13/12/2015 Songs of Praise

Hello. On today's Songs Of Praise I'm at home with Bake Off favourite

and the Queen of Cakes, Mary Berry.

We're going to be talking faith, festive family memories...

And of course making a very special Christmas cake.

# Rocking around the Christmas tree... #

'80s pop star Kim Wilde unwraps the history of a popular

Christmas carol and gives us a special performance.

Well, very good.

And I'll be talking to the King of Waltz, Andre Rieu.

It's all things Christmas on today's programme, including the music,

starting with this one from Hackney Empire to get your toes tapping.

# In excelsis deo

# Gloria

# In excelsis deo

# Gloria. #

Every slice should look good on the plate.

Now, just how that looks is lovely.

'Tens of millions of us have tuned in to see Mary Berry on the BBC

'smash hit the Great British Bake Off.'

The overall effect is really very beautiful.

It has a lovely flowing feathered tail.

I truthfully think that the whisky flavoured jelly

is a little bit over the top.

I mean it when I say this is a dream come true.

This is Mary Berry's house and that's the famous kitchen.

Mary!

Hi, I have to hug you!

Hello, it's so lovely to meet you.

Hang your coat on there.

-You've come at the right time, it's Christmas cake time.

-Oh, wonderful.

-I'm doing a special one with pineapple in.

-Oh, fantastic.

Makes it extra moist. So, I'm all laid out.

All the ingredients are weighed out carefully.

I've put some butter in there. It should be soft.

Just give it a bit of a beat there and then beat in the sugar.

It is nice and soft.

You've been baking and teaching people to cook for 60 years now,

what keeps you going? What do you love about it?

I always think that baking is so satisfying.

It's sort of love on a plate.

-I've got a can of pineapple here.

-Yep.

I've taken all the juice away from it.

But it does just need to be chopped up a bit before I add it.

Your childhood is very interesting, Mary.

I know you survived polio as a teenage girl,

can you tell us a bit about that?

Well, I had polio when there was an epidemic,

but I was very, very lucky because I only had it in my hand.

People think I've got arthritis, but it's the result of polio.

It means I don't have to darn socks.

I manage to do everything with it and I was one of the fortunate ones.

Yeah. How strong was your faith when you were a child?

We were brought up in a Christian home

and my grandfather was a Canon of York.

I can remember my little brother saying, my mother saying,

"Would you like to go and hear grandpa preach?"

And William said, "No, I've been and heard him before."

As though it was something you did once.

-In go the cherries.

-Yep.

Looking around, we've weighed everything very, very carefully.

All the bowls are empty.

Do you think your faith has helped keep you grounded

through all the success you've had?

I haven't changed in any way.

I've just felt that I am exceptionally fortunate to live in

a village that's a very great community

and we have a wonderful church.

I think I've hopefully done you proud.

I think you've done an excellent job. Shall we tip it in?

Yep. It's quite heavy, isn't it?

-Well...

-I'm not surprised with all the fruit we put in there.

Right, how are you doing?

And now we are going to cook this at 140 fan,

and it will take about two and a quarter hours.

-But we've got some help for the next bit, I think.

-I have.

I hope. I will be listening for my two granddaughters, Abby and Grace.

The twins are joining us to make decorations for the cake

of holly and berries and something tells me they've done this before.

Really lovely to meet you both.

What are your memories of baking with Granny when you were younger?

Erm, well, I remember there's a really nice picture of us,

-making cupcakes when we were really young.

-There you are!

How old are you on there?

You are tiny!

-Probably three or four.

-There is that picture.

It was the very first time that I baked with the girls.

I look like a boy!

THEY LAUGH

Gracie, what does Granny like about being on Bake Off?

Erm, I just think she enjoys eating the cake as well, obviously,

but also helping other people become better at something that she is

-so gifted at.

-Yeah.

-That's lovely.

-I think that is very well put.

I like to think of myself as a teacher.

Well, we'll be back later in the programme to decorate the Mary Berry

Christmas cake, but right now it's time for our next carol.

-This one chosen by you, Mary.

-It's one of my great favourites.

It's the story of Christmas.

I know every word, in fact most of us can sing it without

looking at the song sheet.

Christmas time is always a good excuse to dust off your dancing shoes

and Claire McCollum was all in

a twirl when she met the Waltz King himself, Andre Rieu.

Andre Rieu founded his first orchestra in 1978

and now tours worldwide.

He's in the UK at the moment with his own interpretation

of seasonal music with all the trimmings.

But when it comes to Christmas,

the Dutch violinist has some very strict rules.

Christmas-time for me is extremely important.

People offered me millions to play at Christmas-time,

but I always say no, I am at home with my family.

Because that's very important to have this.

When you travel the world like I am, together with my orchestra,

you need time to rest, you need time at home.

For me, Christmas-time is the most special time of the year.

# Hallelujah

# Hallelujah! #

I know you play a lot of religious music -

how important is that to you in your repertoire?

I think, you know, when I was born in our city, everybody's Catholic.

That had a great influence on me. I was at church every day

because I was singing in the choir from five to when my voice broke,

so six years I was in the choir. I was the highest soprano...

I remember at Easter the sun was shining in the windows

from that side and that side,

ten priests here and ten priests there, you know,

oh, that made such an impression on me.

It still is very important, all the music.

I remember we played in Maastricht, in the square,

Nearer To Thee, My God.

We played it with 400 wind players and the strings started, it was...

very, very impressive.

We played it and the people were so...

-It was like in a church.

-Amazing.

Many, many people listen to music - your music, in fact - to relax,

but how do you, how does Andre Rieu relax?

Relaxing for me in fact is sleeping.

I'm running or I sleep, or I'm waltzing.

Yes. Speaking of waltzing, we can't have Andre Rieu on the programme

and not do a little waltz. Do you think we could?

-Let's do that.

-Can we?

-Yes, here in the church!

-You lead?

-Yes.

One, two, three. One, two, three.

One, two, three.

One, two, three. One, two, three.

-One, two, three. One, two, three!

-Oh, I say! Thank you.

Coming up, the Queen of Cakes Mary Berry shares with us

some of her family memories from Christmases past and gives us

some tips on icing that Christmas cake.

But first, a classic carol performed by the BBC Radio 2

Choristers Of The Year.

# Away in a manger

# No crib for a bed

# The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head

# The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay

# The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay

# The cattle are lowing

# The baby awakes

# But little Lord Jesus no crying he makes

# I love thee, Lord Jesus

# Look down from the sky

# And stay by my side

# Until morning is nigh

# Be near me Lord Jesus

# I ask thee to stay

# Close by me for ever

# And love me I pray

# Bless all the dear children

# In thy tender care

# And take us to heaven

# To live with thee there. #

It's back to Mary Berry's home now where we're joined by her son Tom.

It does sound like Christmas is a very special time for your family.

What are your memories of earlier Christmases

when the children were young?

We used always to go to my parents, everybody would be there.

Do you remember the Christmas jumpers?

-That face!

-Yes, exactly.

I remember it, and being lined up and - Thomas.

Everybody after Christmas, once we'd listened to Queen's Speech,

then everybody had to do a little act or a play or sing.

So I think in that photo,

the three of them are singing something they all knew.

Are you able to talk a little bit about what happened to William

and why he is not with us?

William was home from Bristol Poly

and he went off to get something for his business studies,

he'd asked to borrow the car and took his sister with him.

Sadly he drove too fast and the car turned over and he was killed.

But Annabel was beside him and she was absolutely fine.

We found out when we went to the hospital

and saw her running up the corridor in her muddy pink tracksuit.

It was so sad to lose one, but to lose two...

Other people may well know, losing two must be awful,

but we just lost William.

I know when we told you, Tom, you said that you'd so much to do.

Yes, we were just becoming... You know, you go through

your teenage years, just becoming friends, sort of stronger friends.

And, Mary, I know you are a patron of a bereavement charity.

You're able to help other people who've gone through a similar...

Yes, indeed. Everybody grieves in a different way.

Some want to be quite silent, some want to go away,

but underneath it all, a bit of friendship, to talk to somebody

who is perhaps in the same boat, helps people.

You mentioned that your faith was tested

and then strengthened throughout these experiences you've had?

Yes, absolutely.

I remember going to our church,

Holy Trinity, just down the road, just as William died.

There is a plaque just inside the door of the Busby family.

In the First World War, they lost three sons.

I think then it hits you how it could be, how we'd lost one.

What's really clear is how much family means to you, Mary.

It is a time to reflect as well, I should imagine.

It's a time to think about things in the past.

We always raise a glass to him and we think what it would be like

-if he was here now.

-Yeah, we always talk about him.

It's great for our family to talk about William as he's still

part of the family, he may have died but we all grieve in different ways,

and we talk about him with our girls.

It's just very interesting, talking to them

and keeping that alive and understanding as they grow up.

Time for your next choice of carol, Mary,

-tell us how you came to choose this one.

-Not my choice!

I decided I would ask Tom and Sarah what their favourite hymn

would be to celebrate Christmas.

What did you choose?

Mary Did You Know? It seemed to have such a wonderful message in it...

-As well as a great tune.

-And it's got your mum's name in the title!

Very diplomatic.

# Mary did you know

# That your baby boy would one day walk on water?

# Mary did you know

# That your baby boy

# Would save our sons and daughters?

# Did you know

# That your baby boy has come to make you new?

# This child that you delivered will soon deliver you

# Mary did you know

# That your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

# Mary did you know

# That your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?

# Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod

# And when you kissed your little baby you kissed the face of God?

# Mary did you know?

# Oh, Mary did you know?

# Mary did you know?

# Mary did you know?

# Mary did you know?

# The blind will see

# The deaf will hear

# The dead will live again

# The lame will leap

# The dumb will speak

# The praises of the lamb

# Oh, Mary did you know

# That your baby boy is lord of all creation?

# Oh, Mary did you know

# That your baby boy will one day rule the nation?

# Did you know that your baby boy is Heaven's perfect plan

# The sleeping child you're holding

# Is the Great...

# I am

# Oh, Mary

# Did you know? #

I've popped down the street from Mary's to see a house that's taking

Christmas decorations to the next level.

Check this out.

Now that's what I call decked out.

We've sent '80s pop star Kim Wilde to Cardiff to discover

all about getting decked out for Christmas.

# Deck the halls with boughs of holly... #

# Rocking around the Christmas tree... #

Hard to believe that that was 28 years ago.

Fond memories with the late Mel Smith,

-brings a smile to my face every time I hear it.

-Christmas pie, anyone?

I'm a big Christmas fan, love everything Christmassy,

especially Christmas carols.

I'm here at St Fagans Museum in Cardiff to find out about one

particular carol, Deck The Halls.

THEY SING IN WELSH

Of course, this isn't the version we're all familiar with.

So I'm meeting up with museum curator Fflur Gwynn to find out all about it.

Well, the story actually begins with a Welsh tune

from the 16th century.

It wasn't actually a Christmas carol or song, but a dance tune.

So in the 16th-century Wales,

people on New Year's Eve would've gathered

together around the harp and they would've danced to this tune.

THEY SING

So Deck The Halls was really a song for the winter,

to lift everybody's spirits. How would they have performed that?

There would have been a real celebration.

Everybody would sing a verse each

and then it would turn quite competitive.

HE SINGS IN WELSH

# Fa la la la la, la la la la. #

When the first person would not remember another verse,

that person would have to leave the game.

-The original musical chairs.

-Exactly. Yes.

# Fa la la la la, la la la la... #

One of the most recognisable parts of the song are the fa-la-las.

# Fa la la la la, la la la la... #

Even if you didn't know the rest of the words of the song,

you could certainly join in with the fa-la-las.

It's the only part really that has stood

the test of time from the original Welsh tune,

when they were singing all these different verses,

you would have always had that fa-la-la-la.

# Fa la la la la la la la la la. #

Here's my take on the beautiful, ancient carol.

# Deck the halls with boughs of holly

# Fa la la la la, la la la la

# La la la la

# Tis the season to be jolly

# Fa la la la la, la la la la

# La la la la

# Angels sing songs of celebration

# Sending out the word of love to every nation

# We sing

# A song of joy

# To everyone

# We sing

# A song of hope

# To everyone

# Angels sing

# Songs of celebration

# Sending out the word of love to every nation

# We sing

# A song of joy

# To everyone

# A song for everyone

# For everyone

# Fa la la la la, la la la la

# La la la la

# A song of love

# To everyone. #

Well, the time has come to decorate our Mary Berry Christmas cake.

The girls are ready, Mary is ready. Over to you, Mary.

Girls, how about putting the royal icing, nice and stiff,

put it all on the cake and then do your peaks.

We're going for quite a snowy scene, aren't we, with this one?

The snow scene immediately makes you think of Christmas.

-Now, how about some peaks, girls.

-Oh, yeah.

-How do you do them?

-Do you just...?

-Shall I just show you one?

-Yeah.

Look...

-Oh, OK.

-Just like that, all over and that is quite fun to do.

It looks like fresh snow, doesn't it? No-one has trodden on it yet.

That's it. Then, your little balls here.

What do you think?

-Three like that?

-Yep. Three like that.

-Yep.

-There we are.

-This is going to be gorgeous.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

-That's it.

What are you most looking forward to, Mary, this Christmas?

I just look forward to when they walk through the door,

all very excited.

Like that would be lovely.

And there is one playing the trumpet.

It looks fantastic, girls, well done.

Well done, Abby, and well done, Grace.

I'd say it looks good enough to eat, Mary.

Well, the icing will be soft so beware.

-I'm going to avoid the decorations. How hungry are you?

-Oh, go on!

It's a long way home, Mary.

-How does that look?

-There you go. That looks perfect.

As you can see, it's not heavily fruited, so have a go.

I'll tip it on its side.

This is a bit of a treat for me, Mary,

having a cake that you actually baked.

-And the apricots, I think are extra delicious in it, too.

-It's gorgeous.

It's ab... It's so fruity! Oh!

This is delicious. Am I the only one having any?

I think the girls might have a little later.

Now, if you haven't made your cake yet, it's not too late.

The recipe for this, and I recommend it, is on our website:

And that's it for this week.

But next week we're staying firmly in the festive spirit because

we've got our Big Sing Gala Christmas spectacular

from the Royal Albert Hall.

Featuring star guests Ronan Keating, Ruby Turner and Alexander Armstrong.

But to end today's programme we have a carol that was

written as a special Christmas gift from a father to a daughter.

Thanks for watching. Bye.

Happy Christmas from the three of us. Goodbye.

# Christians, awake, salute the happy morn... #