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Tribute to a Queen - The Big Sing

A musical tribute from the Royal Albert Hall to Her Majesty the Queen, with special guests Lesley Garrett, Alexander Armstrong and a choir of five thousand voices.

40 minutes

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Paul Collis-Smith

    Fanfare based on Old Hundredth

    Conductor: Paul Collis-Smith. Featured Artist: Fanfare Trumpets. Featured Artist: The Band of the Prince of Wales's Division.

    Composer: Paul Collis-Smith

  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    All People That On Earth Do Dwell

    Choir: Choirs and congregation of the Big Sing. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Featured Artist: The Big Sing Orchestra. Featured Artist: Daniel Moult. Featured Artist: Fanfare Trumpets. Featured Artist: The Band of the Prince of Wales's Division. Music Arranger: Paul Leddington Wright. Lyricist: Psalm 100.

    Tune: Old Hundredth Composer: Ralph Vaughan Williams

  • Hubert Parry

    I Was Glad

    Choir: Choirs of the Big Sing. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Featured Artist: The Big Sing Orchestra. Featured Artist: Daniel Moult. Featured Artist: Fanfare Trumpets. Featured Artist: The Band of the Prince of Wales's Division. Music Arranger: Paul Leddington Wright. Lyricist: Psalm 122.

    Composer: C Hubert H Parry

  • John Hughes

    Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer

    Performer: Lesley Garrett. Performer: Paul Leddington Wright. Performer: The Big Sing Orchestra. Performer: Daniel Moult. Performer: Geoff Ellerby. Lyricist: William Williams.

    Tune: Cwm Rhondda Composer: John Hughes

  • Robert Hartshorne

    Stronger As One

    Choir: Laura Wright. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Featured Artist: Adventist Vocal Ensemble. Featured Artist: Choirs of the Big Sing. Featured Artist: The Big Sing Orchestra. Music Arranger: Steve Baker. Lyricist: Robert Hartshorne.

    Composer: Robert Hartshorne

  • Gustav Holst

    I Vow To Thee, My Country

    Choir: Sergeant Major Gary Chilton. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Featured Artist: Sgt Rob Scullion. Featured Artist: Drummers from the Royal Marines Band Portsmouth. Featured Artist: Choirs and congregation of the Big Sing. Featured Artist: The Big Sing Orchestra. Music Arranger: Ray Monk. Lyricist: Cecil Spring-Rice.

    Tune: Thaxted Composer: Gustav Holst

  • Traditional Irish Tune

    I Would Be True

    Choir: Alexander Armstrong. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Featured Artist: Choirs of the Big Sing. Featured Artist: The Big Sing Orchestra. Music Arranger: Steve Baker. Lyricist: Howard Arnold Walter.

    Tune: Londonderry Air Composer: Traditional Irish Tune

  • Gary Barlow

    Sing

    Choir: Llangennech Junior School Choir (and soloist) Cantabile from Hereford Cathedral School (and soloist) Adventist Vocal Ensemble. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Featured Artist: The Big Sing Orchestra. Featured Artist: Choirs of the Big Sing. Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber. Music Arranger: Ray Monk. Lyricist: Gary Barlow. Lyricist: Andrew Lloyd Webber.

    Composer: Gary Barlow, Andrew Lloyd Webber

  • John Goss

    Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven

    Choir: Choirs and congregation of the Big Sing. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Featured Artist: Daniel Moult. Featured Artist: The Big Sing Orchestra. Music Arranger: Paul Leddington Wright. Lyricist: Henry Francis Lyte.

    Tune: Lauda Anima Composer: John Goss

  • Choirs and congregation of the Big Sing

    The National Anthem (feat. Daniel Moult, The Big Sing Orchestra, Sergeant Major Gary Chilton, Drummers from the Royal Marines Band Portsmouth, Fanfare Trumpets & The Band of the Prince of Wales's Division)

    Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright. Music Arranger: Paul Leddington Wright. Lyricist: Anon (c.1745).

    Tune: God Save The Queen

Contributors

Fanfare Trumpets, The Band of the Prince of Wales’s Division

Paul Collis-smith composed the opening Fanfare based on the tune Old Hundredth especially for the programme. The Fanfare Trumpets also feature in All People That On Earth Do Dwell; I Was Glad and The National Anthem.

Ìý

Coronation Choristers

Richard Watts and Dennis Whitehead both sang at the Queen’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey. They share their memories and mementoes of the big day with Josie d’Arby.

Ìý
Lesley Garrett

Lesley Garrett is one Britain’s favourite sopranos and has appeared on Songs of Praise previously. She has recorded fourteen solo CDs and regularly performs live concerts.

She was awarded a CBE in the 2002 New Year’s Honours List for Services to Music and is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music and an RAM Governor.

Ìý

Laura Wright

Laura Wright is the talented young mezzo soprano who has toured with tenors Alfie Boe and Russell Watson.

She sang at The Great Wall of China, iTunes Festival and the opening ceremony of HRH Prince Harry’s Invictus Games.

Her Majesty The Queen cited Laura’s Diamond Jubilee song ‘Stronger As One’ in her Commonwealth Day message.

Ìý

Gary Chilton and the Tri- forces Military Band

Corps Regimental Sergeant Major Gary Chilton was born in Hampshire and joined the Army in 1984. He served in the Gulf War and as of November 2010 I became Band Sergeant Major of the Army Air Corps.

In 2009, as part of the group The Soldiers, Gary reached number 4 in the charts with the album Coming Home. Their other albums include: Letters Home, Message to You and The Soldiers. ÌýHe is joined by drummers from The Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines Portsmouth and trumpeter Sergeant Rob Scullion from The Band of the RAF regiment.

Ìý

Alexander Armstrong

Alexander Armstrong is a former chorister andÌýÌý won aÌý ÌýChoral Scholarship to Trinity College, Cambridge.

ÌýToday, he’s best knownÌý Ìýas a comedian, as part of the duo Armstrong and Miller, and as quizmaster of Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú’s One’s hugely popular Pointless.

In November he is releasing his debut album A Year of Songs.

Ìý

Colin Edwards

Colin became an ardent royalist when he was twelve and has met the Queen more than 150 times. He travels around the country taking photographs, some of which are in the Queen’s private collection.Ìý

Ìý

Ysgol Iau Llangennech


Llangennech Junior School wowed the judges at the School Choir of the Year competition this year with their beautiful sound and refined harmonies, which showed a level of skill far beyond their young years. They are directed by Lewis Richards.

Ìý

Cantabile Girls Choir


Cantabile Girls Choir fought off stiff competition in this year’s School Choir of the Year senior competition to be crowned the victors. This small choir is made up of elite singers from Hereford Cathedral School Girls’ School, and is directed by Jo Williamson. Cantabile perform extensively in Herefordshire and surrounding areas.

Ìý

Adventist Vocal Ensemble

The choir was formed in 2002 by Ken Burton and features regularly on Songs of Praise and other television programmes. It has collaborated with artists such as Ruby Turner, Beverley Knight and Ruthie Henshall.

Location

The Royal Albert Hall is located in South Kensington, facing Hyde Park. The address is Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AP.

Ìý

Choirs and Congregation of the Royal Albert Hall

With special thanks to the following groups and artistsÌýwho made up the choir and congregation in this programme:

Lesley Garrett:

Alexander Armstrong:

Laura Wright:

Sergeant Major Gary Chilton:

Adventist Vocal Ensemble:

Brighton Festival Chorus:

Guildford Choral Society:

Saint Michael’s Singers:

St Martin’s Chorus:

Cantabile:

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Aled Jones
Presenter Josie d'Arby
Performer Lesley Garrett
Performer Alexander Armstrong
Producer Karen Hannah
Series Producer Matthew Napier

Broadcasts