0:00:02 > 0:00:05This is the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. This wonderful venue
0:00:05 > 0:00:08has hosted musicians and singers from all over the world.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12But Ireland has had its own fair share of home-grown talent too,
0:00:12 > 0:00:14and it's not just a recent thing.
0:00:14 > 0:00:17There's a long tradition of songwriting links that go
0:00:17 > 0:00:19back hundreds of years and include the men
0:00:19 > 0:00:24and women responsible for writing some of our best-known hymns today.
0:00:24 > 0:00:28So, join us now, along with local choirs and congregations,
0:00:28 > 0:00:33to celebrate the songs of Irish hymn-writers past and present.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42Choirs and congregations from Belfast and beyond
0:00:42 > 0:00:45join the Ulster Orchestra for an evening of praise.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49As well as glorious hymn singing, stand by for the Celtic Tenors,
0:00:49 > 0:00:51with an inspirational song made famous
0:00:51 > 0:00:53by Brian Kennedy and Westlife.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59Irish choral group, Anuna, sing a beautiful version of Pie Jesu,
0:00:59 > 0:01:01and worship leader Robin Mark
0:01:01 > 0:01:04introduces us to a brand-new song of praise.
0:01:25 > 0:01:28You're very welcome to the Waterfront Hall here in Belfast.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31We have the pleasure of being led by the Ulster Orchestra
0:01:31 > 0:01:34and our Songs Of Praise conductor, Paul Leddington Wright.
0:01:34 > 0:01:39APPLAUSE
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Now, Ireland has inspired many songwriters over the years,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49including the writer of our first hymn.
0:01:49 > 0:01:52Henry Francis Lyte was a pupil at Portora Royal School in Enniskillen
0:01:52 > 0:01:56before going on to study for the church ministry
0:01:56 > 0:01:58at Trinity College, Dublin.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00He penned many notable hymns,
0:02:00 > 0:02:02including the much-loved Abide With Me,
0:02:02 > 0:02:04and the hymn that we are about to sing,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12Now, a truly inspirational song, You Raise Me Up.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14It was a huge international hit.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16It's been performed by many people,
0:04:16 > 0:04:18such as Josh Grogan, Westlife, Daniel O'Donnell,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22even Aled Jones, and it's one of the favourites
0:04:22 > 0:04:25of our first musical guests, The Celtic Tenors.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28There's something very Irish about the feel of the song itself.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30And of course, Brendan Graham wrote the song.
0:04:30 > 0:04:31It's a song, Matthew,
0:04:31 > 0:04:35that will either raise you up or bring you down.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38It can be about a parent, it can be about the people who raised you,
0:04:38 > 0:04:42it can be somebody who you turn to in times of trouble, like God.
0:04:42 > 0:04:47For me, it's a prayer, more than anything else.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51Darren, what reaction do you get when you perform You Raise Me Up?
0:04:51 > 0:04:54You know, You Raise Me Up is one of those songs.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57Recently, we were on tour with the orchestra in China,
0:04:57 > 0:05:00and of course we did our normal set,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03but the minute that we stood up and sang You Raise Me Up,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06everybody was on their feet. It just seemed to have that reaction.
0:05:06 > 0:05:11There's strong echoes of Danny Boy, that rising phrase.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13There's something about that phrase that I think is also
0:05:13 > 0:05:15a vehicle that goes straight to the heart.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18And James, what about you guys as performers?
0:05:18 > 0:05:23What angle or what twist do you feel that you bring to your rendition?
0:05:23 > 0:05:27The song for me took on a whole new meaning whilst in Kenya.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30I work with AIDS orphans every year as part of a building team,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34but also do music with them, and this song stood out
0:05:34 > 0:05:37because of the words, the lyrics, they took on a whole new meaning.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39"You raise me up to more than I can be."
0:05:46 > 0:05:49# When I am down
0:05:49 > 0:05:54# And oh, my soul so weary
0:05:54 > 0:06:00# When troubles come And my heart burdened be
0:06:00 > 0:06:07# And I am still And wait here in the silence
0:06:07 > 0:06:13# Until you come and sit awhile with me
0:06:14 > 0:06:21# You raise me up So I can stand on mountains
0:06:22 > 0:06:28# You raise me up To walk on stormy seas
0:06:28 > 0:06:34# And I am strong When I am on your shoulders
0:06:36 > 0:06:38# You raise me up
0:06:38 > 0:06:43# To more than I can be
0:06:43 > 0:06:47# When I am down And oh my soul
0:06:47 > 0:06:50# So weary
0:06:50 > 0:06:56# When troubles come And my heart burdened be
0:06:56 > 0:07:03# And I am still And wait here in the silence
0:07:03 > 0:07:09# Until you come and sit awhile with me
0:07:11 > 0:07:17# You raise me up So I can stand on mountains
0:07:19 > 0:07:25# You raise me up To walk on stormy seas
0:07:25 > 0:07:31# And I am strong When I am on your shoulders
0:07:33 > 0:07:40# You raise me up To more than I can be
0:07:43 > 0:07:50# There is no life No life without its hunger
0:07:50 > 0:07:57# Each restless heart beats so imperfectly
0:07:58 > 0:08:05# But when you come And I am filled with wonder
0:08:05 > 0:08:12# Sometimes I think I glimpse eternity
0:08:12 > 0:08:20# You raise me up So I can stand on mountains
0:08:20 > 0:08:27# You raise me up to walk on stormy seas
0:08:28 > 0:08:36# And I am strong when I am on your shoulders
0:08:36 > 0:08:42# You raise me up To more than I can be
0:08:52 > 0:08:57# You raise me up
0:08:57 > 0:09:04# To more than I can be. #
0:09:17 > 0:09:22APPLAUSE
0:09:30 > 0:09:33The origin of our next hymn goes back more than 150 years.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36Mrs Cecil Frances Alexander lived in Londonderry,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39and she had a passion for teaching religion to young people.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42Now, she did this through composing poems and songs,
0:09:42 > 0:09:45and she later published a book called Hymns For Little Children.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48What she did was, she wrote over 400 hymns,
0:09:48 > 0:09:50including There's A Green Hill Far Away,
0:09:50 > 0:09:54Once In Royal David's City, and the one that we're about to sing,
0:09:54 > 0:09:56All Things Bright And Beautiful.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54So, from one of Ireland's writers from the past
0:12:54 > 0:12:56to one of today's hymn-writers,
0:12:56 > 0:12:58Keith Getty, a composer from Lisburn,
0:12:58 > 0:13:00and he's been playing music since he was 10.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02He's written some of today's best-known hymns
0:13:02 > 0:13:04and songs that are sung all over the world.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08In 2001, he collaborated with fellow songwriter Stewart Townsend
0:13:08 > 0:13:12to produce one of our most popular contemporary hymns, In Christ Alone.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Worship songs like In Christ Alone have become increasingly popular
0:17:01 > 0:17:02in a wide variety of churches.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06Singer-songwriter Robin Mark, who's from Belfast, has written
0:17:06 > 0:17:10a number of songs that are sung in Ireland and beyond.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13It's just been a blessing that stuff that I've written here
0:17:13 > 0:17:16and stuff that's been written in this place has actually gone out
0:17:16 > 0:17:17to all the ends of the Earth.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19The message that you put out there,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22where do you get your inspiration from?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25Anybody of my age, my vintage, if you like,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29has grown up through the troubled years and seen, you know,
0:17:29 > 0:17:32aspects of grace and love against wickedness and evil
0:17:32 > 0:17:36and all that. That's an inspiration, I think, for anyone and, for me,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39a lot of the songs have come out of those experiences.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42When you look at a congregation coming together,
0:17:42 > 0:17:45what difference does music make to worship?
0:17:45 > 0:17:48I think Belfast is a place where music brings people together
0:17:48 > 0:17:51and the worship, their attitude of worship,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55in other words singing praises to the God that they serve and love,
0:17:55 > 0:17:57that takes their focus away from the differences.
0:17:57 > 0:18:02You're going to perform one of your own songs called You Said.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04What is the story behind that?
0:18:04 > 0:18:07The words that it uses were based on some thoughts
0:18:07 > 0:18:10that a friend of mine was sharing with me
0:18:10 > 0:18:12and it's simply this,
0:18:12 > 0:18:16that Christ spoke the greatest words of hope and comfort
0:18:16 > 0:18:19and promise for the future in the darkest situations
0:18:19 > 0:18:23when he was on the Earth. When he was at funerals, that's when he said,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25"I am the resurrection and the life."
0:18:25 > 0:18:27When he was at the death of a friend, he said,
0:18:27 > 0:18:30"Any man that believes in me will not perish
0:18:30 > 0:18:33"and even if he does die, he'll live for ever."
0:19:10 > 0:19:14# This world is broken
0:19:14 > 0:19:20# A ship with no anchor
0:19:20 > 0:19:24# Sailing through space
0:19:24 > 0:19:29# Always unchartered waters
0:19:29 > 0:19:33# Yet we seem to know
0:19:33 > 0:19:38# Where we want to go
0:19:38 > 0:19:46# But we don't know why we're here
0:19:48 > 0:19:56# Millions get lost in their own little journey
0:19:58 > 0:20:01# Some only stay
0:20:01 > 0:20:07# For a few passing moments
0:20:07 > 0:20:11# And the only thing
0:20:11 > 0:20:16# That we know for sure
0:20:16 > 0:20:24# Is some day, our journey ends
0:20:25 > 0:20:30# But you said you are
0:20:30 > 0:20:35# The resurrection and the life
0:20:35 > 0:20:41# And whoever believes in you will never die
0:20:45 > 0:20:49# You are the way
0:20:49 > 0:20:54# You are the truth
0:20:54 > 0:20:58# You are the life
0:20:58 > 0:21:03# Everlasting
0:21:03 > 0:21:08# You are the light
0:21:08 > 0:21:12# You are the word
0:21:12 > 0:21:16# You are the Son
0:21:16 > 0:21:21# Of the Father
0:21:28 > 0:21:34# You said you are
0:21:35 > 0:21:39# The resurrection
0:21:39 > 0:21:43# And the life
0:21:47 > 0:21:52# You said you are
0:21:54 > 0:21:57# The resurrection
0:21:57 > 0:22:04# And the life. #
0:22:10 > 0:22:12APPLAUSE
0:22:21 > 0:22:23The writer of our next hymn was born back in 1819,
0:22:23 > 0:22:27just 25 miles from here in the town of Banbridge, and it was there
0:22:27 > 0:22:31where Joseph Scriven met his sweetheart and soon proposed.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33However, in a tragic accident
0:22:33 > 0:22:37the night before they were to be wed, his fiancee fell from a horse
0:22:37 > 0:22:40and was drowned in the River Bann.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Brokenhearted, Joseph left for Canada, but grief would follow him.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47After falling in love again, his new fiancee took sick
0:22:47 > 0:22:50and died from pneumonia before they could marry.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54Joseph then received the terrible news that his mother was also
0:22:54 > 0:22:56gravely ill in Ireland.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Unable to return to visit her,
0:22:58 > 0:23:01he wrote her the comforting words of our next hymn.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Traditional Irish music and dance experienced a revival with
0:25:33 > 0:25:37the worldwide success of Riverdance at the Eurovision Song Contest.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39That was back in 1994.
0:25:39 > 0:25:43Irish choral group Anuna were part of that phenomenon
0:25:43 > 0:25:45with their distinctive harmonies.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49Today, their repertoire includes reworked ancient Irish songs
0:25:49 > 0:25:53as well as newly composed material by their leader, Michael McGlynn.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58I think one of the things that always attracted me to Celtic music,
0:25:58 > 0:26:04and Irish music in general, was this need for grounding
0:26:04 > 0:26:06and place of origin.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Does it make a difference performing Pie Jesu
0:26:09 > 0:26:11to a Belfast audience?
0:26:11 > 0:26:18I wrote Pie Jesu in 1998 after hearing about the Omagh bombing,
0:26:18 > 0:26:23which was so horrific, and what I wrote reflects...
0:26:23 > 0:26:28I think, all that we can hope to achieve from prayer.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31You can cry and you can scream,
0:26:31 > 0:26:35but I wanted something which was completely reflective.
0:26:35 > 0:26:40This piece begins very quietly and then it builds to a cry
0:26:40 > 0:26:47and then it fades away to something very simple and extremely human.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51I think to perform the Pie Jesu here in the Waterfront Hall,
0:26:51 > 0:26:56um, particularly at a time when there is stability and, while there
0:26:56 > 0:27:02are always going to be problems in the world, we have peace here.
0:27:02 > 0:27:08And this piece, I think, makes us remember how hard won that peace was.
0:27:09 > 0:27:17# Pie Jesu Domine
0:27:20 > 0:27:25# Dona eis
0:27:25 > 0:27:31# Requiem
0:27:31 > 0:27:38# Dona eis
0:27:38 > 0:27:46# Requiem
0:27:49 > 0:27:54# Pie Jesu
0:27:54 > 0:28:00# Domine
0:28:00 > 0:28:05# Dona eis
0:28:05 > 0:28:10# Requiem
0:28:10 > 0:28:17# Dona eis
0:28:17 > 0:28:23# Requiem
0:28:25 > 0:28:32# Pie Jesu
0:28:32 > 0:28:37# Domine
0:28:37 > 0:28:44# Dona eis
0:28:44 > 0:28:48# Requiem
0:28:50 > 0:28:56# Dona eis
0:28:59 > 0:29:06# Requiem
0:29:10 > 0:29:18# Dona eis requiem
0:29:20 > 0:29:28# Dona eis requiem
0:29:29 > 0:29:37# Dona eis requiem. #
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Thank you, Anuna.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04As we say goodbye from the Waterfront Hall, thank you to all
0:30:04 > 0:30:08of our guests, the Celtic tenors, Robin Mark and, of course, Anuna.
0:30:08 > 0:30:10Thank you also to the Ulster Orchestra.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12We finish with Look, Ye Saints.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Though you won't associate the tune with Ireland,
0:30:15 > 0:30:19the words are over 200 years old and they were penned by an Irishman,
0:30:19 > 0:30:21Thomas Kelly of Dublin.
0:30:21 > 0:30:25But from everyone here in Belfast, thank you for watching. Bye-bye.
0:33:13 > 0:33:15Next week, Sally visits the Scottish town that has become
0:33:15 > 0:33:18synonymous with the world-famous Paisley pattern.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22She tries her hand at curling and introduces hymns
0:33:22 > 0:33:25and performances from the majestic setting of Paisley Abbey,
0:33:25 > 0:33:28celebrating its 850th anniversary.
0:33:44 > 0:33:49Subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing by Red Bee Media Ltd