General:
| Aled Jones travels to Northumberland where he learns more about the county's ancient customs and traditions at the Morpeth Gathering, has a lesson on the Northumbrian Pipes and meets the pilgrims walking in the steps of St Cuthbert. Barbara Dickson performs one of her favourite songs on Holy Island and the hymns from Hexham Abbey include 'I, the Lord Of Sea and Sky' and 'The King of Love my Shepherd is'.
Hexham Abbey Choir is conducted by the Abbey Director of Music, Michael Haynes. The organist for all congregation items is Hugh Morris, Hexham Abbey Assistant Organist. The main congregation is conducted by Gordon Stewart and accompanied by Fine Arts Brass [please see 'Other Information' for further details]. The Songs of Praise Music Advisor is Robert Prizeman. |
| KIM BIBBY-WILSON
Former teacher, local historian and Chairman of the Morpeth Gathering. Kim tells us about the history of the gathering and the importance of keeping traditions alive www.northumbriana.org.uk/gathering/ REVEREND RON FORSTER Minister at St George's United Reformed Church, Morpeth. The Revd Forster talks about Northumbrian tradition, baptises baby Aydon and says the Northumbrian Prayer www.urc-morpeth.org.uk MIKE AND THERESE BENNETT talk about the tradition of pilgrimage. They are both members of Northern Cross - a group of people who make an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne -off the Northumbrian coast [please see Locations section] . www.northerncross.co.uk ROBSON'S CHOICE A group of Northumbrian pipers formed by the late Jane Robson tell us about their former teacher, her wish for them to perform to keep the tradition alive and how they have raised thousands of pounds for St Oswald's Hospice. They play traditional Northumbrian music in harmony at a variety of events and also give talks on the pipes. For further information please contact: Claud Regnard, St Oswald's Hospice, Regent Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne NE13 1EE Tel: 0191 285 0063. e-mail: paulinemclane@stoswalkdsuk.org They do not charge a fee for performing but request a donation to the Hospice. VALERIE GIBSON Val's family have been farming in the Northumbrian National Park for five generations. Little has changed on the farm over the years and they feel it is important to continue with traditional methods but due to Foot and Mouth they have diversified into tourism and visits for schoolchildren. http://www.gibbshillfarm.co.uk/ |
| Music : 'SONGS OF PRAISE' SIG. TUNE
Composer : Robert Prizeman Performers : Robert Prizeman, Maurice Murphy, Steven Geraghty Sheet music for the Songs of Praise signature tune is published by Chester Music, catalogue no. CH55835. You can listen to the theme tune on CD 2 of the Songs of Praise Album BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook Oxford University Press BBC Books 1997 ISBN 0 19 147325-1 this compilation © Oxford University Press 1997 Title: ALL CREATURES OF OUR GOD AND KING Words: William H. Draper (1855-1933) altd. based on St Francis (1182-1226) Music: Melody from Geistliche Kirrchengesäng, Cologne 1623 Arr: Robert Ramskill Tune: Lasst uns erfreuen Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook #1 Performed by: Hexham Abbey Choir conducted by Michael Haynes, Congregation conducted by Gordon Stewart with organist Hugh Morris and Fine Arts Brass with Timpanist Steve Socci Title: THERE IS A REDEEMER Words: Melody Green verses 1, 2; Keith Green verse 3 Music: Melody Green Arr: Paul Leddington Wright Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook #253 Performed by: Hexham Abbey Choir conducted by Michael Haynes, Congregation conducted by Gordon Stewart with organist Hugh Morris Title: MY SONG IS LOVE UNKNOWN Performed by: Barbara Dickson Title: I THE LORD OF SEA AND SKY Words/Music: Daniel L Schutte Arr: Robert Ramskill Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook #330 Performed by: Hexham Abbey Choir conducted by Michael Haynes, Congregation conducted by Gordon Stewart with organist Hugh Morris and Fine Arts Brass with Timpanist Steve Socci Title: GEORDIE SET : [1] Bobby Shaftoe [2] Billy Boy [3]The Keel Row Words/Music: Traditional [1] Arr: Neil Smith [2] + [3] Arr: Derek Hobbs Source: [2] + [3] The Pipers Companion Book II Performed by: Robson's Choice Title: BE STILL MY SOUL Performed by: Aled Jones Title: THE KING OF LOVE MY SHEPHERD IS Tune: St Columba Music: Irish Traditional Melody Arr: Darius Battiwalla Words: H W Baker [1821-77] based on Psalm 23 Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook #25 Performed by: Hexham Abbey Choir conducted by Michael Haynes, Congregation conducted by Gordon Stewart with organist Hugh Morris and Fine Arts Brass with Timpanist Steve Socci Title: THE CHURCH'S ONE FOUNDATION Tune: Aurelia Music: S S Wesley [1810-76] Arr: Robert Ramskill Words: Samuel J Stone [1839-1900] Source: BBC Songs of Praise Hymnbook #176 Performed by: Hexham Abbey Choir conducted by Michael Haynes, Congregation conducted by Gordon Stewart with organist Hugh Morris and Fine Arts Brass with Timpanist Steve Socci |
| MUSIC: HEXHAM ABBEY
We recorded the music sung by the congregation and by Aled Jones at Hexham Abbey, Beaumont Street, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3NB Tel: 01434 602031 www.hexhamabbey.org.uk HADRIAN'S WALL was built by the Romans in the first century as a means of defending the Empire. It runs from Newcastle-upon-Tyne, through Carlisle to the Solway Firth. A significant portion of the wall still exists, particularly the mid-section, and for much of its length the wall can be followed on foot. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. THE HOLY ISLAND OF LINDISFARNE Information about the island off the coast of Northumberland, including safe causeway crossing times, can be found on the website: www.lindisfarne.org.uk/ LINDISFARNE PRIORY Barbara Dickson performed 'My Song Is Love Unknown' at Lindisfarne Priory, Holy Island, Northumberland. The priory is managed by English Heritage. It was one of the most important centres of early Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England and is still a place of pilgrimage today. More information about the priory can be found on the website: www.english-heritage.org.uk LINDISFARNE CASTLE Built in the 16th century the castle sits on the highest point of Holy Island and was used more as a fort. The castle is managed by the National Trust http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-lindisfarnecastle/ ST OSWALD'S HOSPICE The group of Northumbrian pipers, Robson's Choice, perform outside the Chantry Bagpipe Museum at the Morpeth Gathering and inside at St Oswald's Hospice, Regent Avenue, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE3 1EE. Tel: 0191 285 0063. More information about the hospice can be found on the website: www.stoswaldsuk.org |
| ALED JONES
Further information about Aled Jones can be found on his website: www.aledjones.co.uk 'Be Still My Soul' can be found on Aled's album 'Reason To Believe' THE NORTHUMBRIAN PRAYER was written by Carol Dixon. This poem has not yet been published but Carol has had other hymns, prayers and meditations published in a number of the Iona Community Wild Goose publications, in 'Worship Live' (a quarterly publication which features new hymns, worship resources etc), in the Church of Scotland hymnbook Church Hymnary 4 and she has also contributed to the United Reformed Church Prayer Handbook and other URC publications. Carol hopes to publish a hymn for her grandson Aydon's baptism [which was seen in the programme] which she co-wrote with Stuart Brock, a retired URC minister and fellow hymn writer in St George's United Reformed Church , Morpeth. Carol can be contacted by e-mail at: carol.dixon@talktalk.net BARBARA DICKSON Further information about Barbara Dickson can be found on the website: www.barbaradickson.net/ 'My Song is Love Unknown' can be heard on Barbara's official MySpace page FINE ARTS BRASS Fine Arts Brass accompany the congregation at Hexham Abbey. The Ensemble was established in 1980 and their repertoire contains a diversity of styles. For further information please visit their website : www.fineartsbrass.co.uk 41st MORPETH NORTHUMBRIAN GATHERING The Gathering is a three-day festival of street entertainment, indoor events, music, dance, craft, dialect and traditional fun. It is held the weekend after Easter in the medieval market town of Morpeth. We see part of the procession, Church service, clog dancing, battle re-enactment and take a look at some of the entries in the Crafts Exhibition in the Town Hall - including dressed sticks, needlecrafts, paintings, etc. Further information can be found on the website: www.northumbriana.org.uk |