Tribute to a Queen - The Big Sing Songs of Praise

ORCHESTRAL FANFARE

-Hello!

-And welcome to the Songs Of Praise Big Sing

from the Royal Albert Hall,

as we pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen,

our the longest-reigning monarch, as she celebrates her 90th birthday.

We'll be marking the Queen's historic milestone

with a feast of songs and hymns

chosen from key moments in an illustrious 64-year reign,

longer now than Queen Victoria's.

And we have a wonderful line-up of special guests,

including one of Britain's favourite singers, Lesley Garrett...

Quizmaster and songster Alexander Armstrong.

Add to that a choir of 800, helped along by our 5,000-strong

audience here, and the Big Sing Orchestra, too.

That's why you're in for a real treat.

Our first piece of music was the only hymn sung by the entire

congregation at Westminster Abbey during the Coronation service

back in 1953, and it's still a firm favourite today.

APPLAUSE

What a fantastic opener!

Of course, there was also a fanfare or two at the Queen's Coronation.

Her Majesty gave special permission to the BBC to film the ceremony,

so that as many people as possible could witness it,

and a staggering 27 million people in Britain tuned in. Wow.

How did it feel to be part of that historic occasion?

Well, we're about to find out.

Josie's with some very special guests.

Yes, with me are Dennis Whitehead and Richard Watts,

who actually sang at the Coronation in Westminster Abbey in 1953.

They were just young boy choristers back then.

They're a little bit more mature now

but I'm very glad that they're with us. Richard,

now, you were nine years old. You were already an Abbey chorister.

-Yes, indeed.

-What are your memories of the occasion?

Well, it was the sheer scale of the thing,

because the Abbey was normally hosting to 2,000 people.

This was suddenly scaled up to 8,000 people, and music all the way,

and colour and everything.

It must have been fantastic, the pageantry, everything about it.

Dennis, what was the experience like for you? Were you nervous?

-Were you emotional?

-I was extremely emotional,

especially at the beginning of the Parry, I Was Glad.

When the organ and orchestra struck up, I knew the Queen had

arrived, and I must admit, I didn't sing the first few notes.

I had a lump in my throat.

Now, I can see you're both wearing medals.

This is something you got on the day.

Well, we didn't actually get the medals on the day. At one time,

Coronation medals were given on the day. They were thrown out amongst

the people in the congregation, and in Victorian times,

that was stopped, so these were sent to us by Buck House,

Buckingham Palace, shall we say.

Thank you so much for sharing those wonderful memories.

And now back to another former boy chorister. Aled?

I think she's talking about me, anyway!

I feel slightly underdressed, I really do.

We can relive some of those memories now by hearing I Was Glad,

being sung tonight by our Big Sing choir under

the direction of conductor Paul Leddington Wright.

APPLAUSE

APPLAUSE

Well, our next hymn was said to be

one of the late Queen Mother's favourites.

It was sung at her funeral in 2002.

It was also chosen for the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana,

and Prince William and Catherine.

I even had it at mine - I love it so much.

Here to sing it for us, I'm delighted to say,

is the marvellous Lesley Garrett.

APPLAUSE

So, the Queen of Opera is here to dedicate a song to the Queen.

-She's a remarkable woman, isn't she?

-Oh, goodness.

Aled, I think, don't you agree,

we must be the envy of the world to have this extraordinary woman,

because it's been an extraordinary life, hasn't it?

A life full of service and duty. But also inspirational to all of us.

-Absolutely.

-The other thing is, you know, she's great fun.

My favourite memory was when I sang for her

during the Golden Jubilee year,

and I was presented to the Queen, and we went inside and had lunch,

and I changed into my nice suit and I was presented again,

and then we all went to do a concert in the grounds,

and I sang again and was presented again.

And when I met her for the third time that day, she said,

"My dear, might I say, you do have a rather large wardrobe."

Do you know, I felt like saying,

"Well, you know, you can talk, love!"

But then I thought, no, keep that to myself.

-You didn't say that, did you?

-I didn't say that, no.

-"Off to the Tower with her!"

-Exactly.

-Ladies and gentlemen, it's Lesley Garrett!

-Thank you.

APPLAUSE

# Guide me, O thou great Redeemer

# Pilgrim through this barren land

# I am weak but thou art mighty

# Hold me with thy powerful hand

# Open now the crystal fountain

# Whence the healing stream doth flow

# Let the fire and cloudy pillar

# Lead me all my journey through

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

The Queen is the Head of the Commonwealth

and its greatest champion,

and this next piece of music was written to reflect the spirit

that binds the Commonwealth together,

and our next guest performed it for the Queen in Her Majesty's

Diamond Jubilee year, and she's here to sing it for us again today.

Please welcome Laura Wright.

APPLAUSE

# From Echo Bay to Kanye

# Bartica to Bairiki

# Flowing as one

# Where any dream can live on

# With old and with new

# It is the voice that rings true

# Oh-oh, calling us

# Making us one

# Heart and a soul

# Shining as gold

# Under one sun

# We're stronger as one

# Montego Bay to Savai'i

# Sullum Voe to Kalahari

# Oceans may part

# But every river must start

# In valley and hill

# We are the people who will

# Oh-oh, come now, joining as one

# Heart and a soul

# Shining as gold

# Under one sun

# We're stronger as one

# In the rise and the fall

# Of echoed words in great halls

# Nations may dawn

# But it is we who are born

# All equal and free

# With the power to see

# Oh-oh, who among many has one

# Heart and a soul

# Shining as gold

# Under one sun

# We're stronger as one

-# Heart and a soul

-Heart and a soul

-# Shining as gold

-Shining as gold

# Under one sun

# We're stronger as one

# Stronger

# As one. #

APPLAUSE

Now, then, the Queen has always had close ties with

and huge regard for our armed services,

so we've put together a tri-forces band led by Corps Regimental

Sergeant Major Gary Chilton to perform one of our best-loved hymns.

# I vow to thee, my country

# All earthly things above

# Entire and whole and perfect

# The service of my love

# The love that asks no question

# The love that stands the test

# That lays upon the altar

# The dearest and the best

# The love that never falters

# The love that pays the price

# The love that makes undaunted

# The final sacrifice

# And there's another country

# I've heard of long ago

# Most dear to them that love her

# Most great to them that know... #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Well, wasn't that absolutely fantastic? Loved it.

Our next guest performer made his name as a comic artist

and latterly as a quiz show host

on the BBC's hugely popular show Pointless.

He's also a very, very talented singer.

It's Alexander Armstrong!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What are you going to sing for us this evening?

I'm going to sing this evening I Would Be True,

to the tune of Londonderry Air, absolutely beautiful tune.

Lots of different settings, there's obviously Oh, Danny Boy, very famous.

And I think it enshrines a lot of the qualities of the Queen.

And actually there's another little added harmonic to this as well,

which is that it was performed at the funeral of the Princess of Wales,

so I think it also just has a note...

I think we can listen to it and remember the calm dignity

with which we weathered those tough times.

Listen, we can't wait to hear it, can we? It's Alexander Armstrong.

# I would be true

# For there are those that trust me

# I would be pure

# For there are those that care

# I would be strong

# For there is much to suffer

# I would be brave

# For there is much to dare

# I would be friend of all

# The foe, the friendless

# I would be giving

# And forget the gift

# I would be humble

# For I know my weakness

# I would look up

# Laugh, love and live

# Who is so low

# That I am not his brother?

# Who is so high

# That I've no path to him?

# Who is so poor

# I may not feel his hunger?

# Who is so rich

# I may not pity him?

# I would be true

# For there are those that trust me

# I would be pure

# For there are those that care

# I would be strong

# For there is much to suffer

# I would be brave

# For there is much to dare

# I would be brave

# For there is much

# To

# Dare. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Thank you, Alexander Armstrong.

Well, our audience here at the Albert Hall certainly enjoyed that,

and no-one more so than Colin Edwards.

Colin is a massive fan of the Royal Family,

and he's met the Queen a staggering amount of times.

-How many times is it, Colin?

-Oh, many, many times.

Probably at least 150 now.

You must be old friends. How come you've met her so many times?

Well, I've travelled all over this country and met her

on walkabouts, and I have very brief conversations with her,

and I always take photographs to present to her.

Does she recognise you sometimes?

Well, when you've met someone as often as I've met the Queen,

yes, she definitely does.

She's a very special lady. Thank you, Colin. Aled.

Well, two other Royal fans, Andrew Lloyd Webber, now a Lord, of course,

and Take That's Gary Barlow,

composed Sing especially for the Diamond Jubilee back in 2012.

And to perform it are the Adventist Vocal Ensemble,

and our school choir winners, Ysgol Iau Llangennech,

and Cantabile Girls Choir.

Let's sing!

APPLAUSE

# Some words, they can't be spoken

# Only sung

# So hear a thousand voices

# Shouting love

# There's a place, there's a time in this life

# When you sing what you are feeling

# Find your feet, stand your ground

# Can't you see right now the world is listening

# To what we say?

# Sing it louder, sing it clearer

# Knowing everyone will hear you

# Make some noise, find your voice tonight

# Sing it stronger, sing together

# Make this moment last for ever

# Old and young shouting love tonight

# To sing we've had a lifetime to wait

# Wait, wait, wait

# And see a thousand faces celebrate

# We have to celebrate

# You brought hope, you brought life, conquered fear

# No, it wasn't always easy

# Stood your ground, kept your faith

# Don't you see right now the world is listening

# To what we say?

# Sing it louder, sing it clearer

# Knowing everyone will hear you

# Make some noise, find your voice tonight

# Sing it stronger, sing together

# Make this moment last for ever

# Old and young shouting love tonight

# Some words, they can't be spoken

# Only sung

# To hear a thousand voices

# Shouting love and life and hope

# Just sing

# Just sing

# Just sing

# Just sing

# Sing it louder, sing it clearer

# Knowing everyone will hear you

# Make some noise, find your voice tonight

# Sing it stronger, sing together

# Make this moment last for ever

# Old and young shouting love tonight

# Hear a thousand voices

# Shouting love. #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Our next piece of music is a firm favourite in the Royal household.

The Queen chose it as the processional hymn at her wedding

in 1947, and once again, it's a hymn that's stood the test of time.

APPLAUSE

Well, that was absolutely wonderful, I think we raised the roof there,

and hopefully we're about to do the same again,

as we welcome back our special guests for our final piece of music.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

And it has to be the National Anthem, of course,

containing the words "long to reign over us".

Never has that sentiment been more appropriate than today.

So thank you so, so much for joining us for this year's Big Sing.

-From us all here at the Royal Albert Hall, goodbye.

-Goodbye.

# God save our gracious Queen

# Long live our noble Queen

# God save the Queen

# Send her victorious

# Happy and glorious

# Long to reign over us

# God save the Queen. #

APPLAUSE