0:00:02 > 0:00:04It's an early start, isn't it?
0:00:04 > 0:00:06If we could win, it would just mean everything.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09Very excited. I THINK they're all in good voice.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11We are here to win.
0:00:11 > 0:00:12Come on, ladies!
0:00:12 > 0:00:15A lot of people are going to be watching us, so quite scared.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18My life would be complete if we won.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20We're the best choir in the world! THEY CHEER
0:00:37 > 0:00:38APPLAUSE
0:00:43 > 0:00:47Hello, and a very warm welcome to London's Royal Festival Hall
0:00:47 > 0:00:50and the Final of Choir of the Year 2012.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53- My name is Tim Rhys Evans. - And I'm Josie D'Arby.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Now, the journey to this Final started earlier in the year,
0:00:56 > 0:01:00when 138 choirs, involving over 5,000 singers,
0:01:00 > 0:01:03entered the regional stages of the competition.
0:01:03 > 0:01:07That number has been whittled down to six Grand Finalists
0:01:07 > 0:01:12and tonight, one will leave as Choir Of The Year, 2012.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Tasked with making today's all-important decision
0:01:15 > 0:01:17are three distinguished musicians,
0:01:17 > 0:01:21and what they don't know about singing isn't worth knowing, let me tell you.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23Let's meet the Choir Of The Year jury.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35What I'm looking for is precision,
0:01:35 > 0:01:37accuracy,
0:01:37 > 0:01:38passion,
0:01:38 > 0:01:39and commitment.
0:01:40 > 0:01:44It's going to be a really tough job for the judges this year, I think.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47We have to stick to our base principles about looking at
0:01:47 > 0:01:49technique, looking at musicality,
0:01:49 > 0:01:52looking at communication.
0:01:53 > 0:01:57What I want to see is people loving what they do.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01I will definitely be judging them much more from the heart
0:02:01 > 0:02:03than the technical side of things,
0:02:03 > 0:02:07because, for me, that's what music is all about.
0:02:07 > 0:02:09APPLAUSE
0:02:12 > 0:02:15We'll be hearing the thoughts of the jury throughout this Grand Final.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19But now, it's time to meet the six choirs hoping to be named
0:02:19 > 0:02:21the UK's best amateur choir.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24This year, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland
0:02:24 > 0:02:27and Wales are all represented, and we have a wide range
0:02:27 > 0:02:29of performance styles to look forward to.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31Let's take a look at the line-up.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Our first choir is the Methodist College Girls' Choir
0:02:35 > 0:02:37from Belfast, Northern Ireland.
0:02:37 > 0:02:41Founded in 2005, are the 29-strong Surrey Hills Chamber Choir.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44Les Sirenes, from Glasgow, are students and graduates
0:02:44 > 0:02:47of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50From the University of Oxford, a jazz a cappella group,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52the Oxford Gargoyles.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Our youngest Grand Finalists
0:02:54 > 0:02:57are the Lindley Junior School Choir from Huddersfield.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59And finally, from Gwynedd, North Wales,
0:02:59 > 0:03:01Ysgol Glanaethwy Senior Choir.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Our six Grand Final choirs.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08APPLAUSE
0:03:13 > 0:03:17In just a moment, the first of our six choirs will perform,
0:03:17 > 0:03:19so it's time for me to head backstage, where I'll be
0:03:19 > 0:03:21waiting to talk to them as they come off.
0:03:21 > 0:03:26I'll leave you now in the very warm hands of Tim.
0:03:26 > 0:03:27LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE
0:03:27 > 0:03:28Thank you, Josie.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33So, everyone, here we go!
0:03:33 > 0:03:37The first choir hoping to make an impression on the jury
0:03:37 > 0:03:40is Methodist College Girls' Choir from Belfast.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Now, this choir has quite a pedigree in this competition,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47having won the overall title twice, first back in 1998,
0:03:47 > 0:03:48and then in 2002.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52This year, they arrive as Youth Choir Of The Year,
0:03:52 > 0:03:55a title they won at the Category Finals in October.
0:03:55 > 0:03:59It's made up of 65 girls, aged between 14 and 18.
0:04:07 > 0:04:08- I'm Rachel.- And I'm Lalana.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11And we're all very proud members of...
0:04:11 > 0:04:13ALL: Methodist College Girls' Choir!
0:04:16 > 0:04:17THEY CHEER
0:04:17 > 0:04:20The college has a huge musical tradition.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23We're just one of the five choirs the college has.
0:04:23 > 0:04:24We must be choir-mad!
0:04:24 > 0:04:27We rehearse at least three times a week
0:04:27 > 0:04:29with our conductor, Lynda Rolston.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31She works us very hard,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33but we do want to work for her,
0:04:33 > 0:04:34because she's just lovely!
0:04:34 > 0:04:36Don't tell her I said that.
0:04:39 > 0:04:40If I loved someone, which I do...
0:04:40 > 0:04:43- THEY LAUGH - ..I wouldn't go, "I love you."
0:04:43 > 0:04:45I really would..."I LOVE YOU!" Here we go.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48We always seem to be rushing off to one competition or another.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Have you all got nice, tidy uniforms?
0:04:50 > 0:04:51ALL: Yes!
0:04:51 > 0:04:54It's a week before the final of Choir Of The Year,
0:04:54 > 0:04:57and we're off to yet another competition, in Ballymena.
0:04:57 > 0:04:59The All-Ireland Choir Of The Year.
0:05:00 > 0:05:01All go!
0:05:03 > 0:05:06We're quite a competitive choir, I'd say, wouldn't we, guys?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09We've got a lot of fighting spirit, so when we're up on stage,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11in that Royal Festival Hall,
0:05:11 > 0:05:14as they say in Northern Ireland, we'll be giving it stacks.
0:05:14 > 0:05:16- THEY CHEER AND CLAP - Give it stacks!
0:05:18 > 0:05:21APPLAUSE
0:05:28 > 0:05:30# Hey, hey, you, you
0:05:30 > 0:05:31# I love you! I love you!
0:05:31 > 0:05:34# A lot
0:05:34 > 0:05:36# I love you, I love you
0:05:36 > 0:05:38# A whole lot
0:05:38 > 0:05:40# I love you, I love you a lot
0:05:40 > 0:05:42# A whole lot
0:05:42 > 0:05:46# I love you lots and lots and lots
0:05:46 > 0:05:49# I love you lots and lots and lots and lots
0:05:49 > 0:05:52# Hey, hey, you
0:05:53 > 0:05:55# I love you, I love you
0:05:55 > 0:05:57# I love you very much
0:05:57 > 0:05:59# I love you very, very much
0:05:59 > 0:06:01- # I love you - Very, very much
0:06:01 > 0:06:03- # I love you - Very, very, very, very much
0:06:03 > 0:06:05# Very, very, very, very much
0:06:05 > 0:06:07# A whole bunch
0:06:07 > 0:06:10# Very, very, very, very, very much
0:06:10 > 0:06:12# A lot - very much
0:06:12 > 0:06:14# I love you, I love you
0:06:14 > 0:06:16# A lot
0:06:16 > 0:06:18# I love you very, very, very, very much
0:06:18 > 0:06:21# I love you a whole bunch
0:06:21 > 0:06:24# For ever, ever, ever, ever, ever
0:06:24 > 0:06:26# Ever, ever, ever, ever
0:06:26 > 0:06:28# I love you, I love you
0:06:28 > 0:06:31# Hey, hey, you, you! #
0:06:31 > 0:06:34APPLAUSE
0:06:52 > 0:07:00# May the road rise to meet you
0:07:00 > 0:07:07# May the wind be ever at your back
0:07:07 > 0:07:14# May the sun shine warm upon your face
0:07:14 > 0:07:22# May the rains fall soft upon your fields
0:07:22 > 0:07:29# And until we meet again
0:07:29 > 0:07:35# And until we meet again
0:07:35 > 0:07:42# May God hold in you in the palm
0:07:45 > 0:07:50# Of his hand
0:07:54 > 0:08:02# May the sun make your days bright
0:08:02 > 0:08:09# May the stars illuminate your nights
0:08:09 > 0:08:16# May the flowers bloom along your path
0:08:16 > 0:08:23# Your house stand firm against the storm
0:08:23 > 0:08:31# And until we meet again
0:08:31 > 0:08:38# And until we meet again
0:08:38 > 0:08:47# May God hold you in the palm
0:08:47 > 0:08:52# Of his hand
0:08:56 > 0:09:04# Amen
0:09:04 > 0:09:12# Amen
0:09:12 > 0:09:14# Ooh. #
0:09:18 > 0:09:19APPLAUSE
0:09:27 > 0:09:31Founded in 1865, Methodist College, Belfast
0:09:31 > 0:09:33has produced an impressive share
0:09:33 > 0:09:36of notable past pupils.
0:09:36 > 0:09:40Ernest Walton, Irish physicist and Nobel Prize winner.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Renowned for being the first person to split the atom.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Barry Douglas, the international concert pianist,
0:09:47 > 0:09:48practiced on this piano.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I better get practicing myself.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54Not forgetting John Herivel,
0:09:54 > 0:09:57the World War II code breaker at Bletchley Park.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Not too bad a selection, coming from just one school.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02But between you and us,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05our Girls' School has a pretty impressive mix of people, too.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08My name's Laura and I'm a soprano,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10but I also play netball for Northern Ireland.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14I'm Catherine, and in my spare time, I enjoy playing the organ...
0:10:14 > 0:10:16which is a rather peculiar instrument,
0:10:16 > 0:10:18especially for girls.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20My aim is to make it more popular.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22To be or not to be the winners of the competition?
0:10:22 > 0:10:24That is the question.
0:10:24 > 0:10:26I'm Eleanor. I'm the drama queen of the Girls' Choir.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30Well... I AM in the National Youth Theatre Of Great Britain.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32In amongst all that girl power...
0:10:32 > 0:10:35we have our very own 13-year-old accompanist.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37Come on over, Doonal!
0:10:37 > 0:10:39THEY CHEER
0:10:41 > 0:10:46# If you wish me to leap joyfully
0:10:46 > 0:10:50# If you wish me to leap joyfully
0:10:50 > 0:10:51# If you wish me, wish me
0:10:51 > 0:10:52# If you, if you wish me to leap
0:10:52 > 0:10:55# Joyfully
0:10:55 > 0:10:57# Joyfully, joyfully
0:10:57 > 0:11:01# Joy-oy-oy-oy-oy-fully!
0:11:03 > 0:11:06# Let me see you dance and sing
0:11:06 > 0:11:13# Let me see you dance and sing
0:11:13 > 0:11:16# And sing... #
0:11:16 > 0:11:18PIANO INTERLUDE
0:11:23 > 0:11:25# Then I will leap into love
0:11:25 > 0:11:27# Then I will leap into love
0:11:27 > 0:11:33# Then I will leap into love
0:11:35 > 0:11:40# And from love into knowledge
0:11:40 > 0:11:44# And from knowledge into the harvest
0:11:44 > 0:11:47# That sweetest fruit
0:11:47 > 0:11:51# Beyond human sense
0:11:51 > 0:11:54# Then I will leap into love
0:11:54 > 0:11:56# Leap into love
0:11:56 > 0:11:58# Leap into love, into love
0:11:58 > 0:12:01# I will leap into love
0:12:02 > 0:12:04# There will I stay
0:12:04 > 0:12:07# With you!
0:12:07 > 0:12:13# I will stay with you!
0:12:15 > 0:12:19# Whirling! Whirling!
0:12:20 > 0:12:22# Whirling!
0:12:23 > 0:12:25# I cannot dance, O Lord
0:12:25 > 0:12:28# I cannot dance, O Lord
0:12:28 > 0:12:32# Unless you lead me
0:12:32 > 0:12:34# Unless you lead me
0:12:34 > 0:12:39# I cannot dance, O Lord
0:12:39 > 0:12:42# I cannot dance, O Lord
0:12:42 > 0:12:44# Dance, O Lord
0:12:44 > 0:12:53# Dance, O Lord
0:12:53 > 0:12:58# I can not dance, O Lord
0:12:58 > 0:13:09# Lest you lead me. #
0:13:09 > 0:13:12APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:13:22 > 0:13:24Well, Methodist College Girls' Choir - fantastic.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27And thank you for getting
0:13:27 > 0:13:30this 2012 Choir Of The Year Grand Final off to such a great start.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32Mary, it's difficult going first, isn't it?
0:13:32 > 0:13:35What did you make of that performance?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Have they set the standard for the other five, this afternoon?
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I'm so excited! LAUGHTER
0:13:40 > 0:13:43I really do think you are a fabulous choir.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45and what I love most
0:13:45 > 0:13:48is that, though some of the things you do are very difficult,
0:13:48 > 0:13:52you wear these difficulties really easily,
0:13:52 > 0:13:53and I congratulate you for that.
0:13:53 > 0:13:55One thing I'd like to see a little bit better done -
0:13:55 > 0:13:57that last piece, I think,
0:13:57 > 0:13:59it's very hard to balance all four parts.
0:13:59 > 0:14:03I would say sometimes the sopranos got a little enthusiastic
0:14:03 > 0:14:05with their top parts,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07and didn't quite let the younger voices with lower sounds
0:14:07 > 0:14:09come through to balance those chords.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12But, other than that, I would say that was a completely splendid
0:14:12 > 0:14:15and thoroughly enjoyable performance - well done.
0:14:15 > 0:14:17APPLAUSE
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Thank you, Mary.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24Now, Greg - what did you think of the choir's choice of programme?
0:14:24 > 0:14:27I really liked it. We're in competition here,
0:14:27 > 0:14:29and the choirs need to be bringing
0:14:29 > 0:14:32a balance of repertoire that shows off all these different facets
0:14:32 > 0:14:34of their ability.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I found all three pieces really interesting.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39I thought they really took us on a little journey
0:14:39 > 0:14:41of what you can do as a choir,
0:14:41 > 0:14:44and how you communicate in the manner of your music-making,
0:14:44 > 0:14:46which I'm totally transfixed by.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Congratulations - I thought it was fantastic.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50APPLAUSE
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Thank you, judges. Some fantastic comments there.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Ladies and gentlemen - the Methodist College Girls' Choir.
0:15:01 > 0:15:02APPLAUSE
0:15:06 > 0:15:10So we've heard the first choir in this 2020 final. Five more still to come,
0:15:10 > 0:15:14including the winners of the Children's Open and Adult categories.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16But first, let's go to Josie to find out
0:15:16 > 0:15:20what the Methodist College Girls' Choir thought of their own performance.
0:15:20 > 0:15:22- Josie, are you there? - Thanks, Tim. I am.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26Now, Linda, Mary said that you made the difficult look easy. That's high praise, isn't it?
0:15:26 > 0:15:31That's very high praise indeed. I'm very pleased with that comment, because it was difficult.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36- Did it feel as easy as you guys made it look? - No, definitely not.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38Especially the last piece, it's very, very challenging.
0:15:38 > 0:15:42And we've worked so hard on it, so I'm glad we just got from start to finish.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45Well done. To get to the final, it's so much hard work.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48Are you able to let that go, Rachel, and just enjoy it when you perform?
0:15:48 > 0:15:50Yeah, definitely, it is a lot of hard work.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52We've rehearsed so much for it.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55But I know, personally, I really enjoyed their performance.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59We were all but nervous before we went on, but I felt that everyone did enjoy it, yes.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Greg seem to love it as well. What was going through your mind
0:16:02 > 0:16:04when the judges were passing their deliberation?
0:16:04 > 0:16:07It was just amazing to think of all the work we've put in
0:16:07 > 0:16:09and then to get such great comments,
0:16:09 > 0:16:13it was just a testament to our hard work, really, and we just loved it. It was really enjoyable.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16I know your choir are no stranger to winning competitions,
0:16:16 > 0:16:18but can you take this one? We'll find out. Tim.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20Thank you very much, Josie.
0:16:20 > 0:16:26The second choir we're going to hear are the winners of the 2012 Choir of the Year Adult category.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30From an initial membership of only eight, they have grown to 30-strong.
0:16:30 > 0:16:33Let's meet the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42- Hi, I'm Darren.- And I'm Sally.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45And this is the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48We're not professional musicians. We're not music graduates.
0:16:48 > 0:16:52There's an amazing variety of people in this choir, including...
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- Bookkeeper.- Software developer. - Radiographer.- IT.- Teacher.- Engineer.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57- Mother of four.- CAB manager. - Teacher.- Company director.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01- Accountant.- Retired.- Engineer.- GP. - Software.- Writer.- Lawyer.
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- Executive coach.- Accountant.- Mum.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05But we all have one thing in common -
0:17:05 > 0:17:08a love of singing to a really high standard.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14Our conductor is Debbie Walton, a musical perfectionist.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18My whole philosophy about singing is about telling a story.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Everybody is arriving from a different place
0:17:20 > 0:17:22and we're not arriving at a perfect chord.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Yes, we want it to be musically brilliant and technical,
0:17:26 > 0:17:28but the story's got to be there.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33There is an age difference of 50 years in the choir.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35Luckily, we're all old enough to go to the pub.
0:17:35 > 0:17:39The older people in the choir, they have a lot more experience,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41and I've learned so much from that.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46We do get on extremely well. We enjoy a beer after rehearsals, and that's a big part of it as well.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48I never thought the choir would get as far as this.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51It's just an absolute dream come true for everybody.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53The Surrey Hills Chamber Choir!
0:17:53 > 0:17:54CHEERING
0:17:58 > 0:17:59APPLAUSE
0:18:09 > 0:18:14THEY SING IN LATIN
0:19:34 > 0:19:36APPLAUSE
0:19:50 > 0:19:57# My young love said to me
0:19:57 > 0:20:04# My mother won't mind
0:20:04 > 0:20:08# And my father won't slight you
0:20:08 > 0:20:14# For your lack of kine
0:20:14 > 0:20:20# As she stepped away from me
0:20:20 > 0:20:26# And this she did say
0:20:26 > 0:20:34# It will not be long, love
0:20:34 > 0:20:41# Till our wedding day
0:20:42 > 0:20:48# She stepped away from me
0:20:48 > 0:20:54- # Stepped away from me - And she went through the fair
0:20:54 > 0:20:59# And fondly
0:20:59 > 0:21:03# I watched her move here and move there
0:21:03 > 0:21:07# I watched her
0:21:07 > 0:21:12- # And then she - Watched her
0:21:12 > 0:21:17# Went her way with one star awake
0:21:17 > 0:21:21# Watched her
0:21:21 > 0:21:29# As the swan in the evening
0:21:29 > 0:21:38# Moved over the lake
0:21:39 > 0:21:48# Last night she came to me
0:21:48 > 0:21:56# She so softly came
0:21:56 > 0:22:01# So softly she came
0:22:01 > 0:22:05# That her feet made no din
0:22:05 > 0:22:12# As she laid her hand on me
0:22:12 > 0:22:19# And this she did say
0:22:19 > 0:22:28# It will not be long, love
0:22:30 > 0:22:36# Till our wedding day
0:22:36 > 0:22:46# Day...
0:22:46 > 0:22:53# Ah... #
0:22:53 > 0:22:55APPLAUSE
0:23:00 > 0:23:01Ah...!
0:23:01 > 0:23:03I'm Linda Britton
0:23:03 > 0:23:06and I sing second alto in the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Running around after my three girls is quite hectic.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13There's the Brownies and there's the ballet
0:23:13 > 0:23:16and there's the ice skating.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20I do feel sometimes like a taxi service, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
0:23:20 > 0:23:25She's always doing stuff for us and she's really supportive.
0:23:25 > 0:23:26Aw...!
0:23:26 > 0:23:30It's a full-time job, looking after the three girls,
0:23:30 > 0:23:35so singing in the choir has been fantastic for me,
0:23:35 > 0:23:38as something completely different.
0:23:38 > 0:23:44She's always singing, and it's really nice listening to her.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47# Ah ah-ah... #
0:23:47 > 0:23:50She's just my idol. I'd like to be like her.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56'I look forward to rehearsals on a Wednesday evening.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57'It is nice to go to the choir
0:23:57 > 0:24:00'and to forget about the logistics of the day, and who needs to be where'
0:24:00 > 0:24:03and at what time, and immerse myself in that music.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05So I thoroughly enjoy that.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12# Bubble, bubble, bubble, bubble
0:24:12 > 0:24:16# Fillet of a fenny snake
0:24:16 > 0:24:19# In the cauldron boil and bake
0:24:19 > 0:24:22# Eye of newt and toe of frog
0:24:22 > 0:24:26# Wool of bat and tongue of dog
0:24:28 > 0:24:30# Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting
0:24:30 > 0:24:34# Lizard's leg and owlet's wing
0:24:34 > 0:24:36# For a charm of powerful trouble
0:24:36 > 0:24:39# Like a hell-broth boil and bubble
0:24:39 > 0:24:41# Boil and bubble
0:24:42 > 0:24:45# Ah...
0:24:45 > 0:24:47# Boil and bubble
0:24:47 > 0:24:51# Ah...
0:24:51 > 0:24:53# For a charm of powerful trouble
0:24:53 > 0:24:56# Like a hell-broth boil and bubble
0:24:56 > 0:24:59# Double, double toil and trouble
0:24:59 > 0:25:02# Fire burn and cauldron bubble
0:25:02 > 0:25:05# Double, double toil and trouble
0:25:05 > 0:25:07# Ah...
0:25:07 > 0:25:09# Scale of dragon, tooth of wolf
0:25:09 > 0:25:12# Witches' mummy Maw and gulf
0:25:12 > 0:25:14# Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark
0:25:14 > 0:25:16# Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark
0:25:16 > 0:25:18# Liver of blaspheming Jew
0:25:18 > 0:25:20# Gall of goat and slips of yew
0:25:20 > 0:25:22# Sliver'd in the moon's eclipse
0:25:22 > 0:25:24# Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips
0:25:24 > 0:25:27# Finger of birth-strangled babe
0:25:27 > 0:25:30# Ditch-deliver'd by a drab
0:25:30 > 0:25:32# Make the gruel thick and slab
0:25:32 > 0:25:35# Make the gruel thick and slab
0:25:35 > 0:25:36# Add thereto a tiger's chaudron
0:25:36 > 0:25:39# For the ingredients of our cauldron
0:25:39 > 0:25:42# For the ingredients of our cauldron
0:25:42 > 0:25:44# Double, double toil and trouble
0:25:44 > 0:25:47# Fire burn and cauldron bubble
0:25:47 > 0:25:50# Double, double toil and trouble
0:25:50 > 0:25:53# Fire burn and cauldron bubble
0:25:53 > 0:25:55# By the pricking of my thumbs
0:25:55 > 0:25:57# Something wicked this way comes
0:25:57 > 0:25:59# Something wicked this way comes
0:25:59 > 0:26:01# Something wicked this way comes
0:26:01 > 0:26:03# Open, locks Whoever knocks!
0:26:03 > 0:26:06# Open, open, open, open
0:26:06 > 0:26:10# Open, locks Whoever knocks! #
0:26:10 > 0:26:12APPLAUSE
0:26:25 > 0:26:26The Surrey Hills Chamber Choir,
0:26:26 > 0:26:29a varied but entirely a cappella programme there.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32What did you make of that performance, Ruthie?
0:26:32 > 0:26:35I thought it was stunning. You really knocked me out.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38I was there with you from the moment that you started,
0:26:38 > 0:26:41and you had me and you did not let me go.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45And each piece was so different from the other,
0:26:45 > 0:26:49that I thought you showed so much versatility.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51The wealth of experience on that stage,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54and I don't just mean singing,
0:26:54 > 0:26:58I mean, of life and your jobs AND singing,
0:26:58 > 0:27:03just brought together this actors' company that I thoroughly enjoyed.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05- Wonderful. - APPLAUSE
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Greg, did they impress you this afternoon?
0:27:15 > 0:27:18Yeah, they did. LAUGHTER
0:27:18 > 0:27:21The commitment that was coming out of you,
0:27:21 > 0:27:25in terms of not one of you wanted to be the person that we were commenting on,
0:27:25 > 0:27:29saying, "Yeah, that person in the second row was not quite feeling it,"
0:27:29 > 0:27:33which there always is in a choir...until today.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36I thought it was fantastic, so congratulations.
0:27:36 > 0:27:38APPLAUSE
0:27:41 > 0:27:43I think it's going to be quite a tight one this afternoon.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45More fantastic comments.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49Ladies and gentlemen, let's hear it once again for the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
0:27:55 > 0:27:57Still to come, four more choirs,
0:27:57 > 0:28:01all hoping to impress the jury in this 2012 Grand Final of Choir of the Year.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06But first, let's hear from the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir who are backstage with Josie.
0:28:07 > 0:28:10Thanks, Tim. And all set to cast a spell on me, by the looks of it,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14- Debbie, wonderful.- Thank you very much.- Great reaction from the judges.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16Yes, wonderful reaction. Really pleased with it.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20And really pleased that they appreciated our diversity of programme as well.
0:28:20 > 0:28:21Yes, that went down very well.
0:28:21 > 0:28:25One thing that we say to all the choirs in the competition is, do what you do best.
0:28:25 > 0:28:29- Do you feel, Simon, you achieve that?- I think so, yes. One of the things we pride ourselves on
0:28:29 > 0:28:32is the teamwork and the camaraderie in the choir,
0:28:32 > 0:28:35so the comments Greg made about us pulling together as a team were wonderful to hear,
0:28:35 > 0:28:37because I think we did that on the night.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41Wonderful, and thank you for making me finally feel underdressed. Tim.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43Thank you, Josie.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47Next, to the first of two choirs who have reached this final
0:28:47 > 0:28:51as the wild-card picks of the category finals jury.
0:28:51 > 0:28:56Now, it's worth pointing out that the 2010 Choir of the Year winners, the Wellensian Consort,
0:28:56 > 0:28:58also reached the final as wild cards,
0:28:58 > 0:29:01so it just proves that, on the day, it really is anyone's game.
0:29:01 > 0:29:06Les Sirenes are a Glasgow-based female chamber choir of 22 voices,
0:29:06 > 0:29:11founded by musical director Andrew Nunn, in 2007.
0:29:17 > 0:29:21I'm Andrew Nunn and I'm the conductor of Les Sirenes.
0:29:21 > 0:29:23MUSIC: Theme to "Charlie's Angels"
0:29:23 > 0:29:25- ALL:- Hi, Andrew! - Get down here!
0:29:29 > 0:29:33The choir started five years ago in 2007.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36There were just so many talented female singers at the Conservatoire.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39I love choral music and I thought, "Let's start a choir!"
0:29:42 > 0:29:47How do I keep control of 22 ladies? Well, it's not an easy job.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49Thank you, Louisa.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52I think firm but fair is the approach that I like to take.
0:29:54 > 0:29:59This isn't good enough. This is not good enough, mezzos. I'm sorry. It's an F sharp! It's not like that.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02I don't like this. Could you read what's in front of you? Thank you.
0:30:02 > 0:30:07He's very strict on us, and we let him think he's in control.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09That's the way to get around Andrew.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12CHOIR: # O soldier... #
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Is that funny? 'The girls want to have fun,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18'as do I, but at the heart of it, as well, is the music.'
0:30:18 > 0:30:22When we were told that we were the wild card, we couldn't believe it.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25We were absolutely ecstatic and we're going to nail it!
0:30:25 > 0:30:29THEY CHEER AND LAUGH
0:30:33 > 0:30:37# Dum-bru-ba-dum Dubba-dubba-dum
0:30:37 > 0:30:39# Dum-bru-ba-dum, dubba-dubba-dum
0:30:39 > 0:30:42# Do do do do do do do doo
0:30:42 > 0:30:44# Bru-ba-dum, dubba-dubba-dum
0:30:44 > 0:30:46# O soldier, soldier Won't you marry me
0:30:46 > 0:30:48# With your musket fife and drum?
0:30:48 > 0:30:54# O no sweet maid I cannot marry you For I have no coat to put on
0:30:54 > 0:30:56# And so she went to her grandfather's chest
0:30:56 > 0:30:59# And brought him a coat of the very, very best
0:30:59 > 0:31:02# She brought him a coat of the very, very best
0:31:02 > 0:31:04# And the soldier put it on
0:31:04 > 0:31:07# Do do doo Do do do do do-doo
0:31:07 > 0:31:09# O soldier, soldier won't you marry me
0:31:09 > 0:31:12# With your musket fife and drum?
0:31:12 > 0:31:14# O no sweet maid I cannot marry you
0:31:14 > 0:31:16# For I have no hat to put on
0:31:16 > 0:31:19- # And so she went to her grandfather's chest- To her chest
0:31:19 > 0:31:22# And brought him a hat of the very, very best
0:31:22 > 0:31:27- # She brought him a hat of the very, very best - A hat of the very, very best
0:31:27 > 0:31:31# O soldier, soldier
0:31:31 > 0:31:36# Won't you marry me
0:31:36 > 0:31:40# With your musket fife and drum?
0:31:40 > 0:31:46# O no sweet maid
0:31:46 > 0:31:54- # I cannot marry you - Dubba-dum, dubba dum
0:31:54 > 0:31:58# For I have no gloves to put on
0:31:58 > 0:32:00# Then up she went to her grandfather's chest
0:32:00 > 0:32:03# And brought him a pair of the very, very best
0:32:03 > 0:32:05# She brought him a pair of the very, very best
0:32:05 > 0:32:09# And the soldier
0:32:09 > 0:32:15# Put them on
0:32:16 > 0:32:19CHOIR HUMS
0:32:19 > 0:32:22# Soldier
0:32:23 > 0:32:28# Soldier
0:32:28 > 0:32:33# Won't you marry me
0:32:33 > 0:32:41# With your musket fife and drum?
0:32:43 > 0:32:48# O no sweet maid I cannot marry you For I have no boots to put on
0:32:48 > 0:32:52# Oh oh oh oh ohh
0:32:52 > 0:32:55# And up she went to her grandfather's chest
0:32:55 > 0:32:57# And brought him a pair of the very, very best
0:32:57 > 0:33:00# She brought him a pair Of the very, very, very best
0:33:00 > 0:33:06# Now soldier put them on!
0:33:06 > 0:33:09# O soldier, soldier won't you marry me
0:33:09 > 0:33:11# Soldier, soldier won't you marry me
0:33:11 > 0:33:14# soldier, soldier, soldier, soldier Won't you marry me
0:33:15 > 0:33:23# With your musket fife and drum?
0:33:23 > 0:33:26# Drum-drum-drum Drum-drum-drum-drum-drum
0:33:26 > 0:33:28# Drum-drum-drum Drum-drum-drum-drum-drum
0:33:28 > 0:33:30# Drum-drum-drum Drum-drum-drum-drum-drum
0:33:30 > 0:33:33# O no sweet maid
0:33:33 > 0:33:35# I cannot marry you
0:33:35 > 0:33:38# For I have a wife of my own
0:33:38 > 0:33:43- # Soldier - Dubba-dubba-dum, dub-dub-dum
0:33:43 > 0:33:47- # Soldier - Dubba-dubba-dum, dub-dub-dum
0:33:47 > 0:33:50# Dubba-dubba-dum Dubba-dubba-dum
0:33:50 > 0:33:58# Dum-dum-dum # Dubba-dubba-dum. #
0:34:00 > 0:34:03CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:34:07 > 0:34:11My name's Aileen, I'm a founding member of Les Sirenes,
0:34:11 > 0:34:13and I teach music to pre-school children.
0:34:14 > 0:34:17I didn't come from a musical background myself
0:34:17 > 0:34:20and I look at the difference that music made to my life,
0:34:20 > 0:34:26and I'd like to think that I'd be able to do that for some more children all over Glasgow.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29Today is a typical day for me.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31I'm off to one of my favourite nurseries.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Hi, it's Aileen.
0:34:35 > 0:34:36What's this instrument called?
0:34:36 > 0:34:39CHILDREN SHOUT OUT
0:34:39 > 0:34:43'Giving children the opportunity to express themselves through music,
0:34:43 > 0:34:45'to come together as a group,'
0:34:45 > 0:34:48to make friends, to grow in confidence -
0:34:48 > 0:34:50it's a really rewarding job
0:34:50 > 0:34:54and I couldn't see myself doing anything else.
0:34:54 > 0:34:58One more time... # Can you hear the rain drop? #
0:34:58 > 0:35:02'Obviously, I'm exhausted. It's hard sometimes'
0:35:02 > 0:35:05to go to choir practice when you've been working all day.
0:35:05 > 0:35:10But then, I love it so much that I could never walk away from it.
0:35:10 > 0:35:12I always have to go.
0:35:12 > 0:35:13I always enjoy being part of
0:35:13 > 0:35:16something as wonderful as Les Sirenes.
0:35:22 > 0:35:29# In every heart there is a room
0:35:29 > 0:35:35# A sanctuary safe and strong
0:35:35 > 0:35:43# To heal the wounds from lovers past
0:35:43 > 0:35:49# Until a new one comes along
0:35:49 > 0:35:56# I spoke to you in cautious tones
0:35:56 > 0:36:02# You answered me with no pretence
0:36:02 > 0:36:10# And still I feel I said too much
0:36:10 > 0:36:16# My silence is my self-defence
0:36:16 > 0:36:24# And every time I've held a rose
0:36:24 > 0:36:30# It seems I only felt the thorns
0:36:30 > 0:36:35- # And so it goes- And so it goes
0:36:35 > 0:36:38# And so it goes
0:36:38 > 0:36:45# And so will you soon I suppose
0:36:49 > 0:36:56# But if my silence made you leave
0:36:56 > 0:37:02# Then that would be my worst mistake
0:37:02 > 0:37:10# So I will share this room with you
0:37:10 > 0:37:17# And you can have this heart to break
0:37:17 > 0:37:25- # And this is why my eyes are closed - This is why my eyes are closed
0:37:25 > 0:37:31# It's just as well for all I've seen
0:37:31 > 0:37:36- # And so it goes- And so it goes
0:37:36 > 0:37:40# And so it goes
0:37:40 > 0:37:46# And you're the only one who knows
0:37:50 > 0:37:58# So I would choose to be with you
0:37:58 > 0:38:04# That's if the choice were mine to make
0:38:04 > 0:38:11# But you can make decisions too
0:38:11 > 0:38:18# And you can have this heart to break
0:38:31 > 0:38:38- # And so it goes- And so it goes
0:38:38 > 0:38:45# And so it goes
0:38:47 > 0:38:56# And you're the only one
0:38:56 > 0:39:04# Who knows. #
0:39:06 > 0:39:10CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:39:17 > 0:39:20Les Sirenes and their conductor, Andrew Nunn.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23Two contrasting pieces from Les Sirenes, there, Mary.
0:39:23 > 0:39:26What did you make of the choice of repertoire?
0:39:26 > 0:39:29Well, I thought it was completely compelling, I have to say.
0:39:29 > 0:39:32I feel a little bit... Um, wobbly.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35Very, very good.
0:39:35 > 0:39:37We had fantastic, warm-toned,
0:39:37 > 0:39:40professionally skilled individual voices.
0:39:40 > 0:39:46It was the best legato singing of full-toned piano I've ever heard.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48It was fantastic. Well done, girls.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51APPLAUSE
0:39:54 > 0:39:58Thank you, Mary. Ruthie, I can see you're moved yourself. How did you feel about the performance?
0:39:58 > 0:40:04I felt exactly the same. I felt you had me on a soul level.
0:40:04 > 0:40:08You literally went into my core and I felt choked up.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12The second song, particularly, because the blend of your voices
0:40:12 > 0:40:18was so beautiful that I just was totally yours.
0:40:20 > 0:40:27The first piece had so much humour and was a wonderful acting piece.
0:40:27 > 0:40:32I thought you chose perfectly for these fantastic women.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Fabulous. Thank you, Ruthie.
0:40:34 > 0:40:38APPLAUSE
0:40:38 > 0:40:40Let's hear it for Les Sirenes!
0:40:40 > 0:40:42CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:40:42 > 0:40:47Well, we're already halfway through this Grand Final of Choir Of The Year 2012.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50Three choirs down and three still to perform,
0:40:50 > 0:40:53including the winners of the Children's and the Open categories.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56First, let's hear from Les Sirenes, who are backstage with Josie.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04- Andrew.- Hi.- Ruthie and Mary touched on a soul level.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07- Is there higher praise for a choir? - I don't think so.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09We had every intention of doing that.
0:41:09 > 0:41:14We wanted to really reach inside every member of the audience in the Festival Hall this evening
0:41:14 > 0:41:16and really touch a heartstring
0:41:16 > 0:41:18and tell them the story that we are telling.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21And you looked like you were having a whale of a time.
0:41:21 > 0:41:23Yeah, we did. Absolutely, I think that's important.
0:41:23 > 0:41:25Aileen, you came in here as the wild card.
0:41:25 > 0:41:27Does that affect the attitude you came with?
0:41:27 > 0:41:32Oh, no, we're all wild girls, so I guess wild card suits us well.
0:41:32 > 0:41:37No, we're all about the fun and the music, so, we've put our all
0:41:37 > 0:41:41into everything we've done tonight, so hopefully it will pay off.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44I'm really pleased with the comments we got
0:41:44 > 0:41:47and I'm so proud of Andrew and the other girls.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50We've had so much fun and we've worked really hard.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53- That's all we can do. - Beautiful singing, beautiful ladies.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56- Over to you, Tim.- Thank you, Josie.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59We move on now to the smallest choir competing here today,
0:41:59 > 0:42:02but that didn't stop them winning the Open title at this year's Category Finals.
0:42:02 > 0:42:05They're a jazz a cappella group
0:42:05 > 0:42:08and all students at Oxford University.
0:42:14 > 0:42:21- Hi, I'm Euan.- Hi, I'm Anjali, and we are...- BOTH: The Oxford Gargoyles!
0:42:21 > 0:42:24ALL SING IN HARMONY: # Hello! #
0:42:24 > 0:42:28We are a jazz a cappella group from Oxford University.
0:42:28 > 0:42:33# Do-be-do-ah A-diddly do-ah... #
0:42:33 > 0:42:38- It's just so much fun. We all get on really well.- We love each other!
0:42:38 > 0:42:42It's a welcome distraction from the pressure of academic work.
0:42:44 > 0:42:48Here we have the historic box of arrangements which has been
0:42:48 > 0:42:53passed down from years and years of The Gargoyles, and here we have
0:42:53 > 0:42:57the first song that everyone always learns in The Gargoyles,
0:42:57 > 0:42:58My Baby Just Cares For Me.
0:42:58 > 0:43:00It's been in the group since...
0:43:00 > 0:43:03Probably since its inception, so 1998.
0:43:03 > 0:43:06The Times described us as "charm personified",
0:43:06 > 0:43:10and in 2010, we won the Voice Festival UK.
0:43:10 > 0:43:13It's been one of the main things about my first year
0:43:13 > 0:43:15that I've enjoyed the most.
0:43:15 > 0:43:17I'll never forget it.
0:43:17 > 0:43:20Being in this group is a real privilege.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23But we've got to make the most of it, because it can't last for ever.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25Six of us have got finals
0:43:25 > 0:43:28- so we're going to be leaving the group this year.- OTHERS: Aww!
0:43:28 > 0:43:32But we're determined to go out with a bang at Choir Of The Year.
0:43:32 > 0:43:34ALL: Woo!
0:43:39 > 0:43:45# What good is melody
0:43:45 > 0:43:51# What good is music
0:43:51 > 0:43:57# If it ain't possessing something sweet
0:43:57 > 0:44:02# Oooh
0:44:04 > 0:44:07# Oooh
0:44:07 > 0:44:12# It ain't the melody
0:44:12 > 0:44:19# It ain't the music
0:44:19 > 0:44:25# There's something else
0:44:25 > 0:44:34# That makes the tune complete
0:44:37 > 0:44:41# It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing
0:44:41 > 0:44:44# Do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ah
0:44:44 > 0:44:48# It don't mean a thing All you got to do is sing
0:44:48 > 0:44:51# Do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ah
0:44:51 > 0:44:55# It doesn't matter if it's sweet or hot
0:44:55 > 0:44:59# Just give that rhythm everything you can
0:44:59 > 0:45:03# Don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing
0:45:03 > 0:45:08# Do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap Do-ah-do-ah-do-be-do-bop-ba-da-ba
0:45:08 > 0:45:11# Bap-bap-ba-da-doobidy-bop-bop Shoo-bop
0:45:11 > 0:45:12SCATTING
0:45:38 > 0:45:39SCATTING
0:45:46 > 0:45:48# Don't mean a thing
0:45:48 > 0:45:49# Don't mean a thing
0:45:49 > 0:45:51# Don't mean a thing
0:45:51 > 0:45:53# Don't mean a thing
0:45:53 > 0:45:57# You've got to sing, all you've got to do to make it
0:45:57 > 0:46:00# You've got to sing, all you've got to do to make it
0:46:00 > 0:46:04# Give it, just give it everything...
0:46:04 > 0:46:07# Give it, just give it everything...
0:46:07 > 0:46:11# You've got to swing, all you've got to do to make it
0:46:11 > 0:46:14# You've got to swing, all you've got to do to make it
0:46:14 > 0:46:17# It doesn't matter if it's sweet or hot
0:46:17 > 0:46:20# No, just give that rhythm everything you
0:46:20 > 0:46:22# Give it everything you got!
0:46:22 > 0:46:24# It don't mean a thing...
0:46:24 > 0:46:27# If it ain't got that swing
0:46:27 > 0:46:30# Do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ah
0:46:30 > 0:46:33# Wah-unh-wah-unh-wah-unh-wah-unh-wow
0:46:33 > 0:46:37# Do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ap-do-ah
0:46:37 > 0:46:39# It don't mean a thing
0:46:39 > 0:46:40# If it ain't got that swing. #
0:46:42 > 0:46:44CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:46:51 > 0:46:54I'm Henry de Berker and I sing tenor in the Oxford Gargoyles.
0:46:54 > 0:46:59# One, two, three, four, here we go Whoa, whoa. #
0:46:59 > 0:47:03Singing and rugby are two main focuses of my attention
0:47:03 > 0:47:06away from the work here at Oxford.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08I was just making a tackle in a game and the person
0:47:08 > 0:47:12I was tackling tried to throw me off with their forearm and it just went
0:47:12 > 0:47:17into my throat and forced my windpipe closed, I think, essentially.
0:47:17 > 0:47:19It was a very unpleasant feeling.
0:47:19 > 0:47:22Playing scrum half I do a lot of shouting,
0:47:22 > 0:47:24so I started shouting at people again and it didn't really
0:47:24 > 0:47:29come out at all and what did come out sounded very strange
0:47:29 > 0:47:32and I thought I should probably take myself to a hospital.
0:47:32 > 0:47:35It revealed that there was a small haemorrhage on my right vocal cord
0:47:35 > 0:47:38and I realised at that point there was a chance
0:47:38 > 0:47:41I was going to miss the Grand Final of The Choir Of The Year
0:47:41 > 0:47:43and I said, "You know, I've got to sing in two and a half weeks.
0:47:43 > 0:47:47"What do you think my chances are, basically, of being able to do that?"
0:47:47 > 0:47:49And she looked pretty worried.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53Obviously I'd really love to be rehearsing right now,
0:47:53 > 0:47:55but I think the best thing is for me to rest my voice
0:47:55 > 0:47:59and on the day I'll be there on the stage just giving everything I have.
0:47:59 > 0:48:02There's eight minutes of singing. I'll be there.
0:48:02 > 0:48:05I'll give it my all and hopefully it will be absolutely fine.
0:48:08 > 0:48:10# Ain't no mountain high enough
0:48:10 > 0:48:11# Ain't no valley low enough
0:48:11 > 0:48:13# Ain't no river wide enough
0:48:13 > 0:48:15# To keep me from you
0:48:15 > 0:48:17# Ain't no mountain high enough
0:48:17 > 0:48:18# Ain't no valley low enough
0:48:18 > 0:48:20# Ain't no river wide enough
0:48:20 > 0:48:22# To keep me from you
0:48:22 > 0:48:25# Ain't no mountain high enough
0:48:25 > 0:48:29# Ain't no valley low enough
0:48:29 > 0:48:32# Ain't no river wide enough
0:48:32 > 0:48:36# To keep me from getting to you, babe
0:48:36 > 0:48:38# He walks away
0:48:38 > 0:48:40# Sun goes down
0:48:40 > 0:48:44# He takes the day but I am grown
0:48:44 > 0:48:47# And in your way in this blue shade
0:48:47 > 0:48:52# My tears dry on their own, yeah
0:48:52 > 0:48:53# Ba-doom-ba-doom
0:48:53 > 0:48:56# Ba-doom-ba-doom
0:48:56 > 0:48:57# Ba-doom-ba-doom
0:48:57 > 0:48:59# Ba-doom-ba-doom
0:48:59 > 0:49:00# Do-da-day, ba-do-da
0:49:00 > 0:49:05# Can't explain all the feelings that you're making me feel
0:49:05 > 0:49:08# Do-da-day-ba-do-da
0:49:08 > 0:49:12# My heart's in overdrive and you're behind the steering wheel
0:49:12 > 0:49:15# Do-da-day-ba-do-da
0:49:15 > 0:49:17# Touching you...
0:49:19 > 0:49:21# You're touching me...
0:49:22 > 0:49:26# I'm touching you, ah
0:49:26 > 0:49:28# While you're touching me
0:49:28 > 0:49:30# We need to sing, oh, no
0:49:30 > 0:49:32# I believe in a thing called love
0:49:32 > 0:49:33# Listen to the rhythm of my heart
0:49:33 > 0:49:36# There's a chance we could make it now
0:49:36 > 0:49:37# We'll be rocking till the sun goes down
0:49:37 > 0:49:40# I believe in a thing called love
0:49:40 > 0:49:44# I believe in a thing called love
0:49:44 > 0:49:46# I believe in a thing called love
0:49:46 > 0:49:48# Listen to the rhythm of my heart
0:49:48 > 0:49:49# There's a chance we can make it now
0:49:49 > 0:49:51# We'll be rocking till the sun goes down
0:49:51 > 0:49:55# I believe in a thing called love
0:49:55 > 0:49:59# Oh, we'll fight for this love
0:50:01 > 0:50:05# Just know that you're not in this thing alone
0:50:05 > 0:50:08# There's a place in me that you can call home
0:50:08 > 0:50:12# Whenever you feel like we're growing apart
0:50:12 > 0:50:19# Let's just go back, back, back Back, back to the start
0:50:19 > 0:50:21# Yeah, we'll fight for this love
0:50:21 > 0:50:24# Let's just go back, back, back Back, back, back
0:50:24 > 0:50:26# Back, back, back
0:50:26 > 0:50:29# Right back to the...
0:50:31 > 0:50:36# Back to the start. #
0:50:37 > 0:50:38One, two, three, four!
0:50:38 > 0:50:40# Dancing in the moonlight
0:50:40 > 0:50:45# Everybody's feeling warm and bright
0:50:45 > 0:50:48# It's such a fine and natural sight
0:50:48 > 0:50:52# Everybody's dancing in the moonlight
0:50:52 > 0:50:55# Ain't no mountain high enough
0:50:55 > 0:50:59# We were feeling warm and bright
0:50:59 > 0:51:03# Ain't no river wide enough
0:51:03 > 0:51:06# Everybody was dancing in the moonlight
0:51:06 > 0:51:10# Ain't no mountain high enough
0:51:10 > 0:51:14# We got to fight, fight, fight Fight, fight for this love
0:51:14 > 0:51:16# Ain't no river wide enough
0:51:16 > 0:51:20# Fight, fight, fight, fight Fight for this love
0:51:20 > 0:51:24# Ain't no mountain high enough
0:51:24 > 0:51:27# He takes the day but I am grown
0:51:27 > 0:51:31# And in your way in this blue shade
0:51:31 > 0:51:33# My tears dry on their...
0:51:33 > 0:51:38# Everybody's dancing in the moon...
0:51:40 > 0:51:41# In the moonlight! #
0:51:43 > 0:51:45CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:51:52 > 0:51:55The Oxford Gargoyles and their musical director Euan Campbell.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59Ruthie, quite a different programme to what we've seen already
0:51:59 > 0:52:01this afternoon.
0:52:01 > 0:52:02- Did it deliver for you?- Yes, it did.
0:52:02 > 0:52:05I thought it was young and infectious.
0:52:05 > 0:52:09I loved the fact that everybody had a chance to shine.
0:52:09 > 0:52:12I loved that you had really gone to town with choreography as well.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16- That pleased me greatly. - Thank you, Ruthie.
0:52:19 > 0:52:21Greg, speaking of that movement and choreography,
0:52:21 > 0:52:23they used a lot of it in their programme.
0:52:23 > 0:52:24What about the vocal quality?
0:52:24 > 0:52:28Everyone should join a choir and do that kind of rep in that way.
0:52:28 > 0:52:30I just need to impress upon the audience
0:52:30 > 0:52:33how difficult it is, especially for drum and bass singers
0:52:33 > 0:52:35in this kind of room, to be able to communicate
0:52:35 > 0:52:39with that clarity and that kind of volume, which he did so well
0:52:39 > 0:52:42without the use of microphones, I was really impressed. I love it.
0:52:45 > 0:52:46Thank you, judges. And once again,
0:52:46 > 0:52:49please show your appreciation for the Oxford Gargoyles.
0:52:49 > 0:52:51CHEERING
0:52:56 > 0:52:59I think some members of the Oxford Gargoyles have joined Josie,
0:52:59 > 0:53:01so let's go backstage for their thoughts.
0:53:01 > 0:53:04Normally I ask the choir if they enjoyed their performance,
0:53:04 > 0:53:06but I think we can see the all had a blast.
0:53:06 > 0:53:08We felt like we were at a party.
0:53:08 > 0:53:10You're the smallest choir in this competition.
0:53:10 > 0:53:15- Do you feel you have a David and Goliath style advantage?- I think so.
0:53:15 > 0:53:18We do a lot of tight harmonies, really technical stuff,
0:53:18 > 0:53:21and I think we tried to show that in both styles today.
0:53:21 > 0:53:22It was so much fun.
0:53:22 > 0:53:25It was actually the last time we're going to sing together as a group.
0:53:25 > 0:53:28- But, yeah, so much fun.- I could sense that you took advantage
0:53:28 > 0:53:30of the size and I was going to say that, obviously,
0:53:30 > 0:53:34because you're in a university choir, the turnover is regular.
0:53:34 > 0:53:36Yeah, it happens every year.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39There's actually a new batch of Gargoyles waiting in the wings
0:53:39 > 0:53:41to take over, so like Euan said,
0:53:41 > 0:53:43it's the last time we're going to sing together.
0:53:43 > 0:53:47But I don't think I could've found a better way to go out, to be honest.
0:53:47 > 0:53:49How did it feel, Henry, knowing that was your last time together?
0:53:49 > 0:53:52These guys are leaving and it's going to be really sad.
0:53:52 > 0:53:55I'm staying for another year and we're going to have a fantastic year,
0:53:55 > 0:53:58but like Ang said, you couldn't really pick a better setting
0:53:58 > 0:54:00in which to have your final memories of being in a group.
0:54:00 > 0:54:03Absolutely. I'm sure it's been a privilege singing together.
0:54:03 > 0:54:07Thank you, because we really enjoyed that. It was infectious. Tim.
0:54:07 > 0:54:10Thank you, Josie, and thanks to the Oxford Gargoyles.
0:54:10 > 0:54:11The fifth choir to perform this evening
0:54:11 > 0:54:15is the Lindley Junior School Choir from Huddersfield.
0:54:15 > 0:54:17Very popular in the hall.
0:54:17 > 0:54:18CHEERING
0:54:21 > 0:54:24They won the Children's category final at the beginning
0:54:24 > 0:54:26of October and they've been working very hard
0:54:26 > 0:54:29on their preparations for this grand final.
0:54:29 > 0:54:31Let's find out a bit more about them.
0:54:38 > 0:54:40- Hi, I'm Lucy.- And I'm Thomas.
0:54:40 > 0:54:43This is Lindley Junior School near Huddersfield.
0:54:43 > 0:54:47And in here is the totally amazing Lindley Junior School Choir.
0:54:47 > 0:54:48THEY SCREAM
0:54:56 > 0:54:58THEY SING
0:55:01 > 0:55:04It makes me feel really happy inside cos I love singing.
0:55:04 > 0:55:06You can hang out with your friends.
0:55:06 > 0:55:09We're all just like a big family.
0:55:11 > 0:55:15This is Ms Binns, our deputy head. She plays for us beautifully.
0:55:15 > 0:55:18This is Ms Thompson, our head teacher.
0:55:18 > 0:55:21She comes to every single rehearsal.
0:55:21 > 0:55:24This is Mrs North. She's the boss.
0:55:28 > 0:55:31I think the choir's success can be put down to high expectations
0:55:31 > 0:55:35in that the choir seem to raise their game to anything
0:55:35 > 0:55:38I put in front of them. The harder it is, the better they do.
0:55:38 > 0:55:41What do you think of the Lindley Junior School Choir?
0:55:41 > 0:55:43I think they're absolutely fantastic.
0:55:43 > 0:55:44Absolutely wonderful.
0:55:44 > 0:55:47They've just done a really good job of advertising school choirs
0:55:47 > 0:55:49and the Lindley Junior School.
0:55:49 > 0:55:53- We can't wait to get to the Royal Festival Hall.- So, let's rock!
0:55:53 > 0:55:54THEY SCREAM
0:56:03 > 0:56:05# Praise ye
0:56:05 > 0:56:07# Praise ye
0:56:07 > 0:56:09# Praise ye
0:56:09 > 0:56:13# Praise ye my Lord
0:56:15 > 0:56:17# Praise ye the Lord
0:56:17 > 0:56:21# Praise God in his sanctuary
0:56:21 > 0:56:27# Praise him in the firmament of his power
0:56:27 > 0:56:29# Praise ye the lord
0:56:29 > 0:56:32# Praise him for his mighty acts
0:56:32 > 0:56:36# Praise ye, my Lord according to his excellent greatness
0:56:38 > 0:56:40# Praise ye
0:56:40 > 0:56:42# Praise ye
0:56:42 > 0:56:44# Praise ye
0:56:44 > 0:56:48# Praise ye the Lord
0:56:49 > 0:56:52# Praise him with the sound of the trumpets
0:56:52 > 0:56:56# Praise him with the psaltery and harp
0:56:56 > 0:56:59# Praise him with the timbrel and dance
0:56:59 > 0:57:02# Praise him with stringed instruments and organs
0:57:02 > 0:57:05# Praise him upon the loud cymbals
0:57:05 > 0:57:09# Praise him upon the high-sounding cymbals
0:57:14 > 0:57:18# Oh, let everything that have breath
0:57:18 > 0:57:21# Oh, let everything that have breath
0:57:21 > 0:57:25# Oh, let everything that have breath
0:57:25 > 0:57:29# Praise the Lord
0:57:34 > 0:57:36# Praise ye the Lord
0:57:36 > 0:57:40# Praise God in his sanctuary
0:57:40 > 0:57:45# Praise him in the firmament of his power
0:57:46 > 0:57:48# Praise ye the Lord
0:57:48 > 0:57:52# Praise him for his mighty acts
0:57:52 > 0:57:56# Praise him according to his excellent greatness
0:57:57 > 0:57:59# Praise ye
0:57:59 > 0:58:01# Praise ye
0:58:01 > 0:58:03# Praise ye
0:58:03 > 0:58:09# Praise ye the Lord. #
0:58:13 > 0:58:15CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:58:23 > 0:58:24My name's Emma Binns.
0:58:24 > 0:58:26I'm the school's deputy head
0:58:26 > 0:58:29and I accompany the Lindley Junior School Choir.
0:58:29 > 0:58:31Breathing ready? One, two.
0:58:31 > 0:58:33THEY SING
0:58:36 > 0:58:39I guess I've worked with Alison for about ten years.
0:58:39 > 0:58:44- Was this the last time we were in the Festival Hall then?- Yeah, 2003.
0:58:46 > 0:58:50And this is obviously in Gorton Monastery.
0:58:50 > 0:58:52Particularly cold that day, I remember.
0:58:52 > 0:58:55Just took my coat off for the photographs.
0:58:56 > 0:59:01It's almost as if Alison and I have really quite a spooky chemistry.
0:59:01 > 0:59:03Just stop there. It was very...
0:59:03 > 0:59:08You could almost describe it as telepathic.
0:59:08 > 0:59:11She doesn't need to say, "We're going to start at bar 22,"
0:59:11 > 0:59:14because I'll just know.
0:59:15 > 0:59:18We've worked very closely together for many years,
0:59:18 > 0:59:20so she knows exactly what I'm thinking.
0:59:20 > 0:59:24It's kind of an instinctive thing now. I don't have to worry about her
0:59:24 > 0:59:27at all. I just do my thing and she's there with me every step of the way.
0:59:38 > 0:59:42# And then the power of the clouds
0:59:42 > 0:59:47# Carries me far above the people
0:59:47 > 0:59:51# My adornments loudly resound
0:59:51 > 0:59:58# And make melody And really sing... #
1:00:17 > 1:00:23# ..When I am not in touch
1:00:23 > 1:00:27# With the water
1:00:29 > 1:00:35# Butterflying spirit...
1:00:38 > 1:00:46# Flying spirit
1:00:46 > 1:00:51# Spirit... #
1:01:00 > 1:01:02CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:01:28 > 1:01:33# Gentle breezes cross the sky
1:01:33 > 1:01:39# Whistling winds blowing by
1:01:39 > 1:01:43# Freedom freely flying
1:01:43 > 1:01:50# Smooth, relaxing, peaceful winds
1:01:50 > 1:01:55# Twirling, swirling, dancing breeze
1:01:55 > 1:02:00# Drifting, shifting spreading wings
1:02:00 > 1:02:03# Freedom freely flying
1:02:03 > 1:02:10# Smooth, relaxing Peaceful winds... #
1:02:20 > 1:02:23# Blowing winds
1:02:23 > 1:02:27# Fierce wind Tearing wind
1:02:27 > 1:02:30# Roaring through the night
1:02:30 > 1:02:34# Tossing and turning with all its might
1:02:34 > 1:02:37# Thunder crashing Lightning flashing
1:02:37 > 1:02:40# Drip drop, drip drop Rain
1:02:40 > 1:02:43# Pattered rain Scattered flash
1:02:43 > 1:02:47# Crash...
1:02:56 > 1:03:00# ..Lessening
1:03:00 > 1:03:03# Easing
1:03:03 > 1:03:06# Drip drop
1:03:06 > 1:03:10# Teasing
1:03:10 > 1:03:16# Wind now breezy...
1:03:22 > 1:03:27# Gentle breezes cross the sky
1:03:27 > 1:03:33# Whistling winds flowing by
1:03:33 > 1:03:37# Freedom freely flying
1:03:37 > 1:03:43# Smooth, relaxing, peaceful winds
1:03:43 > 1:03:47# Ooh ooh ooh ooh Ooh-ooh-ooh... #
1:04:22 > 1:04:24CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:04:35 > 1:04:38The Lindley Junior School Choir there, and well done to all of you
1:04:38 > 1:04:42for a fantastic job. Mary, this is our youngest choir tonight.
1:04:42 > 1:04:45How did the programme work for you?
1:04:45 > 1:04:48I thought the programme was fantastic and it's completely
1:04:48 > 1:04:51irrelevant in a sense that they are our youngest choir, because I think
1:04:51 > 1:04:53they can hold their heads up high.
1:04:53 > 1:04:56I think there was no compromise about the difficulty of the music.
1:04:56 > 1:04:59There was some very complicated rhythmic stuff. I thought
1:04:59 > 1:05:01you were fantastic, really delicate, really sensitive and what
1:05:01 > 1:05:06I liked most is that this is a huge space and it's incredibly
1:05:06 > 1:05:11tempting to force the sound into this great big hall.
1:05:11 > 1:05:17And you resisted, and it was so delicate and you drew us to you.
1:05:17 > 1:05:20Really, really well done. Thank you.
1:05:20 > 1:05:21APPLAUSE
1:05:26 > 1:05:27Greg, if I can come to you.
1:05:27 > 1:05:30This is a big choir of young voices, 60 in all,
1:05:30 > 1:05:33a challenge to keep all of those together and to blend the sound.
1:05:33 > 1:05:35How do you feel they did?
1:05:35 > 1:05:38They did fantastically well and, to be honest,
1:05:38 > 1:05:40that's testament to their musical leadership, so I think we should
1:05:40 > 1:05:44give another round of applause to your conductor and your accompanist.
1:05:44 > 1:05:46APPLAUSE
1:05:51 > 1:05:52As Mary was saying,
1:05:52 > 1:05:55it's so tempting for you to force your voices,
1:05:55 > 1:05:56especially at your young age.
1:05:56 > 1:06:00I have worked with a lot of children's choirs and often times
1:06:00 > 1:06:02that time is spent actually pulling back from bad habits
1:06:02 > 1:06:05that have already occurred, and I just love the fact that such good
1:06:05 > 1:06:09technical grounding is happening in this choir at such a young age.
1:06:09 > 1:06:11Let's hope that spreads all the way through the UK.
1:06:11 > 1:06:14I thought it was a wonderful performance
1:06:14 > 1:06:16and I think you should be incredibly proud of yourselves.
1:06:16 > 1:06:21Fantastic. Let's hear it once again for the Lindley Junior School choir.
1:06:21 > 1:06:23CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:06:29 > 1:06:32Josie, loads of good comments from our judges there,
1:06:32 > 1:06:34but what do the Lindley Junior School Choir
1:06:34 > 1:06:37and the conductor think of their performance?
1:06:37 > 1:06:38Well, let's find out.
1:06:38 > 1:06:43Alison, Greg recognising there how important what YOU do is.
1:06:43 > 1:06:46It must be very gratifying on a day like today.
1:06:46 > 1:06:47Extremely gratifying. Thanks, Greg.
1:06:47 > 1:06:50It's really good to have your work recognised.
1:06:50 > 1:06:52Obviously, I work with very talented children,
1:06:52 > 1:06:55but to have my part acknowledged in it is just lovely.
1:06:55 > 1:06:58Tom, how did your performance go for you?
1:06:58 > 1:07:01I think it went really, really well and I'm really proud of all of us
1:07:01 > 1:07:03because we put in a lot of work.
1:07:03 > 1:07:04Lucy, do you enjoy being in a choir?
1:07:04 > 1:07:07Would you recommend it to all children?
1:07:07 > 1:07:10Yes, I would recommend it to all children because
1:07:10 > 1:07:13it's a wonderful thing to do and everybody gets into it really well.
1:07:13 > 1:07:15And when we sing something like this,
1:07:15 > 1:07:18it's amazing the opportunity we get.
1:07:18 > 1:07:22Wonderful! And on top of all of that, you give us all a thrill as well.
1:07:22 > 1:07:24Nicely done. Thank you very much. Tim.
1:07:24 > 1:07:28Thanks, Josie, and well done Lindley Junior School Choir.
1:07:28 > 1:07:32Well, we've come to the last act in this Grand Final of Choir Of The Year 2012.
1:07:32 > 1:07:35They reached this stage of the competition as one of two
1:07:35 > 1:07:38wild-card picks and let me tell you, they've got some form.
1:07:38 > 1:07:41They've won many awards at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod
1:07:41 > 1:07:46and four years ago were the runners up in BBC One's Last Choir Standing.
1:07:46 > 1:07:50Ysgol Glanaethwy Senior Choir is the largest group in this final,
1:07:50 > 1:07:52and let's find out a bit more about them.
1:07:58 > 1:08:02We both sing with...
1:08:02 > 1:08:06Ysgol Glanaethwy Senior Choir. Whoo!
1:08:07 > 1:08:09Based in Bangor, North Wales,
1:08:09 > 1:08:12we are a performing arts school that meet outside school hours.
1:08:12 > 1:08:16And the vision behind it all, our artistic directors
1:08:16 > 1:08:18Cefin and Rhian Roberts.
1:08:18 > 1:08:19Whoa, whoa, whoa.
1:08:24 > 1:08:27Rhian and I had a vision to start a performing arts school here
1:08:27 > 1:08:30to give the children of North Wales the opportunity to be
1:08:30 > 1:08:32involved in the performing arts.
1:08:32 > 1:08:36Whatever their background or experience, it didn't matter.
1:08:36 > 1:08:41We don't audition, everybody comes in if they want to be involved.
1:08:41 > 1:08:45Ysgol Glanaethwy has given past and present members
1:08:45 > 1:08:48some fantastic experiences.
1:08:48 > 1:08:53In 2008, the senior choir came runners-up in the BBC show
1:08:53 > 1:08:54Last Choir Standing.
1:08:59 > 1:09:02We just can't wait to perform in The Royal Festival Hall.
1:09:02 > 1:09:06And believe me, we're going to sing with plenty of Welsh heart,
1:09:06 > 1:09:08fire and passion!
1:09:16 > 1:09:20# The world...
1:09:24 > 1:09:27# Turns...
1:09:31 > 1:09:34# Turns...
1:09:36 > 1:09:41# On its dark...
1:09:41 > 1:09:43# Side
1:09:49 > 1:09:55# The world...
1:09:58 > 1:10:01# Turns...
1:10:04 > 1:10:07# Turns...
1:10:09 > 1:10:15# On its dark...
1:10:15 > 1:10:18# Side
1:10:18 > 1:10:23# Steal away...
1:10:24 > 1:10:28# Steal away...
1:10:29 > 1:10:35# Steal away to Jesus
1:10:38 > 1:10:43# Steal away
1:10:43 > 1:10:48# Steal away home
1:10:48 > 1:10:53# I ain't got long
1:10:53 > 1:10:57# To stay here
1:11:00 > 1:11:03# My Lord he calls me
1:11:03 > 1:11:09# He calls me by the thunder
1:11:09 > 1:11:16# The trumpets sound within my soul
1:11:19 > 1:11:24# I ain't got long
1:11:24 > 1:11:28# To stay here
1:11:30 > 1:11:33# Steal away
1:11:33 > 1:11:38# Steal away
1:11:38 > 1:11:44# Steal away to Jesus...
1:11:47 > 1:11:51# Steal away
1:11:51 > 1:11:55# Steal away home...
1:11:58 > 1:12:03# I ain't got long
1:12:03 > 1:12:08# To stay here... #
1:12:15 > 1:12:18CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:12:29 > 1:12:33# W-w-w
1:12:33 > 1:12:36# W-w-w
1:12:36 > 1:12:43# W-w-w-w w-w
1:12:44 > 1:12:47# Pam mae dewiniaeth
1:12:47 > 1:12:50# Pam y mae dyn
1:12:50 > 1:12:54# Pam mae nhw'n troi pob diferyn o ddwr
1:12:54 > 1:12:57# Bob gafael i'w melin eu hun?
1:12:57 > 1:13:01# Chwarae a'r moroedd
1:13:01 > 1:13:04# Plymio pob craig
1:13:04 > 1:13:07# Rheibio ysbrydion y fforest
1:13:07 > 1:13:11# A throi'r holl elfennau yn wraig
1:13:11 > 1:13:15# Rheibio y caeau
1:13:15 > 1:13:18# Troi pob un ton
1:13:18 > 1:13:21# Codi pob carreg a mynnu cael byw
1:13:21 > 1:13:24# Er mwyn y funud hon
1:13:24 > 1:13:27# Wnes di feddwl unwaith, ddewin
1:13:27 > 1:13:31# Roist ti eiliad bach ryw bryd
1:13:31 > 1:13:34# I ystyried y gwastraff mae'r dynion yn greu
1:13:34 > 1:13:37# A'u gadael mewn tyllau'n ein byd?
1:13:37 > 1:13:40# Aha-a-a-a-a
1:13:40 > 1:13:43# Aha-a-a-a-a-a
1:13:43 > 1:13:50# O-o-o o-o-o-o-o-o-o
1:13:50 > 1:13:53# Beth am y llynoedd?
1:13:53 > 1:13:56# Beth am y coed?
1:13:56 > 1:13:59# Beth am yr awyr a'r tir
1:13:59 > 1:14:01# Fu yma i bob un erioed?
1:14:01 > 1:14:06# Eriod, llosgi a chwalu
1:14:06 > 1:14:09# Dyffryn a dol
1:14:09 > 1:14:12# A gofyn a wnant mewn cenhedlaeth neu ddwy
1:14:12 > 1:14:16# "A fydd yna rywbeth ar ol?"
1:14:16 > 1:14:18# Beth am afonydd?
1:14:18 > 1:14:19# Beth am y byd?
1:14:19 > 1:14:22# Beth am y gwellt?
1:14:22 > 1:14:23# Beth am y byd
1:14:23 > 1:14:24# Beth am y mynydd?
1:14:24 > 1:14:25# Beth am y byd?
1:14:25 > 1:14:27# Beth am y mellt?
1:14:27 > 1:14:29# Beth am y byd?
1:14:29 > 1:14:30# Beth am y blodau?
1:14:30 > 1:14:31# Beth am y byd?
1:14:31 > 1:14:33# Beth am yr ardd?
1:14:33 > 1:14:34# Beth am y byd?
1:14:34 > 1:14:36# Beth am gyndeidiau?
1:14:36 > 1:14:38# Beth am y byd?
1:14:38 > 1:14:39# Beth am y taer?
1:14:39 > 1:14:42# Beth am y byd?
1:14:42 > 1:14:44# Wnaeth o daro arnat unwaith
1:14:44 > 1:14:47# Fod yna rywun 'blaw tydi?
1:14:47 > 1:14:51# Mor hawdd oedd taflu'r baich i gyd
1:14:51 > 1:14:54# A phwyntio dy fys ata i!
1:14:54 > 1:14:57# Ah-a-a-aaaaa!
1:14:57 > 1:15:00# Ah-a-a-a-a!
1:15:00 > 1:15:05# O-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
1:15:07 > 1:15:09# Pam mae dewiniaeth?
1:15:11 > 1:15:14# Pam y mae dyn?
1:15:14 > 1:15:18# Pam mae dewiniaeth?
1:15:18 > 1:15:19# Pam y mae dyn? #
1:15:29 > 1:15:35APPLAUSE
1:15:41 > 1:15:45My name is Ian Hywell, and I am a tenor in Ysgol Glanaethwy.
1:15:47 > 1:15:50I am 17, and this is my last day at school and Glanaethwy.
1:15:50 > 1:15:56I've been here since I was ten that I have never had no-one making me go,
1:15:56 > 1:15:58I always enjoy the chance to go every week.
1:16:02 > 1:16:03It's the experiences you get.
1:16:03 > 1:16:08I like the buzz that I get when I perform in front of people.
1:16:10 > 1:16:14Between my last day at school and Glanaethwy, my timetable is quite busy.
1:16:14 > 1:16:17I still get the chance to farm.
1:16:17 > 1:16:20It gives me a chance to be in the peace and quiet and relax.
1:16:22 > 1:16:25Part of the farm is here between the sea and the mountains,
1:16:25 > 1:16:31you can see Snowdon behind me over there and I feel very lucky to be
1:16:31 > 1:16:32able to live in this part of the world.
1:16:32 > 1:16:35I hope we can live here for ever.
1:16:36 > 1:16:38Farming is in my blood,
1:16:38 > 1:16:41but thanks to Kevin I think singing is in my blood now as well.
1:16:46 > 1:16:50# Mi a glywais fod cornchwiglan
1:16:50 > 1:16:53# Yn ei ddychryn ffwrdd o'r siglan
1:16:53 > 1:16:57# Ac na chaiff, er dianc rhagddi
1:16:57 > 1:17:00# Wedi rhusio o dan y drysni
1:17:00 > 1:17:07# Ond aderyn y bawn i'w boeni
1:17:07 > 1:17:10# Mi a glywais gan y wennol
1:17:10 > 1:17:13# Fod y tylwyth teg yn 'morol
1:17:13 > 1:17:17# Am arch i'r 'hedydd bach o risial
1:17:17 > 1:17:20# Ac am amdo o'r pren afal
1:17:20 > 1:17:24# Piti fai dwyn pob petal
1:17:24 > 1:17:27# Cans er dod a byddin arfog
1:17:27 > 1:17:30# Ac ar codi braw ar yr hebog
1:17:30 > 1:17:33# Ac er grisial ac er blodau
1:17:33 > 1:17:37# Er yr holl dylwyth teg a'u doniau
1:17:37 > 1:17:39# Ni ddaw can yr 'hedydd adre
1:17:39 > 1:17:41# Ni ddaw can yr 'hedydd adre
1:17:41 > 1:17:44# Ni ddaw can yr 'hedydd adre
1:17:44 > 1:17:47# Ni ddaw can yr 'hedydd adre. #
1:17:50 > 1:17:54APPLAUSE
1:18:01 > 1:18:04Thank you, or should I say "diolch i chi gyd"?
1:18:04 > 1:18:07Ysgol Glanaethwy Senior Choir.
1:18:07 > 1:18:10Four pieces in their programme and a variety of styles. Now, Ruthie,
1:18:10 > 1:18:15as a West End star yourself, you're used to combining drama and music.
1:18:15 > 1:18:18What did you make of that very theatrical performance from Ysgol Glanaethwy?
1:18:18 > 1:18:21I think it is wonderful that you took something so simple
1:18:21 > 1:18:26as coloured gloves and you have given your whole piece something
1:18:26 > 1:18:30very, very dynamic which is wonderful to watch.
1:18:30 > 1:18:33But it did not take away from the vocals, which was great.
1:18:33 > 1:18:37Each and every one of you was so committed that you had this sense
1:18:37 > 1:18:40of, you created your magic in your space
1:18:40 > 1:18:42and I could not look down to write my notes
1:18:42 > 1:18:49because you were defying me to look down, you know, you had my gaze
1:18:49 > 1:18:54and I thought it was a fierce and strong and powerful performance.
1:18:54 > 1:18:55Really wonderful.
1:18:55 > 1:18:58APPLAUSE
1:19:03 > 1:19:08Greg, a 70-strong choir who were all obviously enjoying time on stage.
1:19:08 > 1:19:12- Did you enjoy?- I did, it was a new sound for us, wasn't it?
1:19:12 > 1:19:15We had six very distinctive sounds and this was one,
1:19:15 > 1:19:17and what a great one to finish on.
1:19:17 > 1:19:20It was bright and vibrant and elemental at points.
1:19:20 > 1:19:22It was really moving.
1:19:22 > 1:19:25There were times when I just wrote down one or two technical things.
1:19:25 > 1:19:28As with all the six choirs, we have been very positive with our
1:19:28 > 1:19:31immediate comments up here, but I thought some of the Tippett,
1:19:31 > 1:19:35although really nicely structured, it kind of drew attention to certain technical inadequacies
1:19:35 > 1:19:38in the choir, but these are tiny things and I am only
1:19:38 > 1:19:41daring to say that because I want you to know how much I love you.
1:19:41 > 1:19:43I thought it was a fantastic performance
1:19:43 > 1:19:44and what a way to finish.
1:19:44 > 1:19:46Thank you very much.
1:19:46 > 1:19:49APPLAUSE
1:19:56 > 1:19:59Thank you to Ysgol Glanaethwy and Kevin Roberts there.
1:19:59 > 1:20:01Before we go to Josie,
1:20:01 > 1:20:05Mary, this would be a great opportunity to get some more feedback from you.
1:20:05 > 1:20:09Could you sum up your impressions of the six choirs in the final for us tonight?
1:20:09 > 1:20:13I think it has been a fantastic competition and I cannot remember
1:20:13 > 1:20:19a time when the musical standard was so high and yet the musical variety
1:20:19 > 1:20:23was so great and I think that is fantastic for choral singing.
1:20:23 > 1:20:26It is wonderful to feel that people are breaking out of what
1:20:26 > 1:20:30I think used to be restraints and constraints in their singing,
1:20:30 > 1:20:34and it is wonderful to see people with total physical commitment,
1:20:34 > 1:20:38because of course with that physical commitment comes much better singing.
1:20:38 > 1:20:40I find it absolutely fantastic.
1:20:40 > 1:20:44APPLAUSE
1:20:46 > 1:20:48Thank you, Mary. And thank you, judges.
1:20:48 > 1:20:51I feel you have a difficult task ahead of you.
1:20:51 > 1:20:54Thank you, too, of course to our last finalists this evening.
1:20:54 > 1:20:59- Josie, do you have some Ysgol Glanaethwy people with you? - Glad to say I do, Tim.
1:20:59 > 1:21:02Kevin, Ruthie could not make notes because she could not take her
1:21:02 > 1:21:04eyes off you, was that part of your game plan?
1:21:04 > 1:21:09It is such a positive comment to have because musical theatre
1:21:09 > 1:21:14needs that kind of reaction from the audience as well, so we had
1:21:14 > 1:21:16a really good time up there.
1:21:16 > 1:21:20Sometimes with a competition you be worried when you are on last,
1:21:20 > 1:21:22but they had great fun and that came over.
1:21:22 > 1:21:25You are a performance school so it was always going to be about the showmanship.
1:21:25 > 1:21:28Yes, we just love performing and showing everybody
1:21:28 > 1:21:30what we can do and dancing and singing.
1:21:30 > 1:21:33Does that ability in all of the disciplines that go along with
1:21:33 > 1:21:36performing help you to have the boldness to sing in Welsh
1:21:36 > 1:21:39and convey that meaning to non-Welsh speakers?
1:21:39 > 1:21:41We believe as a choir that singing in Welsh is a big part
1:21:41 > 1:21:47of our tradition, we try and bring as much of that as we can.
1:21:47 > 1:21:52It was absolutely brilliant. Back to you, Tim.
1:21:52 > 1:21:55You seems to have a ball back there this evening. What has the atmosphere been like?
1:21:55 > 1:21:57It has been just brilliant.
1:21:57 > 1:22:00I think everybody has had a really good time today
1:22:00 > 1:22:02and I think that has come across in their performance
1:22:02 > 1:22:06and the chats I have had with them backstage. And that is what stood out for me this year.
1:22:06 > 1:22:08Everyone upped the ante in terms of the performance,
1:22:08 > 1:22:10it was all very theatrical.
1:22:10 > 1:22:13There was something to remember in all of their performances,
1:22:13 > 1:22:16as well as the musicianship really being there.
1:22:16 > 1:22:18It is a thrilling competition time after time
1:22:18 > 1:22:23and I am glad, everybody says this, but I am glad I am not on the jury
1:22:23 > 1:22:25because I would not know who to choose.
1:22:25 > 1:22:28Absolutely, I could not agree with you more.
1:22:28 > 1:22:30Josie will be joining me on stage for the announcement
1:22:30 > 1:22:34of the winner of Choir Of The Year 2012 very shortly.
1:22:34 > 1:22:38While we await the jury's decision we have a treat in store for you.
1:22:38 > 1:22:41Our guest artists tonight are an internationally claimed vocal group
1:22:41 > 1:22:44who are legendary in the world of a cappella singing.
1:22:44 > 1:22:48For almost five decades they have been setting the standard of vocal agility
1:22:48 > 1:22:51and pushing the boundaries of musical innovation.
1:22:51 > 1:22:54The line-up has changed many times over the years,
1:22:54 > 1:22:57but the latest group of talented young voices continue to
1:22:57 > 1:23:00uphold the tradition of the original 1960s group.
1:23:00 > 1:23:04They are of course, and I'm very excited, the Swingle Singers.
1:23:09 > 1:23:14# Do-do do do-do Do do-do do do-do, do do-do do do-do
1:23:14 > 1:23:25# Do-do, do, do-do, do do-do Do, do-do, do do-do do, do-do
1:23:25 > 1:23:29# Do do-do, do do-do Do do-do, do, do-do, do
1:23:29 > 1:23:32# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:32 > 1:23:36# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:36 > 1:23:39# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:39 > 1:23:42# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:42 > 1:23:45# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:45 > 1:23:48# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:48 > 1:23:52# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:52 > 1:23:55# Do-do do do-do do-do Do-do do do-do do-do
1:23:55 > 1:24:01# Aahh, da-bada-bada
1:24:01 > 1:24:08# Aahh, da-bada-bada
1:24:08 > 1:24:11# Ba-da ba-da
1:24:11 > 1:24:15# Ba-da-da da-da
1:24:15 > 1:24:20# Ba-ba-da, la, la, la, la, la
1:24:20 > 1:24:28# Ba, da-da da-da da
1:24:28 > 1:24:34# Ba, da-da da-da da
1:24:34 > 1:24:37# Ba-da ba-da
1:24:37 > 1:24:41# Da-da da-da da
1:24:41 > 1:24:47# Ba-da ba, la, la, la, la, la
1:24:47 > 1:24:54# Baaa, da-ba-da da-daaaa
1:24:54 > 1:25:01# Ba-da-ba-daaaa Da-ba-da-ba-da
1:25:01 > 1:25:08# Baaaa, da-ba-da-ba-daaa
1:25:08 > 1:25:13# Baaaa, da-ba-da-ba-daaa
1:25:13 > 1:25:15# Do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:15 > 1:25:18# Do-do do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:18 > 1:25:22# Do-do do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:22 > 1:25:26# Do-do do-do do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:26 > 1:25:28- # Ahhhh, ahhh - Do-do do-do do-do do-do do-do-do
1:25:28 > 1:25:31# Do-do-do do-do-do-do do-do-do do
1:25:31 > 1:25:35# Do-do-do do-do do-do do-do do-do do-do do-dooo
1:25:35 > 1:25:39# Do-do-do-do-do-do Aahhh, ahhh, ahhhh
1:25:39 > 1:25:41# Do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:41 > 1:25:42# Do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:42 > 1:25:44# Do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:44 > 1:25:45# Do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:45 > 1:25:47# Do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:47 > 1:25:49# Do-do do-do do-do do
1:25:49 > 1:25:52# Do-do do-do do-do do Du-du-du-du-du-du
1:25:52 > 1:25:58# Aaahhh, da-da-da-da da-da-daaa
1:25:58 > 1:26:02# Aaahhh, da-da-da-da
1:26:02 > 1:26:05# Da-da-da-da
1:26:05 > 1:26:12# Aaahhh, da-da-da-da da-da-daaa
1:26:12 > 1:26:18# Aaahhh, da-da-da-da da-da-daaa! #
1:26:18 > 1:26:23APPLAUSE
1:26:29 > 1:26:35Choirs, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we have a decision.
1:26:35 > 1:26:36AUDIENCE: Oooh!
1:26:36 > 1:26:39I know! Please welcome to the stage
1:26:39 > 1:26:43Bill Callaway, chairman of Choir Of The Year, and our jury,
1:26:43 > 1:26:50Ruthie Henshall, Greg Beardsell and Mary King, who will announce the winner of Choir Of The Year 2012.
1:26:50 > 1:26:55APPLAUSE
1:27:00 > 1:27:07We had...robust discussions. But we are now in total agreement.
1:27:07 > 1:27:11And so I am going to open the envelope. Are you ready?
1:27:13 > 1:27:17And the winner of the Choir Of The Year 2012 is...
1:27:17 > 1:27:18Les Sirenes.
1:27:18 > 1:27:21CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
1:27:36 > 1:27:40The wild ladies with the wild card have done it!
1:27:40 > 1:27:44CHEERING
1:27:44 > 1:27:46I have to ask you, how are you feeling?
1:27:46 > 1:27:52I'm going to cry! I'm going to cry. I'm just so happy.
1:27:52 > 1:27:56We've all worked so hard and the whole choir is all of our best friends,
1:27:56 > 1:28:00we've put everything into this. And Andrew, our conductor,
1:28:00 > 1:28:01is just so tough on us,
1:28:01 > 1:28:08but it's obviously paid off. I couldn't be happier, we're all just buzzing, I can see the girls!
1:28:08 > 1:28:12It's just great, I'm really happy.
1:28:12 > 1:28:15You've been absolutely fantastic and you've really represented
1:28:15 > 1:28:19- the best of what amateur choirs can achieve. Well done, congratulations! - Thank you.
1:28:19 > 1:28:21APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
1:28:26 > 1:28:29That brings Choir Of The Year 2012 to a close.
1:28:29 > 1:28:32What a fantastic event it has been, I'm sure you'll agree.
1:28:32 > 1:28:38- From all of us here at London's Royal Festival Hall, goodnight.- Goodnight.
1:28:38 > 1:28:43APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
1:28:46 > 1:28:50# And so it goes
1:28:50 > 1:28:58# And so it goes
1:29:00 > 1:29:09# And you're the only one
1:29:09 > 1:29:19# Who knows. #
1:29:19 > 1:29:21Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd