rhythmically and playfully in a musical context, giving rise to appropriate, fun, vocal expressions that can strengthen a sense of identity for those with dementia.

Steps:

1) Put on some music that you and the person you care for enjoys

2) Start humming, or using “la, da, dee, oo, do” sounds along with the melody

3) Encourage any engagement through your facial expressions of smiling, nodding

4) Watch for sign of responses (sounds, smiling, more attention, eye contact, etc)

Share your story! at  [email protected] 

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