Episode 1 Connie's Musical Map of Wales

Connie!

SHE SCREAMS

You may remember me from a place alive with the Sound of Music.

Well, I've been set free to explore a much more beautiful place

where the hills truly are alive with the sound of music.

I'm taking a magical mystery tour to draw my very own musical map of Wales.

I'll be travelling the length and breadth of the country, meeting some fabulous people.

I used to be where you are.

All with wonderful talents...

# That will bring us back to doh... #

'..and amazing tales to share.' Swept away!

Hold on for a bumpy ride!

I haven't driven a car in ten years. It's really fine, honestly.

Famous last words...

# The hills are alive with the sound of music. #

People say my driving is a bit erratic and so are my routes.

I always go the pretty way, and today I'll be travelling

from Cardiff, through the former mining valleys of South Wales.

Then I'm heading across the beautiful Upper Swansea Valley

and ending up for a night in Treorchy.

# The green, green grass of home... #

When I agreed to embark on this musical journey across Wales,

I was promised a dashing, Welsh, handsome,

head-turningly sexy co-star.

So let me introduce you. This is Gilbert. He's a Gilbern -

one of the last remaining Welsh-built sports cars.

To be honest, I wasn't thrilled with the casting of my leading man.

However, I'm secretly excited about our big musical adventure together.

So, without further ado, let's get the show on the road!

All right, Gilbert, off we go.

Good morning, Mr Magpie. Morning, Mrs P.

And I'll need all the luck I can get on this journey.

My first destination is at one of my favourite things...

rugby international Saturday in Cardiff, as Wales take on Ireland.

Music and rugby go hand in hand, like do, re, mi and ME!

A name I call myself. And I'm here in Cardiff on match day

because it's my turn... to do a turn.

# Guide me, O thou great Jehovah... #

I'm going to sing Cwm Rhondda in the lead up to the match.

But before I meet the massed ranks of the male voice choirs,

my backing singers, as I call them, I'm doing a bit of market research.

Could I ask a few questions. What's your favourite rugby anthem?

Give me about 15 minutes and two beers, I'll be right back to you!

-Do you know Bread Of Heaven?

-Not at all.

-I'm afraid they don't sing!

-Could you give me Bread Of Heaven?

-DOG BARKS

# Bread of heaven... #

You have the lyrics! It's called Cwm Rhondda, you see?

It's Bread Of Heaven in disguise. Let's have a verse, OK?

# Guide me, O thou great Jehovah... #

-# Hold me with thy powerful hand

-Bread of heaven...

-# Bread of heaven... #

-I know the words.

-# Dee dee dee dee...

-Now and evermore...

-Evermore... #

-# Feed me now and evermore. #

-Beautiful ending. Bravo!

# Bread of heaven, bread of heaven Feed me now... #

It's actually not the first time I've performed here.

So I should be excited, but I'm a bit nervous,

because I was stood here five years ago almost to the day, for my audition for Maria.

SHE GASPS

It's bringing it all back. But I've never sung in a rugby ensemble!

So here I go. This is for the boys.

# Bread of heaven, bread of heaven... #

You need to be in four clear lines.

My backing singers, conducted by Haydn James,

come from three different male voice choirs from across Wales.

And this is my first rehearsal with them.

They're warming up with the National Anthem! Don't drop the ball, Connie.

-Should I be nervous?

-You should, I think.

-Ah!

It's a privilege for you to sing with us today!

Every male voice choir says that.

-Is it because I is a woman?!

-No, because you're famous.

-Aha-ha!

You're a good singer too.

You're more famous, you're heading out there, are you nervous?

I'm more nervous for the team. That's what's important to me.

It's not us singing, it's the game that's important.

-Is the singing going to help us win?

-Guaranteed.

This is nerve-wracking. You go out there, and if I forget the words,

I could be the failing mascot for Wales v Ireland.

# Guide me... #

Ah, who turned off the microphone?

This didn't happen to Katherine Jenkins!

Ah well, keep smiling... and singing.

# ..But though are mighty, Hold me in thy powerful hand... #

Just don't forget the words, whatever you do, don't forget the words!

# Bread of heaven, bread of heaven

# Feed me till I want no more

# Feed me till I want no more. #

-Oops! Nobody noticed, did they?

-SHE LAUGHS

Ah, dear!

I feel like they're cheering for me! But they're not.

I'm cheering for me. I've never done that before. Wooh!

WHISTLE BLOWS

I think it's possible that the linesman who didn't notice

that this try should have been disallowed was still remembering my singing...

A girl can dream.

No time to bask in reflected glory as Gilbert and I hit the road again.

Well, that psalm was absolutely incredible.

It's made me think a little more about the song Cwm Rhondda,

why is it such an important piece of music to all of us?

I'm off to find out.

We're travelling up the A470 towards the heart of the Rhondda Valleys

and I've got a rendezvous in the birthplace of Bread Of Heaven,

Hopkinstown, just a stone's throw from Pontypridd.

The tune was first written in 1907 and first performed in the same

year in this chapel in a Christmas service. But the man who wrote it,

John Hughes, was not your average composer.

I'm meeting his great nephew, Geoff Hughes, who's going to reveal the family secrets.

Tell me about John Hughes, the man.

He worked in the pits, started at the age of 12.

He eventually became a transport manager for the mines.

One of the jobs he had to do was make sure the wagons with the coal

went from here down to Cardiff Docks for export.

There is a story that he used to write on the sides of the wagons,

he used to write the tunes, in chalk, and would send the wagons off.

And his friends at all the stops and stations all the way to Cardiff,

who in those days could pretty well all read music, would write comments,

in chalk, on the sides of the wagon, as to whether they liked the tunes.

The wagons would come back up here and he would get all of his comments back as to what reception they got.

Cwm Rhondda was soon to become the hit hymn tune of Wales,

when they really were top of the pops.

There were lots of outdoor, community hymn singing festivals.

John Hughes went along to conduct these hymns, including Cwm Rhondda, to up to 30,000 people.

So, this is how it spread. But its fame spread very quickly.

It was written in 1907 and even within five or ten years, it was already a famous hymn.

It was sung and appreciated all over the world.

John Hughes even receiving thanks from Prime Minister, David Lloyd George.

There are lots of stories of people writing from all over the world

saying what the song meant to them.

There's one from the First World War, where a major was writing in,

saying how it inspired his Welsh guards at a time of, clearly, great problems during the war.

It has touched so many people over a great many years now, and still is.

-So you get royalties?

-I wish we did. No, we don't get anything.

Just the enjoyment of listening to it, time and again.

From one Valleys superstar to another. I'm travelling a few miles

to the green, green grass of home of someone you may just have heard of.

# Do do doo do, do doo do doo... #

Can you tell who it is yet?

# When I see you out and about, it's such a crime...

# If you should ever want to be loved by anyone

# It's not unusual to find out I'm in love with you... #

Almost as popular as Cwm Rhondda, if not more so, are the songs

of a man who was born here - No 57, Kingsland Terrace, Treforest.

And it's hard to believe that it's almost 45 years since he had his biggest hit,

my personal favourite - The Green, Green Grass Of Home.

And even harder to believe that his biggest fan doesn't live in his old home town at all.

Oh, no, she lives in North Wales, over 150 miles away.

But, by the powers of television, I'm off to visit her. Beam me up, Scotty!

Ann Hughes is a Tom Jones superfan. She's even created a shrine to him in her front room.

# Why, why, why, Delilah? #

So I'm here to find out, why, why, why, Ann?

Wow, Ann, this is amazing! How did this all start?

Oh, many years ago, when I first saw him in a club.

He hadn't recorded any music then, and had to turn the microphone off

because his voice was so powerful. And I said to my friend,

"He's going to go places, this lad."

And how many times have you been to see him?

-Oh, it must be over 250 times now.

-Have you ever thrown your knickers?

Well, I haven't thrown any at him, but on one occasion,

in Liverpool, I went to the front of the stage and I gave him these.

-I handed them to him and he wiped his brow... .

-Did he give them back?

-He gave them back to me, yes.

That's just one of the magic moments, being a Tom Jones fan.

Since you first saw him, how much do you think you've spent on his concerts and memorabilia?

It must be thousands of pounds.

-What does your husband think?

-Oh, he doesn't mind.

Does he mind that it's taken over a whole room of your house?

No, in fact, he suggested it,

because I didn't realise how much memorabilia that I did have.

And I put it all together and it took me two days to fill this room.

-Do you just sit and admire Tom quite a lot?

-Erm, well, yes.

And I put his music on in here. If it's raining or anything,

I'll come in and give Tom a dust, you know? Keep him respectable!

-Keep Tom looking presentable!

-Oh, yes!

You actually held a campaign for Tom to be knighted, didn't you?

Yes, I thought he deserved it for his contribution alone to music.

He's 71 this June

and, do you know, Connie, he still does over 200 live shows a year.

Do you think that you're Tom's biggest fan?

He's got fans all over the world,

but I can say for sure I am his biggest Welsh fan!

I love Tom. Do you ever, like I do in my bedroom, grab a hairbrush?

# Do de dooo, do de dooo.... # Throw your knickers, everyone!

-# It's not unusual to be loved by anyone...

-Do de doo...

-# It's not unusual to have fun with anyone...

-Do de doo... #.

# But if I ever find that you've changed at any time

# It's not unusual to find that I'm in love with you

# Oh wooo oh oooh oooh, wooah woooah ho oooh... #

Back to my roots and my musical map, and I'm travelling north

towards the Cynon Valley, where you and I are in for a little surprise.

People have the wrong impression of the South Wales Valleys.

It's often described as grimy and industrial. But, since coal left these valleys, it's anything but.

On a beautiful day like today, this could almost be a film set.

And high on a hill I meet four nuns, six goat herders, and a pair of Marias.

What on earth are you doing? I mean, who are you?

We are the Sound Of Music Appreciation Group.

-Randomly singing, in the middle of Cwmbach?

-Yes!

-Who'd have thought it? So I guess you're big Sound Of Music fans, then?

-Yes, we are.

-Actually, I recognise a few of you.

-These are drama students in the school where I work.

And we're all going to do a show in tribute to The Sound Of Music.

Go on, then, give us a blast!

# High on a hill was a lonely goatherd

# Lay-ee-odl, lay-ee-odl, lay-hee-hoo!

# Loud was the voice of the lonely goatherd

# Lay-ee-odl, lay-ee-odl-oo. #

Oh, amazing, I couldn't better it.

OK, I think it's time for a fan-off.

Who has seen The Sound Of Music ten times?

Oh, everyone. OK, 20 times?

This could be a long process. Over 50 times?

Oh, my Lord. Just the stalkers, then.

OK, who's seen it over 100 times?

Oh, you are the winner. You could be Maria.

What do you love about the show?

Everything. All the words, all the characters, all the songs,

and the lyrics are so fab as well.

If I'm nervous, I listen to I Have Confidence.

Nothing can pull you out of a bit of a black hole like that can.

I'd love to play Maria one day and sing that song.

I love the fact that, when Maria comes to the house,

she brings music back into the Von Trapp family,

and she brings music to every family who watches it.

Wales is known for romantic love songs, and we are known as singers.

-We are the land of song.

-We are, indeed, and I think the songs

in The Sound Of Music are just so joyful to sing

-that everybody in Wales likes to sing them, don't we, girls?

-Yeah.

It's been a lovely afternoon on the hillside,

but it's time for me to say...

# So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye

# The sun has gone to bed and so must I

# Goodbye!

# Goodbye!

# Goodbye!

# Goodbye! #

That was a bit random, wasn't it?

Anyway, now, from the ridiculous to the sublime.

I'm travelling over 20 miles across stunning scenery to find out about

a lady with an amazing voice, and an incredible connection to this area.

# Ahhhh! #

I'm heading out of the mining valleys of South Wales

and into the foothills of the Brecon Beacons.

In this stunning and secluded countryside is Craig-y-Nos,

a country house and theatre

renovated and built by an astonishing woman.

I'm wondering how a world-renowned opera diva like Dame Adelina Patti

ended up here.

The woman with all the answers is Welsh singer, performer

and mah-hoosive Adelina fan Beverley Humphreys.

She was the most celebrated diva of the 19th century.

A real prima donna, adored by fans all over the world.

Imagine the operatic version of Kylie, or Madonna.

Oh, I'd go see her! I'm there! What was her voice like?

It was, by all accounts, exquisite.

Verdi, when he heard her,

said that she was the most stupendous singer that he'd ever heard.

And that was from the maestro. What an accolade.

She sang all over the world.

Europe, North America, South America, Russia.

At the height of her powers, she could command a fee of 5,000.

-For one performance?

-For one performance.

-What?!

How did she end up here in Wales?

-By this time, she'd taken a lover, Ernesto Nicolini.

-Oh, I love him.

They needed a bolt-hole

where they could carry on their liaison in private,

and she spent 40 years transforming it into this fairy-tale castle.

And this was her piece de resistance,

this bijou theatre that she caused to be built.

She created her own shrine here.

There she is, Madame.

Can you imagine me painting my own curtain,

me on the hill, with some nuns and some goats?

I think you could do that!

She lived for music.

Can you imagine 150 people assembling here,

with her servants at the back?

She always made sure there was space for the servants.

And she would give performances

of excerpts of some of her most famous roles.

She used to hold charity concerts here,

to raise money for the impoverished people of Swansea and Bridgend

and Ystalyfera and Ystradgynlais.

I think people appreciated that she didn't come and close herself away,

and was not aware of what was going on around her.

So she was adored all over the world

by her audiences, but she was also loved by the people here in Wales.

Adelina's given me an idea - I think I might turn my back bedroom

into my very own... slightly smaller theatre.

The final leg of my journey is taking me some 25 miles south,

back into the heart of the Rhondda Valleys.

Even though the scenery is stunning,

I have to admit that Gilbert and I are feeling the strain.

Oh, are we nearly there yet?

But there's no time to waste, as I've got an appointment

with a lot of brass and over a century of history.

I'm going to the granddaddy of them all,

the Cory Band based in Ton Pentre.

Named after coal owner Richard Cory, who originally helped fund the band,

they're the current world champions.

They've won more awards than you can shake a baton at

and have been playing for nearly 130 years.

I bet they're out of breath!

It's been a true family affair, and I'm meeting

the band's longest-standing member, John Trotman.

I started in 1937, as an 11-year-old boy. There I am.

-What were you playing? It looks very small.

-A cornet.

In fact, that's all the Trotman family, which played in the band.

My grandfather started in 1911.

It's 2011 now, so the Trotmans have been associated with the Cory Band

for 100 years.

Wow.

Do you think, if you hadn't been brought up in this area,

you'd be a brass player?

No, it was in the family, wasn't it? I had to play.

The band rehearses every week for competitions and performances

across the UK and abroad.

Bob Childs has been a member of the band since he was a youngster, and is now their conductor.

Being in a band, isn't that a very male-orientated hobby?

It used to be, of course. Most bands, especially in South Wales

and the North of England, were allied to industry.

The industry down here was the coal mine, so generally speaking,

they were male-dominated and so the bands were male-dominated as well.

But since, I suppose, the last 25 or 30 years,

there's as many good girls musicians as boys,

so they've filtered their way into the band.

What it's like being a woman in a brass band?

I don't consider it to be anything special, I suppose.

I've grown up with it, my family all play,

so I have never known anything different.

-It's a family affair here?

-Very much so.

There's myself and my brother, his wife, and my dad, we're in the band,

and lots of other families within the band, too.

What makes a Welshman a good brass player?

Singing tradition is very important.

The way that you play a brass instrument is very much like singing.

Just like you were trained to breathe,

our players were trained to breathe similarly.

Hypothetically, I should find this easy?

You should do, except that to create a noise on any brass instrument,

the sound generates from the lips vibrating,

so you need to make a little raspberry with your lips

into the mouthpiece.

We'll see if you can do it.

CONNIE BLOWS A RASPBERRY

Exactly. You're going to be perfect.

Yes! Get in!

I was wandering if I could be cheeky enough to ask to blow your horn.

-No problem at all, yeah. If you'd like a go.

-Thank you.

CONNIE CLEARS THROAT

What do I do? Do I hold it like this?

-You put your hand under there.

-Right, OK.

Hey, wasn't bad? Woo!

I would have to be truthful and say there's not as many bands now as there was,

but you'd expect that, when all the bands were allied to the coal mines.

A big tradition in brass bands is that father will pass on

the knowledge to the son.

It's not a dying tradition, it shall live on in the valleys.

Yeah, I'm sure it will, yeah.

-Can I have a go?

-You can.

-No idea what I'm doing.

-Let's go for the fast bit, shall we?

-OK, right.

I'm nervous, are you nervous?

One, two, three, four...

'Woo-hoo! This is fun!'

I'm rubbish, but I don't care.

Woo! Love it! Thank you!

Phew! After that, Gilbert and I are looking forward to a rest,

and thankfully, it's just a short drive east to Treorchy.

# Oh hokey hokey-Treorchy!

# Oh hokey hokey-Treorchy!

# Oh hokey hokey-Treorchy!

# Knees bent, arms stretched Rah rah rah! #

No hands!

I'm going to discover a very different musical tradition

that has changed dramatically over the years.

# I'm a chap that's always getting into trouble... #

Between the two world wars, music halls and theatres

were virtually in every town in the Valleys,

full every night with some of the greatest acts of the day,

and doubling up to show the new talking pictures.

Hardly any remain.

The Parc & Dare Theatre, Treorchy, like many others,

was built by miners' contributions

and is one of the last remaining theatres still open for business.

Recently refurbished, it's looking great.

# There's no business like show business... #

What a place.

# Da-da, da-da-da-da! #

I'm meeting a man who loves this place even more than me,

local playwright and actor Frank Vickery.

Frank, I think we have the best seats in the house.

What better place to perform than in the Parc & Dare?

I absolutely love it.

The first musical I did here, it was with the Rhondda Theatre Group,

I was about 16 and I had one line.

"The horses are leaving the paddock, Mrs Higgins."

I can remember standing on the side, with my heart beating like hell,

-waiting for my cue to move.

-Cue's coming up!

-Absolutely.

Tell me the history of this place.

There were two collieries, the Parc and the Dare.

The miners that worked in the two collieries,

they paid a penny in every pound contribution,

and it was from that money that they built the Parc & Dare.

And it was a library, where the miners would come and study,

then it was a cinema,

then, of course, all the amateur operatic societies,

plus some amateur theatre companies.

So it has a great tradition of musicals and theatre here.

What makes it so popular for an audience member?

We have telly, film, DVDs now,

but nothing will ever beat coming to see a live show, whatever it is.

When you've got a good house here, boy, have you got a good house.

He's live at Treorchy!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Tonight, as it was over 60 years ago,

the place is packed with people to watch one of their very own stars,

and Max Boyce is the ideal man to bring our journey full circle.

Music, Max and rugby.

-# Wales defeated England! #

-Yes!

# In a fast and open game

# We sang Cwm Rhondda and Delilah and they sounded both the same... #

All together now!

# He started singing

# Hymns and arias

# Land of my fathers

# Ar hyd y nos. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Next time, I'm heading north,

to find out what happened the day the Beatles came to Bangor...

You couldn't move with hundreds and hundreds of people,

especially the girls. They were all screaming, "Beatles, where are you?!"

..visiting Portmeirion to hear about

a Welsh music star from a Welsh stargazer...

# Take your girl For the cherries on her lips

# For the cherries on her lips Take your girl. #

..and star in my very own Welsh Bollywood extravaganza.

# So do la fa mi do re... #

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