0:00:04 > 0:00:07Nestled on the banks of the River Taff in a leafy
0:00:07 > 0:00:10suburb of Wales's capital city Cardiff lies a small but
0:00:10 > 0:00:14significant place in the cultural and historical landscape of Wales.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21Llandaff feels like a village, but it is in fact a city,
0:00:21 > 0:00:24with its cathedral, its shops, its restaurants and beautiful
0:00:24 > 0:00:28architecture, just a stone's throw away from the Welsh capital.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34Today we'll be exploring a city within a city.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39Llandaff, with its majestic cathedral and close-knit community.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42For many thousands of Welsh people around the world, this is
0:00:42 > 0:00:47an important week as we all prepare to celebrate St David's Day.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Welcome to Songs of Praise.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53Today we see how music is unexpectedly transforming
0:00:53 > 0:00:57people's lives. We'll hear a Lion roar. We'll meet a singing gardener.
0:00:57 > 0:01:01And get to hear the Rolls-Royce of church organs.
0:01:01 > 0:01:03We have hymns from Llandaff Cathedral,
0:01:03 > 0:01:08music from the cathedral choir, and Welsh brothers Richard and Adam.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18- What is this place? Where am I? - Leadworth.- Where's the rest of it?
0:01:18 > 0:01:22If you're a Doctor Who fan, you may recognise this
0:01:22 > 0:01:25as the village green of Leadworth, the home of Amy Pond.
0:01:28 > 0:01:32This is in fact the cathedral green, right in the heart of Llandaff,
0:01:32 > 0:01:35a place steeped in history and religious significance.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39It's the home of the largest cathedral in Wales.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42It had its share of famous residents,
0:01:42 > 0:01:46and its high street is the location of Mrs Pratchett's sweet shop
0:01:46 > 0:01:48in one of Roald Dahl's best-known works.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54But before we meet some of the real residents,
0:01:54 > 0:01:56let's celebrate the spirit of St David,
0:01:56 > 0:01:59the patron saint of Wales, with a hymn tune that's become
0:01:59 > 0:02:03a powerful expression of Welsh culture, Blaenwern.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Kate Woolveridge is one of Wales's most popular mezzo-sopranos.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28She's performed over the years in some of the world's biggest
0:04:28 > 0:04:31concert venues, including the Kennedy Centre in Washington
0:04:31 > 0:04:34and the Royal Festival Hall in London.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38But recently, Kate has gained recognition for another achievement,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42which led to the award of Inspirational Woman of the Year,
0:04:42 > 0:04:46using her gift for music to transform people's lives.
0:04:46 > 0:04:51So, will you offer this room your peace, and ask God for peace.
0:04:51 > 0:04:52Here we go. Twice through.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Three, four.
0:04:56 > 0:05:01# Da Pacem, Domine... #
0:05:02 > 0:05:06The Forget-me-Not Chorus is a choir for people with dementia
0:05:06 > 0:05:08and their carers.
0:05:08 > 0:05:11And I've been involved in forming that choir,
0:05:11 > 0:05:16setting up the charity, for the last two years. We have fun.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18We cry a bit and we laugh a bit
0:05:18 > 0:05:20and we sing all the time for two hours,
0:05:20 > 0:05:26and we put on regular concerts and invite the general public to come
0:05:26 > 0:05:29and share our joy in singing,
0:05:29 > 0:05:31to understand that dementia is
0:05:31 > 0:05:36not the end of the world, actually, for the person with dementia
0:05:36 > 0:05:38and their carers.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41# This little light of mine... #
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Three of the choir's regular members are Jackie and George Askey
0:05:45 > 0:05:47and daughter Lynne.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50George was diagnosed with dementia six years ago.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53When George had his last stroke,
0:05:53 > 0:05:59we found it very difficult to do a lot of the things that we'd done
0:05:59 > 0:06:04together because we both loved doing amateur dramatics,
0:06:04 > 0:06:09and someone said, have you heard about the choir?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12So we joined it, and wow!
0:06:12 > 0:06:17It just... Suddenly there was a focus to the week.
0:06:18 > 0:06:23There was a great feeling of warmth between us all.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26And we were doing something we loved very, very much.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35It is quite incredible to see how music can bring couples together,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38and when you sing a love song with somebody who you've been
0:06:38 > 0:06:42married to for 40 years, but you don't know them any more,
0:06:42 > 0:06:44and then as you sing a song,
0:06:44 > 0:06:49the person with dementia reaches out and holds his wife's hand.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Even though he doesn't know her name, and he doesn't actually know
0:06:53 > 0:06:56that he's married to her, but he holds her hand.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59And I've witnessed over the time, people who can't speak will
0:06:59 > 0:07:03sing a verse of a song with me, and the minute the song finishes,
0:07:03 > 0:07:07then that communication door, window disappears again.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11# Someone's singing, Lord
0:07:11 > 0:07:13# Kumbaya... #
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Caring for those with dementia can often be challenging, but does
0:07:17 > 0:07:23seeing a loved one suffering with the condition challenge one's faith?
0:07:23 > 0:07:27I've always had a faith, but it's...
0:07:27 > 0:07:33I wouldn't say with Dad's dementia I've been challenged.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36If anything, it's probably deepened my faith.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41You don't know what life is going to throw at you, it is
0:07:41 > 0:07:46filled with ups and downs and many blessings as well.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50And I think if Dad hadn't had his dementia,
0:07:51 > 0:07:54I wouldn't have had the joy of being in the choir.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58So life has got many blessings, really.
0:07:58 > 0:07:59So I'm just grateful for those.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Working with the Forget-me-Not Chorus for the last two years has had
0:08:07 > 0:08:12a profound effect on the way I view life, and I think that we always
0:08:12 > 0:08:17strive, it's easy to strive for financial security and success,
0:08:17 > 0:08:21and actually, the only thing that really matters is that the
0:08:21 > 0:08:24people around you care for you, that you have love.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27I see the most phenomenal love between the people in the choir,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30and that's what matters, more than anything else,
0:08:30 > 0:08:34and the way you deal with the rubbish that life can throw you.
0:08:39 > 0:08:51# Ave Maria
0:08:53 > 0:09:00# Vergin del ciel
0:09:00 > 0:09:09# Sovrana di grazie e madre pia
0:09:10 > 0:09:17# Accogli ognor la fervente preghiera
0:09:18 > 0:09:22# Non negar
0:09:22 > 0:09:26# A questo straziato mio cor
0:09:27 > 0:09:31# Tregua nel suo dolor!
0:09:33 > 0:09:40# Sperduta l'alma mia si prostra a te
0:09:42 > 0:09:48# E pien di speme si prostra ai tuoi pie
0:09:52 > 0:09:58# T'invoca e attende che tu dedia
0:10:00 > 0:10:03# La pace
0:10:03 > 0:10:07# Che solo tu puoi donar
0:10:11 > 0:10:19# Ave Maria
0:10:24 > 0:10:29# Gratia plena
0:10:33 > 0:10:36# Maria
0:10:36 > 0:10:40# Gratia plena
0:10:42 > 0:10:44# Maria
0:10:44 > 0:10:47# Gratia plena
0:10:50 > 0:10:53# Ave
0:10:53 > 0:10:56# Ave Dominus
0:10:58 > 0:11:01# Dominus tecum
0:11:03 > 0:11:11# Sperduta l'alma mia si prostra a te
0:11:13 > 0:11:19# E pien di speme si prostra ai tuoi pie
0:11:21 > 0:11:28# T'invoca e attende che tu dedia
0:11:29 > 0:11:33# La pace
0:11:33 > 0:11:37# Che solo tu puoi donar
0:11:40 > 0:11:48# Ave Maria
0:11:51 > 0:11:57# Gratia plena
0:11:57 > 0:12:01# Ave Dominus
0:12:03 > 0:12:11# Ave Maria. #
0:12:40 > 0:12:43Now, celebrating St David's Day without music would be
0:12:43 > 0:12:46unthinkable, and in Wales we have more
0:12:46 > 0:12:49than our share of accomplished singers and choirs.
0:12:49 > 0:12:51One of our most popular is Only Men Aloud.
0:12:51 > 0:12:54They've built up a global reputation,
0:12:54 > 0:12:56and they've performed with some of the biggest names.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01THEY SING "O VERONA"
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Steve Hamnett is one of the members of the choir.
0:13:15 > 0:13:16He lives here in Llandaff
0:13:16 > 0:13:18and his deep bass voice is to be heard
0:13:18 > 0:13:21resounding in the city's gardens and churchyards.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25# ..in darkness That war... #
0:13:25 > 0:13:28'I've been living in Llandaff for about 28 years now.'
0:13:28 > 0:13:32Most of my daily life in the growing season is, I'm a gardener.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35I cut grass, I tend gardens.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38But singing is a very large part of my life.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Singing in church, singing on stage.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43A lot of my faith is expressed through music.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49I first started gardening for my local church,
0:13:49 > 0:13:51tending the grounds around the church.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55And a few of the parishioners said, "Would you do my garden as well?"
0:13:55 > 0:13:58And so I started to look after their garden
0:13:58 > 0:14:00and the gardening business, as it were,
0:14:00 > 0:14:02grew from those first few seeds.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06I've got to say, I absolutely love it.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09This time of year, especially when the...
0:14:09 > 0:14:11the trees, the flowers,
0:14:11 > 0:14:14they all seem dead, they're still slumbering in winter.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16And then you start to see these
0:14:16 > 0:14:18first few little shoots coming through.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20And it's very appropriate, of course,
0:14:20 > 0:14:25at Easter time that what seems to be dead actually comes to life again.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29There's a great correlation between what I see in nature
0:14:29 > 0:14:32and what our faith tells us from the Bible.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35THEY SING "CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO"
0:14:39 > 0:14:43I started with Only Men Aloud, oh, about 11 years ago.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46I was at a particularly low point in my life and a friend of mine
0:14:46 > 0:14:49who was singing with the choir at the time said, "Come along,
0:14:49 > 0:14:53"it's a great bunch of guys, have a sing, have a laugh."
0:14:53 > 0:14:55And I found that to be the case.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58There's a wonderful comradeship in the choir.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02We've sung in so many wonderful and varied and interesting places.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06And great to feel that connection with the audience.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08It's a wonderful thing.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12CHEERING AND APPLAUSE
0:15:12 > 0:15:16As a lot of people do, in my teens and my20s, I questioned my faith.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19I wandered from my faith.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23But I did find that I had that deep yearning within me,
0:15:23 > 0:15:28and I came back to the church and I've remained there ever since.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31And even though, in difficult times,
0:15:31 > 0:15:35the last few years have been particularly difficult for us,
0:15:35 > 0:15:38I found that my faith has upheld me.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42In fact, last December, my father died
0:15:42 > 0:15:47and on the day that he died, I went up to see him.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I felt there was nothing I could give him,
0:15:51 > 0:15:52I wanted to give back to him
0:15:52 > 0:15:55everything that he'd given to me over the years.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58All I could do was mop his brow.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03But then, I thought, I can give to him what God has given to me.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06So I sang his favourite hymn to him, quietly.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Um...
0:16:08 > 0:16:12A few verses of How Great Thou Art. And...
0:16:13 > 0:16:17I left him in peace there, came back to Cardiff,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19and he died a couple of hours later.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23And I thought, what better way to end a life
0:16:23 > 0:16:26but with your favourite hymn in your ears,
0:16:26 > 0:16:30with your family having said their goodbyes, and...
0:16:31 > 0:16:34He's up with the angels there somewhere now.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03Parts of the original cathedral buildings here in Llandaff
0:19:03 > 0:19:05date back to the 12th century.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08It is one of the oldest Christian sites in the country
0:19:08 > 0:19:11and it's dedicated to no fewer than five saints.
0:19:11 > 0:19:15Peter, Paul, Dyfrig, Teilo and Euddogwy.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21On the night of 2nd January 1941,
0:19:21 > 0:19:25the Cathedral was severely damaged by a German bomb during the Blitz.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30But the Cathedral has known more recent turmoil.
0:19:30 > 0:19:33In 2007, it was struck by lightning
0:19:33 > 0:19:36and the damage to the organ was substantial.
0:19:36 > 0:19:40Since then, after an impressive fundraising effort,
0:19:40 > 0:19:41a new organ has been installed.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43It's one of the best in the world.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46It's certainly one of the biggest organ installations in the UK
0:19:46 > 0:19:48of the past half century.
0:19:48 > 0:19:52And if I play my cards right, I might be allowed to try it out.
0:19:56 > 0:19:59David, I know there will be organists looking in total envy
0:19:59 > 0:20:00at what you have here.
0:20:00 > 0:20:02Tell us about it.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06Well, it really is a fantastic organ and it came about almost,
0:20:06 > 0:20:08you could say, by act of God,
0:20:08 > 0:20:12because in 2007 we had a terrific lightning strike which struck
0:20:12 > 0:20:17the Cathedral directly and rendered the old organ totally unusable.
0:20:17 > 0:20:21So we went about raising the money and, in fact, it cost £1.5 million
0:20:21 > 0:20:26and we have a fabulous Nicholson Organ here in Llandaff Cathedral.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Raising money in today's financial climate is not an easy thing to do.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33How did you go about convincing people this was a good investment?
0:20:33 > 0:20:35That was a difficult task.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40It's difficult to convince people in the pew, if you like, that we
0:20:40 > 0:20:44need a new organ despite the fact that they could hear the old organ.
0:20:44 > 0:20:45In fact, when this one was being built,
0:20:45 > 0:20:48we had an electronic organ and they thought,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52"That's a nice sounding instrument at a fraction of the cost."
0:20:52 > 0:20:56But this is the legacy that we are passing on to future generations
0:20:56 > 0:20:59and it will be here for a very long time indeed.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03ORGAN PLAYS
0:21:25 > 0:21:27Wow!
0:21:27 > 0:21:30- That was quite something. - It's a fantastic sound, isn't it?
0:21:30 > 0:21:31Well, it's so powerful.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35- It's a bit scary really.- It is.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38- Is this more scary than reading the news?- Um, much more scary(!)
0:21:38 > 0:21:40I respect what you do.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44What is it like as an experience for you when you're at the helm of this?
0:21:44 > 0:21:47I get a terrific buzz from playing this organ.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49It really is a fantastic instrument.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51You can go right down to a whisper
0:21:51 > 0:21:54with pipes that are as small as a pencil,
0:21:54 > 0:21:57or huge, enormous pipes that are 32-foot in length.
0:21:57 > 0:22:00So let's get a sense of the sensitivity of it.
0:22:00 > 0:22:03- So very quietly, what am I going to do?- We can start with a whisper.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05Keep the swell box shut.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10Then if you wanted to add a bit of flute solo above that,
0:22:10 > 0:22:12you can do that.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Then you carry on as you are and I'll...
0:22:17 > 0:22:21PLAYS HIGH PITCH NOTES
0:22:33 > 0:22:36So delicate. It's a lovely sound, isn't it?
0:22:39 > 0:22:42David, thank you very much. I can't tell you what a thrill it's been.
0:22:42 > 0:22:46- Well, would you like to stay all day? - I'd like to stay all month.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55# Make a joyful noise unto the Lord
0:22:55 > 0:22:58# All ye lands
0:22:58 > 0:23:02# Serve the Lord with gladness
0:23:02 > 0:23:05# Serve the Lord with gladness
0:23:05 > 0:23:08# Come before his presence to sing
0:23:08 > 0:23:13# Know ye that the Lord, he is God
0:23:13 > 0:23:18# Know ye that the Lord, he is God
0:23:19 > 0:23:23# It is he that hath made us
0:23:23 > 0:23:26# And not we ourselves
0:23:26 > 0:23:30# It is he that hath made us
0:23:30 > 0:23:34# And not we ourselves
0:23:34 > 0:23:36# We are his people
0:23:36 > 0:23:40# And the sheep of his pasture.
0:23:41 > 0:23:45# Enter into his gates with thanksgiving
0:23:45 > 0:23:49# And into his courts with praise
0:23:52 > 0:23:55# Be thankful unto him
0:23:55 > 0:23:58# And bless, bless his name
0:24:00 > 0:24:03# For the Lord, the Lord, he is good
0:24:03 > 0:24:06# His mercy is everlasting
0:24:06 > 0:24:10# And his truth, his truth endureth
0:24:10 > 0:24:14# Endureth to all generations
0:24:20 > 0:24:26# Amen, Amen, Amen. #
0:24:31 > 0:24:36Well, for many Welsh people, it has to be said, this is a cathedral.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39A cathedral of rugby. It's the Millennium Stadium.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41And one of its modern heroes is Toby Faletau,
0:24:41 > 0:24:44one of the world's leading rugby forwards.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47He plays for Wales and the British Lions and Toby's strength
0:24:47 > 0:24:52on the field of play is matched by the strength of his Christian faith.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00A fast, dynamic and skilful player, Toby's physical power
0:25:00 > 0:25:05on the pitch is in sharp contrast to his quiet and humble character.
0:25:06 > 0:25:08I guess I just enjoy playing
0:25:08 > 0:25:13and for it to bring me to where I am now has just been a plus, I guess.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17And where he is now is at the top of the international game.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19He's cemented his place in the Welsh side
0:25:19 > 0:25:21since his debut three years ago.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27It was June 4th 2011 and it was against the Barbarians
0:25:27 > 0:25:31and it was a great day, great occasion for me and my family.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35The result wasn't great but it was a great occasion.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39At the young age of 23, he's already reached the pinnacle of the game,
0:25:39 > 0:25:40but the journey to the top began
0:25:40 > 0:25:43a long way from the Millennium Stadium.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46Toby was born on the small Pacific island of Tonga
0:25:46 > 0:25:50before his father, Kuli, was invited to play for a rugby club
0:25:50 > 0:25:52in the South Wales valleys.
0:25:52 > 0:25:56We grew up in Ebbw Vale where my dad played.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58So he came over in '97.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02In '98, he came home and brought the rest of the family over.
0:26:02 > 0:26:06I just remember going to school, the first couple of months,
0:26:06 > 0:26:09couldn't speak English so we just had to go there
0:26:09 > 0:26:13and just pick out what we could from the other kids.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17As well as his two brothers and two sisters,
0:26:17 > 0:26:20Toby grew up in the Welsh valleys alongside his cousins,
0:26:20 > 0:26:24current England internationals Mako and Billy Vunipola,
0:26:24 > 0:26:28and it was here that his love for rugby began to take hold.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32We first started playing kind of competitive against each other
0:26:32 > 0:26:36in Mako and Billy's parents' back garden in Pontypool.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39We were there just going flat out at each other.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44We've had a few fights there with Billy and Mako
0:26:44 > 0:26:47but it's all for the good.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51For Toby and his family,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54the Christian faith has been a key part of their lives, and
0:26:54 > 0:26:58throughout his career, his faith has had an impact on his rugby as well.
0:26:58 > 0:27:03I say a little quiet prayer before I run out on the pitch
0:27:03 > 0:27:06just to ask him for a bit of help out there.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09After a game then, it'll be just thanking him for getting me
0:27:09 > 0:27:13through the game, no major injuries, things like that.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16I have a lot of faith in what he does
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and I believe things happen for a reason.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22And, with the Six Nations in full flow,
0:27:22 > 0:27:26Wales face an eagerly-awaited clash away to England in two weeks' time.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29And Toby may come face to face with his two cousins,
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Mako and Billy Vunipola.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33Not in the garden this time,
0:27:33 > 0:27:36but in front of many thousands at Twickenham.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40We've pretty much been in the UK for the same amount of time
0:27:40 > 0:27:43and we've kind of done the same thing.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47I've just been so close to somehow end up them playing for England
0:27:47 > 0:27:52and me for Wales, and the possibility of playing against them will be
0:27:52 > 0:27:54a great day for both families.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48Lord, we thank you for the song that you put in our hearts.
0:30:49 > 0:30:51Make us grateful for this land of song,
0:30:51 > 0:30:54its people and its heritage.
0:30:57 > 0:31:01And help us look to you as we face the challenges of life.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13Well, our visit to Cardiff and the city of Llandaff is at an end
0:31:13 > 0:31:16and what a fitting place to celebrate St David,
0:31:16 > 0:31:18the Patron Saint of Wales, in this,
0:31:18 > 0:31:21one of the oldest Christian sites in the United Kingdom.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24And we end with the uplifting words of Daniel James
0:31:24 > 0:31:27and the popular Welsh hymn, Calon Lan.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30Only a pure heart can sing throughout the day
0:31:30 > 0:31:32and throughout the night.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27Next week, as Lent approaches, Pam is in Bradford to meet
0:33:27 > 0:33:31people for whom the season has special significance.
0:33:31 > 0:33:36She introduces hymns from choir and congregation at the city's cathedral
0:33:36 > 0:33:39and the American star, Beth Nielsen Chapman.