50th Birthday Celebration Songs of Praise

Hello and welcome to Alexandra Palace for a very special occasion

in the history of Songs Of Praise.

On October 1st, 1961, a new programme of hymn singing

was broadcast for the first time on BBC television.

It's been broadcast every week since then.

So, half a century on, why don't you join us

to celebrate the 50th birthday of Songs Of Praise?

On stage for this evening's concert, Katherine Jenkins,

Beverley Knight,

LeAnn Rimes...

..and Andrea Bocelli.

And Sally and Diane will be meeting just some of our audience.

Happy...birthday...Songs Of Praise!

Happy birthday, Songs Of Praise!

And more than 6,000 voices doing what Songs Of Praise does best -

singing hymns and inspirational songs.

Alexandra Palace, or Ally Pally as it's affectionately known,

provides a stunning setting for our birthday celebrations.

It started life as an exhibition centre

back in 1873 and, before long,

Victorian Londoners were coming here to enjoy great events

and these parklands and gardens.

And, today, it's our great gathering.

People have travelled from far and wide to join the party.

Ally Pally is one of many beautiful and iconic locations

that Songs Of Praise has visited over the past 50 years.

Like many of the presenters, I've had the privilege of visiting

so many amazing places in this country.

But what makes them really special is the people!

CHEERING

I've been watching Songs Of Praise for 50 years.

Have you really?

Since 1961. In the early days, when television was very small.

But what was coming from Songs Of Praise was beautiful.

And, of course, Katherine Jenkins is here.

-Oh, yes(!)

-And she's got two very nice frocks, I guarantee you.

Beautiful voice and looks stunning.

It's just an oasis of goodness, I think.

On a Sunday, it's a regular little slot. You can watch it.

This towering transmitter is a beacon on the landscape of North London,

but it also stands as a reminder of the BBC's

close connection with this astonishing building.

In the mid-1930s, the Corporation chose Alexandra Palace

as the location for an exciting new project - the very first

television broadcast made by the BBC came from here, 75 years ago.

Compared to that, Songs Of Praise is a mere youngster.

APPLAUSE

We're here on this special occasion to enjoy not just the music,

the singing, but the company.

I know we said "don't wear black and white,"

but you have sort of taken it to an extreme! You look great!

Yes. Patriotic.

-And it's Sunday, to me, to watch Songs Of Praise.

-Yes.

And I shall probably go home

and in my brain, all night, I shall be singing the hymns.

I was just trying to think what a group of presenters would be called.

I think it's a "pedigree", especially with you three.

-How nice.

-So, Martin Muncaster, Bruce Parker and Tom Coyne.

-Now, who was on Songs Of Praise the earliest?

-I suppose I was.

I was in the '60s, when I was about ten.

I just had such, such great fun doing it and lots of laughs.

And I think that's what I remember, the joy that it brought me

and, hopefully, other people as well, through doing the programme.

# Guide me, O thou great redeemer

# Pilgrim through this barren land. #

-Great!

-I'm not sure whether that's in tune or not.

Over the last few days, the magnificent Great Hall here

has been transformed from a gigantic, empty space

into a magnificent concert venue,

that resembles something of a cathedral

with its own rose window and famous Willis organ.

Rehearsals have been taking place all day as the choirs, orchestra

and special guests make their final preparations.

'Ladies and gentlemen, your host for this evening, Aled Jones!'

APPLAUSE

Well, you look absolutely stunning.

Are you in fine voice, ladies and gentlemen?

AUDIENCE: Yes!

That's the right answer!

Our first hymn is not only one of the most popular ever sung,

it's the one we've adopted as our very own. You'll know what I mean when we get to the third verse.

It's Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer.

It's quite overwhelming to see so many friends here with us in Alexandra Palace

to celebrate our special birthday.

It's a particular joy and privilege to be joined by so many regular Songs Of Praise viewers.

Give yourselves a round of applause, why don't you?

APPLAUSE

And, of course, just some of those who've presented

or taken part in the programme over the years.

Not everyone can be with us and we think about them this evening as well,

especially our dear friends Sir Harry Secombe and Dame Thora Hird.

APPLAUSE

But, do you know what?

-I reckon they're probably up there, enjoying the party with us. What do you think?

-ALL: Yes!

It's a real pleasure to introduce the first of our special guests,

an internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano. She often tops the classical charts,

not to mention her many television appearances, including Doctor Who.

I'm really jealous about that one!

And she's always been a great friend of Songs Of Praise.

Singing Love Divine to the wonderful Welsh tune Blaenwern,

please welcome Katherine Jenkins!

APPLAUSE

# Love divine, all loves excelling

# Joy of heaven to Earth come down

# Fix in us thy humble dwelling

# All thy faithful mercies crown

# Jesu, thou art all compassion

# Pure, unbounded love thou art

# Visit us with thy salvation

# Enter every trembling heart

# Come, almighty, to deliver

# Let us all thy life receive

# Suddenly return and never

# Never more thy temples leave. #

# Thee we would be always blessing

# Serve thee as thy hosts above

# Pray and praise thee without ceasing

# Glory in thy perfect love

# Finish then thy new creation

# Pure and spotless, let us be

# Let us see thy great salvation

# Perfectly restored in thee

# Changed from glory into glory

# Till in heaven we take our place

# Till we cast our crowns before thee

# Lost in wonder, love and praise. #

APPLAUSE

Katherine Jenkins, ladies and gentlemen!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

That was amazing.

Having you on Songs Of Praise is as natural as breathing.

You really do feel at home here, don't you?

I really do. I feel so grateful.

I've been involved in Songs Of Praise from the beginning of my career

and it's a real honour to be asked back. So I'm happy to be here.

I need to ask you this question, OK? Did you watch it as a child?

Oh, I honestly did. I watched it with my nana and my nana would sing along.

However, she was tone deaf!

So the hymns didn't quite sound like they were meant to

but they're brilliant memories.

What about since singing professionally?

You've been on so many times. You must have amazing memories.

So many and it's hard to pick one.

If I had to, it would be Blenheim Palace.

You know, such a gorgeous setting, outdoors,

the sun came out and it was fantastic.

You're going to sing again, which I'm delighted about.

An iconic hymn. Any clues as to what it is?

-Well, you've put me on the spot now!

-I have.

I think it's a hymn we associate with being British, I would say.

OK. Is that all you're saying?

-A patriotic hymn. Do you want me to introduce it?

-No, not yet!

You're not going to sing it yet.

Ladies and gentlemen, the wonderful Katherine Jenkins!

APPLAUSE

Our Songs of Praise 50th birthday choir here on stage

is made up of some of the very best youth choirs in the UK,

all of whom have close connections with the programme.

They'll sing a toe-tapper now,

O When The Saints Go Marching In.

ALL: Yeah!

APPLAUSE

It's a great honour to introduce our next guest,

arguably the most popular classical artist in the world,

with a voice perfectly comfortable singing opera,

sacred music or popular ballads.

It's been said that if God had a singing voice,

it would sound a lot like the one you're about to hear.

High praise indeed! And deservedly so.

Singing Ave Maria, it's Andrea Bocelli!

APPLAUSE

# Ave Maria

# Gratia plena

# Maria gratia plena

# Maria gratia plena

# Dominus

# Dominus tecum

# Benedicta tu in mulieribus

# Et benedictus

# Benedictus fructus ventris

# Ventris tui, Jesus

# Ave Maria

# Ave Maria

# Mater Dei

# Ora pro nobis peccatoribus

# Ora, ora pro nobis

# Ora, ora pro nobis

# Peccatoribus

# Nunc et in hora mortis

# In hora mortis nostrae

# In hora, hora mortis nostrae

# In hora mortis nostrae

# Ave Maria

# Ave Maria

# Ave Maria. #

APPLAUSE

Andrea Bocelli, ladies and gentlemen!

Andrea, I think they like you.

LAUGHTER

How do you feel when you're singing something like that Ave Maria?

My answer is very simple.

When I sing Ave Maria, or other sacred arias,

I pray.

You can tell, can't you, ladies and gentlemen?

APPLAUSE

We're celebrating a very important birthday.

Have you got a message for our viewers?

Well, um...we are living a very difficult moment.

My message is to be optimistic and happy.

Well, you most definitely make us happy, Andrea.

APPLAUSE

The good news is, ladies and gentlemen,

Andrea will be back later to sing something very special indeed.

But, for now, it's Andrea Bocelli!

APPLAUSE

Thank you.

Well, we're joined by a great, old lady now.

Yes, I am allowed to say that

because I'm talking about the Ally Pally organ.

It's the second Willis organ to be installed in the building.

The first was destroyed by fire.

In fact, this one almost suffered a similar fate.

Luckily, it survived and you'll hear it in our next hymn which was,

in fact, written to dedicate a new pipe organ

in a church in Lancashire in 1861.

It's Angel-Voices Ever Singing.

Well, I'm absolutely thrilled to welcome our next guest.

She's an award-winning American singer

who released her first album aged 13

and has made her name singing classic country songs

and inspirational music.

An amazing 40 million albums later,

her career is clearly going from strength to strength

and we're delighted to have her with us.

She's flown across the pond specially.

Please give a very warm welcome to LeAnn Rimes!

APPLAUSE

Welcome to the UK.

-Thank you so much.

-Thanks for coming to sing for us.

-Happy to be here.

-That's dedication, isn't it, ladies and gentlemen?

-I love it!

You've had a phenomenal year. Well, every year's phenomenal. What are the highlights?

Oh, my gosh! The highlights in my life?

-Just the year!

-This year? Well, I got married.

-Oh!

-Well, that was a highlight!

-Yes!

When you were growing up, was there anything like Songs Of Praise on TV?

Um...not really.

We had, like, in Nashville we had Sundays At The Grand Ole Opry

but nothing like this on TV. This is truly unique.

Absolutely.

And you're well known for singing inspirational pieces of music.

How do you feel on a platform like this,

performing in front of thousands?

Um...I guess I've been doing it since I was a baby,

so this feels like second nature to me.

It feels...I feel most comfortable on stage. I love it!

Do you feel it's a spiritual experience?

Absolutely. I feel I'm the most open and giving and, you know,

at my most vulnerable when you're up on stage in front of millions.

So what are you going to sing for us?

-My new single, which is called Give.

-And what's it all about?

Give...it's about giving!

No. When we think of giving in this world,

we always think of money and donating to charity

but what we forget is that sometimes we're here, as human beings,

to give to one another of ourselves.

-That's really what the message of the song is.

-We're delighted you're here.

Thank you, LeAnn. We can't wait to hear this song.

-Singing Give, the one and only LeAnn Rimes.

-Thank you.

APPLAUSE

# Everybody's reaching for something

# Every day a pulling and tugging

# And always wanting a little more

# Holding on to hurt like an anchor

# Treating those we love like strangers

# Taking names and keeping score

# We all know

# What we're really after

# Somewhere along the road

# We got it backwards

# If you want to get love then give it

# If you want to feel some forgiveness

# Then you've got to let go and do some forgiving of your own

# If you want a friend then be one

# A little bit of kindness show some

# You'll be surprised at how much finds its way back home

# It don't matter what it is

# If you want it, give

# Yeah, I been down right stubborn

# At one time or another

# And found it easier to bend

# Oh, yeah

# I've had a shoulder to lean on

# Been the one who got to be strong

# And peace was waiting at both ends

# Well, I've felt the power

# I've seen what it can do

# It seemed so simple

# So simple that it's true

# If you want to give love then give it

# If you want to feel some forgiveness

# Then you've got to let go and do some forgiving of your own

# If you want a friend then be one

# A little bit of kindness show some

# You'll be surprised at how much finds its way back home

# It don't matter what it is

# If you want it, give

# Hey, yeah

# If you want a friend then be one

# A little bit of kindness show some

# You'll be surprised at how much finds its way back home

# It don't matter what it is

# If you want it, give

# Oh, just show a little kindness, baby

# Oh, yeah, if you only give

# Yeah

# Ooh

# Ooh

# Yeah, if you only give. #

APPLAUSE

Thank you.

The legendary LeAnn Rimes and her guitarist, Gregory!

CHEERS

Well, it's time to get the Ally Pally rocking.

Yes, you heard me right. We've got a fabulous gospel song coming up

and to sing it are members of the London Community Gospel Choir.

Great to have you with us, guys, along with our next guest.

Well known for her soul music,

she's even received an MBE from the Queen.

She must be doing something right. Please welcome Beverley Knight!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

-You love a crowd like this, don't you?

-This is my kind of crowd -

vast!

LAUGHTER

Listen, you're known as the Queen of Soul but I want to take you back

-to when you were a child cos it was all about gospel and church and a lot of both.

-Absolutely!

Absolutely.

I'm glad for it because I believe that musically,

as well as everything else, it put me on the right path.

I think, um...when you go into a church

and are asked to sing a song,

it's not just all about you and your voice and all of that,

it's about delivering a message.

And that is the one thing that I'd say singing in church

really drums home into you.

When you were a small kid in church, listening to those great singers,

your mum included - she sang quite a bit in church?

-Yes, she did. She did.

-She's here this evening, Grace?

-She is, she's somewhere!

-How did you feel as a little one?

Did you think, "I want to do that one day"?

Oh, I was ready! I was almost out of my seat. "It's my turn now!"

Oh, I absolutely wanted to do that SO much.

It wasn't just the idea of just being in front of a crowd,

it was the joy of singing

and really bringing over a message. I loved it.

How do you feel on a platform like this, singing a soul or gospel song?

Well, there's not much of a difference, to be perfectly honest.

Again, it is using your voice as a vessel to communicate something.

It is, I don't know...

it's the most heightened emotion you can ever feel.

You know all about that!

It elevates you to another plane. It edifies you

and hopefully it edifies the audience, as well.

-What are you going to sing and why?

-I and the lovely choir,

we're going to sing a song called I'm Not Forgotten

by gospel artist Israel Houghton.

And, um...the reason I wanted to sing this song is because...

just over a year ago I lost my father and,

um...I always turn to music as a solace,

as somewhere to hide, you know?

This song literally got myself and my family through that tough time.

Thank you very much. Let's hear it.

Beverley Knight and the London Community Gospel Choir

with I Am Not Forgotten!

APPLAUSE

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# God knows my name

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# God knows my name

# He knows my name

# Yeah

# Sing it! I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# God knows my name

# Hey, yes

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# God knows my

# He knows my name

# Ooh, yes

# Light over darkness

# Strength over weakness

# Joy over sadness

# He knows my name

# He knows my name

# Father to the fatherless

# Friend to the friendless

# Hope for the hopeless

# He knows my name

# He knows my name

-# Oh, I will praise him

-I will praise him

-# I will lift my hands

-I will praise him

-# I am fearfully

-I am fearfully

# And wonderfully made

# Everybody sing

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# God knows my name

# Ooh, yes!

# I am not forgotten

-# Yes, he does!

-I am not forgotten

-# Never!

-I am not forgotten

# God knows my name

# He knows my name

# I am not forgotten

# Never forsaken

# I am not forgotten

# Never forsaken

# I am not forgotten

-# Never!

-Never forsaken

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# Never forsaken

# Never forsaken

# Ooh, yeah

-# I am not forgotten

-I am

-# I am not forgotten

-Never!

# I am not forgotten

# God knows my name, yes He does

-# I am not forgotten

-Never!

# I am not forgotten

# I am not forgotten

# God knows my name

# He knows my name

# Yeah!

# Light over darkness

# Strength over weakness

# He knows my name! #

APPLAUSE

The London Community Gospel Choir and Beverley Knight, ladies and gentlemen!

APPLAUSE

Next, a fine old hymn written in 1905

and in the last few years revived by worship leader

and songwriter Chris Tomlin, who's given it a new twist.

It's become popular in many churches and if you don't know it,

you'll soon pick up the catchy chorus.

APPLAUSE

Absolutely brilliant.

Another showstopper now, in quite a different way.

This is a hymn that's often sung on great occasions,

in church, yes, but also to mark major sporting events,

or meetings of organisations, including the Women's Institute

and party political conferences.

Katherine Jenkins leads us

in the words of William Blake's inspired poem.

# And did those feet in ancient time

# Walk upon England's mountains green?

# And was the holy Lamb of God

# On England's pleasant pastures seen?

# And did thy countenance divine

# Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

# And was Jerusalem builded here

# Among those dark satanic mills...? #

APPLAUSE

Now, what promises to be yet another high point

in our 50th birthday celebrations,

with his personal interpretation of one of the most famous

and best-loved spiritual songs ever written, it's Andrea Bocelli!

APPLAUSE

# Amazing grace

# How sweet the sound

# That saved a wretch like me

# I once was lost

# But now am found

# Was blind but now I see

# Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

# And grace my fears relieved

# How precious did that grace appear

# The hour I first believed

# Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail

# And mortal life shall cease

# I shall possess within the veil

# A life of joy and peace

# Amazing grace

# How sweet the sound

# That saved a wretch like me

# I once was lost

# But now am found

# Was blind but now I see

# Was blind but now I see. #

APPLAUSE

Ladies and gentlemen, it doesn't get better than that. Andrea Bocelli!

CHEERS

Our next hymn has words written

by the prolific hymn writer Fanny Crosby.

But it wasn't popular when it first appeared in the 1870s.

It wasn't until it was revived by Billy Graham in 1954

as part of his London Crusade that its potential was realised.

It's also become a firm favourite

with the millions who watch Songs Of Praise every week.

So let's raise the roof with

To God Be The Glory Great Things He Hath Done.

APPLAUSE

We're almost at the end of our 50th birthday celebration.

Thank you very much for joining us and singing along.

It means a tremendous amount to all of us here on the programme

that you join us every week, so keep doing it, OK?

We start our 51st year next week with a visit to Salisbury,

where I meet some of the residents fortunate enough

to live in the beautiful Cathedral Close,

though I discover that one inhabitant is pretty tricky to find.

And there'll be wonderful hymns from a congregation in full voice in the cathedral -

one of the world's most stunning church buildings.

Once again, please thank our special guests,

Katherine Jenkins, Beverley Knight, LeAnn Rimes and Andrea Bocelli!

APPLAUSE AND CHEERS

And with them, Pam Rhodes, Sally Magnusson and Diane Louise Jordan!

APPLAUSE

One more thing. It wouldn't be a birthday without one special song,

so let's all sing this together.

Many thanks for celebrating with us. Here's to the next 50 years.

Goodbye for now!

# Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday to you

# Happy birthday dear Songs Of Praise

# Happy birthday to you! #

CHEERS AND APPLAUSE

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

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