School Choirs 2012 Junior Semi Final Songs of Praise


School Choirs 2012 Junior Semi Final

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It's the moment you've been waiting for -

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the School Choir of the Year competition. The tenth!

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A fantastic number of schools entered the competition

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and today, six of the very best junior school choirs have come

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to the Lowry Theatre in Salford, right opposite the home of BBC North

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to sing to win a place in the final.

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APPLAUSE

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Welcome to the Lowry Theatre

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for this first semi-final of the 2012 competition.

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These six junior school choirs are about to go head to head,

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singing with heart and soul,

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because only three of them can go through to the final in two weeks.

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Which choirs will it be?

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We have, from Yorkshire, St Martin's Ampleforth!

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From Hertfordshire, Heath Mount School!

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From Derry in Northern Ireland, it's St Patrick's Primary School!

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From Cambridgeshire, Gamlingay Village College!

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From Croydon, Coloma Convent Girls' School!

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And from Huddersfield, Lindley Junior School!

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I think they've brought along a few supporters!

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Before our choirs show off their choral skills in competition,

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here's your chance to sing along with our audience in the theatre.

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You'll know this hymn, I'm sure, and it should get things going.

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It's Give Me Joy In My Heart.

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You're all in very, very fine voice.

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Well done. Especially you, you'll be pleased to hear,

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But it's not me the choirs have to impress

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if they're going to progress beyond the semifinal. It's our judges.

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First, a vocal coach who has worked with some of the biggest names

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in the music industry - Will Young and Take That, to name just two.

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It is, of course, David Grant.

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APPLAUSE

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Our next judge couldn't be better qualified for the job -

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she's lived, breathed and created choirs

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and has a world-renowned reputation

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as a conductor and choral director. It is Suzi Digby.

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APPLAUSE

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And finally, ladies and gentlemen,

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it's a local boy who knows a thing or two about singing.

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He's performed to royalty, presidents and even the Pope.

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Please welcome the people's tenor, Russell Watson.

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APPLAUSE

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David, what are you looking for?

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We're going to be looking for excellence, energy,

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connection with the text,

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a choir that lives and breathes

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what they're singing, that are really tight, really together,

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really accurate and that make us feel tingles.

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Suzi?

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For me, all the technical stuff needs to be in place,

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but most important is the integrity

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of the interpretation of the text.

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-Russell?

-I want those lovely little faces to make me smile.

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LAUGHTER

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I'll try my hardest, Russell!

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OK, choirs, now you know. Thank you, judges.

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Here's where the competition truly starts.

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Each of our six choirs will sing their choice of hymn.

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Based on that performance alone,

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the judges will select three choirs to go into the final.

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Going first, a choir who made the final three last year.

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Will they go one better? It's Heath Mount School from Hertfordshire.

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# Dance, then, whenever you may be

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# I am the Lord of the dance, said he...#

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The whole competition is something they've really looked forward to.

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All the way from September, they said,

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"Are we going to be doing the BBC again?"

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I never tell them. I secretly recorded them and then sent it off.

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Very pleased that we've got through once again.

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Much better!

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That has to happen every time.

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I was really excited when we got through to the semi-finals

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because we've been in it before.

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This time, it'll be really nice to win

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and hopefully, that will really make Mr O'Brien really happy.

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We're really glad to be here.

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All very excited, although we're nervous at the same time.

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The soloists are quite worried, but I think they'll do really well anyway

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because they're really good singers.

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# I danced in the morning when the world was begun

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# And I danced to the moon and the stars and the sun

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# I came down from heaven and I danced on the Earth

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# At Bethlehem, I had my birth

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# I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee

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# But they would not dance and they would not follow me

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# I danced for the fishermen For James and John

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# They came with me and the dance went on

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# Dance, then, wherever you may be

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# I am the lord of the dance, said he

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# And I'll lead you all wherever you may be

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# And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he

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# I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame

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# The holy people said it was a shame

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# They whipped and they stripped and they hung me on high

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# And left me there on the cross to die

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# Dance, then, wherever you may be

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# I am the lord of the dance, said he

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# And I'll lead you all wherever you may be

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# And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he

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# I danced on the Friday when the sky turned black

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# It's hard to dance with the devil on your back

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# They buried my body and they thought I'd gone

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# But I am the dance and I still go on

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# They cut me down and I leapt up high

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# I am the life that will never, never die

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# I'll live in you if you'll live in me

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# I am the lord of the dance, said he

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# Dance, then, wherever you may be

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# I am the lord of the dance, said he

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# And I'll lead you all wherever you may be

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# And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he

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# Dance, then, wherever you may be

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# I am the lord of the dance, said he

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# And I'll lead you all wherever you may be

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# And I'll lead you all in the dance, said he

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# I am the lord of the dance

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# Said he

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# Lord of the dance! #

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Heath Mount School, ladies and gentlemen!

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David, never easy opening a competition like this.

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They did rather well, didn't they?

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They did really well. I think that when you start,

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particularly if you're starting with a solo in a competition such as this,

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it's nerve wracking.

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And even though I could hear the nerves in the first soloist's voice,

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I think she worked through them really well.

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I also felt that when the ensemble came in,

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there was a real uniformity of sound. A lot of people will think that

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if you're not doing harmonies, it makes it easy, it's simple.

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But actually, if you're getting it wrong, it will be exposed.

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All that remains to be seen

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is whether the others that come on can match that.

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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Susie, what are your first impressions?

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A couple of tiny technical things.

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The last note of each phrase - and this is often a place

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where choirs can just compromise their tuning a bit -

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you just need to work on that.

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When you got very loud, the two-part chord at the end, just refine that,

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-keep making that clearer.

-Russell?

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-They're an experienced choir, did that come across?

-Very much so.

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I've got to say, this year, I can see a vast improvement.

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I think your performance, as we say in Salford, was absolutely smashing.

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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Thank you, Heath Mount School!

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You've rehearsed for months and when you get there, it's one performance

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and you have to get it right, otherwise you won't get through.

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Looking at the judges' comments, I really think we have done enough.

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I was worried they were going to say we were really bad!

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I think I was more nervous than the children.

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I was desperate not to show it, but I think they've worked it out.

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Four years ago, our next school won this competition.

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Now in the first year they've become eligible to enter again,

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they're back for more. It's Lindley Junior School from Huddersfield.

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# All things bright and beautiful... #

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As part of our repertoire, we have the John Rutter version

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of All Things Bright And Beautiful.

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I thought it would be quite a nice challenge for the choir to do,

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as well as being the most beautiful piece.

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Mrs North gives us lots of challenging songs, which is good,

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because if you sing a challenging song well,

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then it sounds really good. And she's also a really lovely person.

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I'm still not hit in the face by this wall of beautiful sound.

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We still have a few months

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to get ready for the competition at the Lowry, and we'll be ready.

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We're all really excited to be on TV.

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I'm a little bit nervous, but once I get on stage, I'll be fine.

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It's great to get to a standard

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where we can be on a national stage. Terrific.

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# All things bright and beautiful

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# All creatures great and small

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# All things wise and wonderful

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# The Lord God made them all

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# Each little flower that opens

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# Each little bird that sings

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# He made their glowing colours

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# He made their tiny wings

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# All things bright and beautiful

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# All creatures great and small

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# All things wise and wonderful

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# The Lord God made them all

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# The purple-headed mountain

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# The river running by

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# The sunset and the morning

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# That brightens up the sky

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# The cold wind in the winter

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# The pleasant summer sun

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# The ripe fruits in the garden

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# He made them, every one

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# All things bright and beautiful

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# All creatures great and small

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# All things wise and wonderful

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# The Lord God made them all

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# He gave us eyes to see them

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# And lips that we might tell

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# How great is God Almighty

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# Who has made all things well

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# All things bright and beautiful

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# All creatures great and small

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# All things wise and wonderful

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# The Lord God made them all. #

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CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

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Lindley Junior School, everybody!

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Suzi, the choir already has a trophy back in the cabinet in Huddersfield.

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Are they in line for another one?

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I'm not surprised. What fantastic commitment.

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Each word was painted.

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Physically, as well as aurally. It was really wonderful.

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The only thing I would say is with your phrasing,

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make sure that it's not leaky and that you get single lines,

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so that you can actually hear a whole line of text.

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But it was marvellous. Thank you.

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Nothing worse than leaky phrasing, ladies and gentlemen.

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-Russell, was it bright and beautiful for you?

-Yeah, it was.

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It was happy, joyous, open-mouthed singing

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and it made me feel good. It made me feel happy.

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I liked your smiling faces.

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What about you, David?

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Yeah, I thought it was excellent.

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If there's one single critique I have, it was that...

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right at the very end, that very last harmony,

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the harmony finished before the melody had finished.

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It was almost like, some singers were, "Ah! We've got to the end now!"

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If you go onto the next phase, sing right the way from the first note

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to the very end of the last note.

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Thank you very much, judges, and thank you, Lindley Junior School.

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I really enjoyed it.

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It wasn't nerve wracking, because we're Lindley Junior School Choir -

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we're never nervous.

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The support we got was tremendous. I could feel it

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and I could hear it loud and clear. Thanks to all our supporters.

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For our next choir, it's their debut performance

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at the School Choir Of The Year competition.

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It's St Martin's Ampleforth in Yorkshire.

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# The Lord is my Shepherd... #

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It makes me feel quite proud to be part of this, such a good choir,

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and to hear such beautiful voices.

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# ..In green pastures... #

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They are really joyous words, they're praising the Lord, so we should be happy too.

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The fact that it's Songs Of Praise means a lot to us

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because it's very much a part of what we believe.

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St Augustine said whoever sings well prays twice.

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We had snow in North Yorkshire,

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but we made it along the motorway

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and we're really pleased to be here as well.

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I think Mr Conyngham is a bit stressed out,

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but he's tried so hard to get us here and he's really excited,

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just like all of us.

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To be honest with you, I'd be very happy to get through to the final.

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Very happy. But more than that, I'm not prepared to say!

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# The Lord is my shepherd

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# I shall not want

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# He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

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# He leadeth me

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# Beside the still waters

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# The Lord is my shepherd

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# I shall not want

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# He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

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# He leadeth me

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# Beside the still waters

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# Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

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# I will fear no evil

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# Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

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# I will fear no evil

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# For you are with me

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# You will comfort me

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# You are with me

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# You will comfort me

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# Comfort me

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# Surely goodness and mercy

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# Shall follow me all the days of my life

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# And I will dwell

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# In the House of the Lord forever

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# Forever

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# Forever

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# Forever. #

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APPLAUSE

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Thank you to St Martin's Ampleforth!

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APPLAUSE

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Russell, you're used to singing out front. Didn't he do well?

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-What's your name?

-Rupert.

-That was absolutely fantastic, Rupert.

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Full of confidence.

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You're out there on your own as well and all your friends are behind you, which is even more daunting.

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Fantastic.

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APPLAUSE

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-David, what about you?

-The perfect choice of song.

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The arrangement was subtle, the build was subtle.

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I think when you got to the last verse,

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the languid, long phrases were very, very daring.

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Their breath control was immense. I thought they were magnificent.

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APPLAUSE

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Suzi, it's a really, really well-known piece. Good choice, or not?

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I think it is. It's a very difficult song to sing well,

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just for the reasons David just said.

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There are long phrases and you have to sustain that sound,

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and you've to sustain the breathing with young singers like that.

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I thought the quality of singing was just right for the song.

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Excellent. Thank you, judges, and thank you, St Martin's.

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APPLAUSE

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It felt awesome.

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You come off and you can't believe you've just done that.

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I'm glad it's over and done with. I'm still shaking with nerves.

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If we don't win, we don't win, but everybody's done their best.

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APPLAUSE

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I wonder if you've already got a favourite?

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Hang on, we're only halfway through.

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Our next choir are waiting patiently for their moment in the spotlight.

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They are Coloma Convent Girls' School from Croydon.

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# Siyahamb' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos... #

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'Siyahamb' is a lovely song

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because it lends itself so well to so many different harmonies,

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and I think it's a really good experience to be singing something

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that's based in a culture that isn't necessarily particularly English.

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Coloma is a Catholic school which is an only girls school

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and we learn quite a lot in religious studies

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and stuff like that.

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Who are you going to be watching when we sing? Who's it going to be?

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Look at me. Thank you.

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We're hoping we can do our best and show the world what we can do.

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The mood before they arrived was brilliant.

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Our school is all about faith.

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We pray at the beginning of every lesson,

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so the ethos of our school is very much embedded in your programme.

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So it means an awful lot in so many different ways.

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But they're very upbeat and very excited.

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CHEERING

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'...

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DRUM BEAT

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# ..Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba

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# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:23:320:23:36

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:23:390:23:43

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:23:430:23:47

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:23:470:23:51

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:23:510:23:54

# Siyahamba

0:23:540:23:56

# Siyahamba

0:23:560:23:58

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:23:580:24:02

# Siyahamba

0:24:020:24:04

# Siyahamba

0:24:040:24:05

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:050:24:09

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:130:24:17

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:170:24:21

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:210:24:24

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:240:24:28

# Siyahamba

0:24:280:24:30

# Siyahamba

0:24:300:24:32

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:320:24:35

# Siyahamba

0:24:350:24:37

# Siyahamba

0:24:370:24:39

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:390:24:43

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'

0:24:430:24:47

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'. #

0:24:470:24:55

APPLAUSE

0:24:550:24:58

The Coloma Convent Girls' School!

0:25:020:25:04

APPLAUSE

0:25:040:25:06

David, a different performance. It was great though, wasn't it?

0:25:080:25:12

The standard this year is really high and that was another high standard performance.

0:25:120:25:16

I didn't understand the language you were singing in,

0:25:160:25:19

but I understood the joy, I understood the uplift.

0:25:190:25:22

I loved the use of harmony, loved the use of counter melody.

0:25:220:25:25

If there was one thing that I will to say to you, if you get through this round,

0:25:250:25:28

let the euphoria with which you are singing be reflected in your faces.

0:25:280:25:33

-Suzi?

-What was really incredible about this choir was the consistency of tone they get.

0:25:330:25:38

Not just when they're singing in unison, but when they're singing in three parts.

0:25:380:25:42

What I would do is hire a choreographer

0:25:420:25:46

and get their bodies relaxed and be really into those movements.

0:25:460:25:49

Then you could match the quality of movement with the singing.

0:25:490:25:52

Russell, it's quite difficult, moving and singing, though?

0:25:520:25:56

-Yeah, I don't do that!

-Neither do I!

0:25:560:25:58

I don't think I could, but there we go.

0:25:580:26:01

I just stand there and sing, and people often say to me,

0:26:010:26:04

"I actually don't know what you were singing about, but it sounded good."

0:26:040:26:08

And it's the same sentiment from me to you.

0:26:080:26:12

Thank you, judges, and thank you to Coloma Convent Girls' School!

0:26:120:26:15

APPLAUSE

0:26:150:26:17

We stayed in tune, so we did our best and everybody sang really well,

0:26:190:26:22

so I think it was good.

0:26:220:26:24

We could feel the support of the school there as we went on. You just felt very loved. It was nice.

0:26:240:26:30

Tension is mounting. There are just two choirs still to sing.

0:26:300:26:33

Our next choir reached the semi finals last year,

0:26:330:26:35

but didn't quite make the final.

0:26:350:26:37

Will they get there this time around?

0:26:370:26:40

It's Gamlingay Village College from Cambridgeshire.

0:26:400:26:42

# And the world that he had made

0:26:420:26:46

# The sea, the rocks, the air... #

0:26:460:26:49

I chose this hymn because

0:26:490:26:50

I feel that it encompasses

0:26:500:26:52

all the problems that we have in the world.

0:26:520:26:56

This is a song that really can touch everyone.

0:26:560:26:59

# ..Help your people to care for your world. #

0:26:590:27:02

Last year, we got to the same stage of the competition, but didn't get through to the finals.

0:27:020:27:06

But this year, I think we've got a really good chance and we're going to give it our all.

0:27:060:27:11

When it comes to singing, each person has their own voice,

0:27:110:27:14

so you've to try and put the voices together to make a choir.

0:27:140:27:19

I think the fact that we've done it once before is a help

0:27:190:27:24

because we know what's coming.

0:27:240:27:26

Everyone's got colds at the moment, so we're trying to make sure

0:27:280:27:31

that everyone's got the tissues ready before we go on.

0:27:310:27:35

People say the judges are really mean,

0:27:350:27:38

but I hope they're going to give us a chance.

0:27:380:27:41

# When your father made the world

0:27:470:27:51

# Before that world was old

0:27:510:27:54

# In his eye, what he had made

0:27:540:27:57

# Was lovely to behold

0:27:570:28:01

# Help your people to care for your world

0:28:010:28:05

# And the world that he had made

0:28:080:28:10

# The sea, the rocks, the air

0:28:100:28:14

# All the creatures and the plants

0:28:140:28:18

# He gave into our care

0:28:180:28:21

# Help your people to care for your world

0:28:210:28:26

# When you walked in Galilee

0:28:280:28:30

# You said your father knows

0:28:300:28:35

# When each tiny sparrow dies

0:28:350:28:38

# Each fragile lily grows

0:28:380:28:41

# Help your people to care for your world

0:28:410:28:45

# And the children of the earth

0:28:470:28:51

# Like sheep within your fold

0:28:510:28:55

# Should have food enough to eat

0:28:550:28:58

# And shelter from the cold

0:28:580:29:01

# Help your people to care for your world

0:29:010:29:05

# The world is a garden you made

0:29:050:29:09

# And you are the one who planted the seed

0:29:090:29:12

# The world is a garden you made

0:29:120:29:16

# A life for our food

0:29:160:29:18

# Life for our joy

0:29:180:29:20

# Life we could kill with our selfish greed

0:29:200:29:26

# When your spirit sees the world

0:29:320:29:35

# His soul must be dismayed

0:29:350:29:39

# We have spoilt your father's work

0:29:390:29:42

# His trust has been betrayed

0:29:420:29:45

# Help your people to care for your world

0:29:450:29:49

# The world is a garden you made

0:29:490:29:53

# And you are the one who planted the seed

0:29:530:29:57

# The world is a garden you made

0:29:570:30:00

# A life for our food

0:30:000:30:02

# Life for our joy

0:30:020:30:05

# Life we could kill

0:30:050:30:08

# With our selfish greed. #

0:30:080:30:14

APPLAUSE

0:30:140:30:16

Gamlingay Village College Choir, ladies and gentlemen!

0:30:220:30:24

APPLAUSE

0:30:240:30:27

So, Suzi, what did you think?

0:30:270:30:29

What I love about this choir is that it's got this lovely, fresh, natural sound.

0:30:290:30:34

It's so important for children to sound like children.

0:30:340:30:38

Phrasing.

0:30:380:30:39

Words like "Galilee" and "paradise", you'd say "Galilee" and "paradise".

0:30:390:30:44

When you sang it, you went, "Gali-LEE" and "para-DISE".

0:30:440:30:47

So what I would do is look at the phrasing of the text

0:30:470:30:51

and sing it as if you'd speak it,

0:30:510:30:54

and perhaps lighten some of the syllables as you'd speak it.

0:30:540:30:58

Then, I think you'd transform the performance.

0:30:580:31:00

But overall, it was really lovely. I enjoyed it very much.

0:31:000:31:03

Russell, they were in the competition last year.

0:31:030:31:06

-Has that experience paid off?

-I think so.

0:31:060:31:09

What I like about this choir is the innocence and the purity.

0:31:090:31:12

Technically, not the best,

0:31:120:31:14

but it's the purity that I find so attractive.

0:31:140:31:18

You looked like you were enjoying it. I enjoyed it too. Well done.

0:31:180:31:22

David, that's a little-known hymn, I would say. Is that a good choice?

0:31:220:31:25

I think it's a brave choice, but I think what this song did was that it gave the choir

0:31:250:31:29

an opportunity to show a bit of heart, soul and passion.

0:31:290:31:31

What we have to do as judges, which is a hard job,

0:31:310:31:35

is to balance off whether some of the technical performances

0:31:350:31:38

that we've heard that have been better than that

0:31:380:31:41

are going to be equalled by the heart and the soul of this choir.

0:31:410:31:45

So they've made our jobs very hard.

0:31:450:31:48

Thank you, Gamlingay!

0:31:480:31:50

APPLAUSE

0:31:500:31:52

I think it's one of the best times we've actually done it

0:31:520:31:55

and I feel really good about it.

0:31:550:31:57

Last year, we didn't make it through, but this year,

0:31:570:31:59

if we were to make it through, we'd all be cheering in our head!

0:31:590:32:04

The judges said they had a very fresh sound

0:32:050:32:08

and sounded like children, which is rather lovely.

0:32:080:32:11

Our final choir are from the second biggest city in Northern Ireland.

0:32:130:32:17

It's St Patrick's Primary School from Derry.

0:32:170:32:19

# I danced in the morning when the world was begun... #

0:32:210:32:25

The reason that I selected "The Lord of the Dance"

0:32:250:32:28

was that I wanted something, first of all,

0:32:280:32:30

that I thought the children would really enjoy

0:32:300:32:33

and that they would relate to.

0:32:330:32:35

Life at St Patrick's Primary School, it's a great place to be.

0:32:360:32:39

It's a very fun place.

0:32:390:32:41

It's a very, very busy school

0:32:410:32:43

and there's an awful lot going on all the time.

0:32:430:32:46

Going over to Manchester to be in the semi finals is exciting.

0:32:460:32:51

I'm just excited to find out

0:32:510:32:54

if our choir's good enough to get through or not.

0:32:540:32:57

We're absolutely delighted that we're representing Derry, the City of Culture,

0:32:570:33:01

and that we're representing our country as well, so we're very proud about that.

0:33:010:33:05

Hopefully, we've brought the luck of the Irish with us!

0:33:050:33:08

Lots of the children are wearing their little guardian angels for extra luck today.

0:33:080:33:12

St Patrick will be on our side, and hopefully, he's praying for us.

0:33:120:33:17

# I danced in the morning when the world was begun

0:33:240:33:27

# And I danced in the moon and the stars and the sun

0:33:270:33:31

# And I came down from heaven and I danced on the Earth

0:33:310:33:35

# At Bethlehem, I had my birth

0:33:350:33:38

# Dance, then, wherever you may be

0:33:380:33:42

# I am the lord of the dance, said he

0:33:420:33:45

# And I lead you all wherever you may be

0:33:450:33:48

# And I lead you all in the dance, said he

0:33:480:33:52

# I danced for the scribe and the Pharisee

0:33:550:33:59

# But they would not dance and they wouldn't follow me

0:33:590:34:02

# I danced for the fishermen For James and John

0:34:020:34:05

# They came with me and the dance went on

0:34:050:34:09

# Dance, then, wherever you may be

0:34:090:34:13

# I am the lord of the dance, said he

0:34:130:34:16

# And I lead you all wherever you may be

0:34:160:34:20

# And I lead you all in the dance, said he

0:34:200:34:23

# I danced on the Sabbath and I cured the lame

0:34:260:34:30

# The holy people said it was a shame

0:34:300:34:33

# They whipped and they stripped and they hung me high

0:34:330:34:39

# And they left me there on the cross to die

0:34:400:34:47

# Dance, then, wherever you may be

0:34:490:34:52

# I am the lord of the dance, said he

0:34:520:34:55

# And I lead you all wherever you may be

0:34:550:34:59

# And I lead you all in the dance, said he

0:34:590:35:02

# I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black

0:35:070:35:13

# It's hard to dance with the devil on your back

0:35:130:35:20

# They buried my body and they thought I'd gone

0:35:200:35:27

# But I am the dance and I still go on

0:35:270:35:31

# Dance, then, wherever you may be

0:35:310:35:34

# I am the lord of the dance, said he

0:35:340:35:37

# And I lead you all wherever you may be

0:35:370:35:40

# And I lead you all in the dance, said he

0:35:400:35:44

# They cut me down and I leapt up high

0:35:460:35:49

# I am the life that will never, never die

0:35:490:35:53

# I'll live in you if you'll live in me

0:35:530:35:56

# I am the lord of the dance, said he

0:35:560:36:00

# Dance, then, wherever you may be

0:36:000:36:03

# I am the lord of the dance, said he

0:36:030:36:07

# And I lead you all wherever you may be

0:36:070:36:11

# And I lead you all in the dance, said he. #

0:36:110:36:18

APPLAUSE

0:36:210:36:24

St Patrick's Primary School!

0:36:280:36:30

APPLAUSE

0:36:300:36:33

Russell, tell me, did the cute factor get to you?

0:36:340:36:37

They are so cute, it's unbelievable!

0:36:370:36:40

When you started, the three of us were laughing. We felt joyous.

0:36:400:36:44

Then there were moments where you brought it right down

0:36:440:36:48

and it made you feel sad.

0:36:480:36:50

You got so much light and shade into the performance.

0:36:500:36:53

It was just stunning. Well done.

0:36:530:36:56

Suzi, we've heard that hymn before somewhere, haven't we?

0:36:560:36:59

-Yes, we have.

-Heath Mount sang it as well. Does that matter?

0:36:590:37:02

Not in the least. It was like a completely different animal.

0:37:020:37:05

Your interpretation was a little eccentric,

0:37:050:37:09

but I've never heard a children's choir with such character.

0:37:090:37:13

I was just laughing from the beginning to the end

0:37:130:37:18

in the right way, obviously.

0:37:180:37:20

I enjoyed it enormously, and technically, it was very good.

0:37:200:37:24

David, last word to you.

0:37:240:37:25

Each choir different and bringing its own thing.

0:37:250:37:29

This choir have enough energy in there

0:37:290:37:31

to run a million kilowatt power station!

0:37:310:37:34

A dynamic performance. A great way to end.

0:37:340:37:37

Wow! Dynamic!

0:37:370:37:39

APPLAUSE

0:37:390:37:41

Thank you to the dynamic St Patrick's Primary School!

0:37:410:37:45

APPLAUSE

0:37:450:37:47

I don't think anyone was nervous when we got up.

0:37:470:37:50

-I think that we did our best.

-We couldn't have done it any better.

0:37:500:37:54

The children put everything into it

0:37:540:37:56

and what they were trying to do, in their own special way,

0:37:560:37:59

was tell the story.

0:37:590:38:01

Our judges have left the auditorium

0:38:030:38:05

and our choirs are chewing their nails backstage, awaiting their decisions.

0:38:050:38:09

If you've not made up your mind just yet,

0:38:090:38:12

here's a reminder of why the judges have such a tough job ahead of them.

0:38:120:38:16

# Dance, then, wherever you may be

0:38:160:38:19

# I am the lord of the dance, said he... #

0:38:190:38:21

It's a great challenge with childrens' voices

0:38:210:38:24

to get real expressiveness and integrity into the interpretation

0:38:240:38:28

without being too affected.

0:38:280:38:31

I thought it was confident, it was comfortable.

0:38:310:38:35

It felt a little safe to me.

0:38:350:38:37

# ..They hung me on high... #

0:38:370:38:40

# All things bright and beautiful

0:38:400:38:43

# All creatures great and small... #

0:38:430:38:46

There was a lot of merit in the performance. It was very polished.

0:38:460:38:50

They've definitely been well coached. You could see that. A touch too much.

0:38:500:38:54

# ..Each little flower that opens... #

0:38:540:38:57

# The Lord is my shepherd... #

0:38:570:39:00

I think they're a contender. They're a possible.

0:39:000:39:02

They lacked variety in tone.

0:39:020:39:05

But on the other hand, if you look at the text of the song,

0:39:050:39:07

there's not a great deal you can do. It's not like 'Lord of the Dance'.

0:39:070:39:12

The fact that they clasped their hands in front of them...

0:39:120:39:15

-That doesn't help at all.

-You noticed? It's restrictive.

0:39:150:39:18

# ..Still waters. #

0:39:180:39:22

They moved like an English choir

0:39:220:39:25

and they've got to move like an African choir,

0:39:250:39:27

loosen up those bodies.

0:39:270:39:29

# Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'... #

0:39:290:39:32

Can they bring their whole level of performance up to their singing? That's the question.

0:39:320:39:37

# ..Siyahamba' ekukhanyen' kwenkhos'... #

0:39:370:39:40

# And the world that he had made

0:39:400:39:43

# The sea, the rocks, the air... #

0:39:430:39:46

-These were the really sweet, innocent, cute kids.

-Natural, fresh.

0:39:460:39:50

Natural, fresh. They made me smile.

0:39:500:39:53

# ..Help you people to care for your world... #

0:39:530:39:58

It was more, "Aw" than "Wow".

0:39:580:40:01

# And I came down from heaven and I danced on the Earth

0:40:010:40:04

# At Bethlehem, I had my birth... #

0:40:040:40:08

Although it was fun,

0:40:080:40:10

at times, it veered towards the funny inappropriately.

0:40:100:40:14

# ..I am the lord of the dance, said he... #

0:40:140:40:15

This story, when THEY sang it, had a beginning, a middle and an end.

0:40:150:40:20

Our judges are back in their seats and our choirs are back on stage.

0:40:200:40:25

The atmosphere, I have to tell you, is very tense.

0:40:250:40:28

Whatever our judges decide, I'm sure you'll agree

0:40:280:40:31

we've been treated to some fabulous singing

0:40:310:40:34

from these young, wonderful choirs.

0:40:340:40:36

APPLAUSE

0:40:360:40:40

Judges, before you tell us which choirs have made it through,

0:40:410:40:44

perhaps just a brief word from each of you on the performances today.

0:40:440:40:49

The standard was excellent.

0:40:490:40:51

What they gave us, all six of them, was a really great representation

0:40:510:40:55

of school singing and young children singing together at its very best.

0:40:550:41:02

Russell, how difficult was it reaching that decision?

0:41:020:41:04

It was incredibly difficult because we felt that all the choirs

0:41:040:41:07

had their own special attributes that we were all drawn to.

0:41:070:41:11

Suzi, what do you say to the three that don't quite make it this time round?

0:41:110:41:16

I hate to think of you all not going through. You've all been fantastic.

0:41:160:41:20

You've certainly brought us a great gift today of your performance.

0:41:200:41:24

OK, it's decision time.

0:41:240:41:27

Each of our judges will be asked to announce the name of a choir

0:41:270:41:30

who has made it through to that final.

0:41:300:41:33

David, please can you reveal the first choir going through to the final?

0:41:330:41:36

The first choir going through to the final

0:41:360:41:39

of the Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year is...

0:41:390:41:42

..Coloma.

0:41:480:41:50

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

0:41:500:41:53

Suzi, can you please tell us

0:42:000:42:01

the second choir going through to the final?

0:42:010:42:04

The second choir going through to the final is...

0:42:040:42:08

..Heath Mount.

0:42:130:42:15

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

0:42:150:42:17

Russell, can you please reveal the name of the last choir

0:42:230:42:26

going through to the final?

0:42:260:42:28

The last choir going through

0:42:300:42:33

to the Songs of Praise School Choir of the Year final is...

0:42:330:42:39

..St Patrick's.

0:42:440:42:46

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

0:42:460:42:49

So there you have it.

0:42:550:42:57

Coloma, Heath Mount and St Patrick's

0:42:570:42:59

will be back in the final in two weeks' time,

0:42:590:43:01

where just one of them will be crowned

0:43:010:43:04

the 2012 Songs of Praise Junior School Choir of the Year.

0:43:040:43:07

Please put your hands together

0:43:070:43:09

for all our valiant other semi finalists.

0:43:090:43:12

APPLAUSE

0:43:120:43:14

Next Sunday, the spotlight turns on the senior school choir semi finalists.

0:43:220:43:26

Six of the very best will battle it out to wow those judges,

0:43:260:43:29

before three of them are chosen for the final.

0:43:290:43:32

If you'd like some top tips for improving your singing

0:43:320:43:35

from our celebrity judges, please visit our website...

0:43:350:43:39

Until next time, bye-bye!

0:43:390:43:41

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0:43:570:44:01

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