01/05/2016
Four hundred years after William Shakespeare's death, Simon Callow investigates the great bard's spirituality, and Josie d'Arby joins in the celebrations in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Four hundred years after the death of William Shakespeare, Simon Callow investigates the great bard's spirituality, and Josie d'Arby joins in the celebrations as the great and the good come together in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Music:
All People That on Earth Do Dwell from Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
Who Would True Valour See (To Be a Pilgrim) from Manchester Cathedral, Manchester
Immortal Invisible, God Only Wise from Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot
Rejoice the Lord Is King from St Albans Cathedral, St Albans
Sonnet 146 from Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon
Angel-Voices Ever Singing from Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon
Blessed Assurance from St Germain's Church, Birmingham.
Last on
Clips
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Hymn - Rejoice, The Lord Is King
Duration: 02:27
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Josie d'Arby previews this week's Songs of Praise
Duration: 01:03
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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The Choirs and Congregation at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich
All People That On Earth Do Dwell (feat. James Grainger)
Conductor: Richard Tanner聽. Music Arranger: Paul Leddington Wright. Lyricist: Kethe, William聽.Melody adapted from the Genevan Psalter 1551 聽
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English Traditional
Who Would True Valour See (To Be A Pilgrim)
Choir: The Choirs and Congregation of St Oswald and St Edmund Arrowsmith RC Church. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright聽. Featured Artist: Manchester Camerata. Featured Artist: Christopher Stokes. Lyricist: John Bunyan. Lyricist: Percy Dearmer.Tune: Monks Gate Composer: English Traditional
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Welsh Traditional
Immortal Invisible, God Only Wise
Choir: The Choirs and Congregation of Royal Garrison Church, Aldershot. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright聽. Featured Artist: Daniel Moult. Lyricist: W Chalmers Smith.Welsh Traditional
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George Frideric Handel
Rejoice The Lord Is King
Choir: The Choirs and Congregation of St Albans Cathedral. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright聽. Featured Artist: Nicholas Freestone. Featured Artist: Tom Winpenny. Lyricist: Charles Wesley.G F Handel
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William Shakespeare
Sonnet 146
Choir: The Choir and Congregation of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford upon Avon.Congleton
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E G Monk
Angel-Voices Ever Singing
Choir: The Choir and Congregation of Holy Trinity Church, Stratford upon Avon. Conductor: Paul Leddington Wright聽. Featured Artist: Andrew Jones - Organist. Lyricist: Francis Pott.E G Monk
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Phoebe Knapp
Blessed Assurance
Choir: Birmingham Community Gospel Choir and Congregation of St Germain's Church, Birmingham. Conductor: Ken Burton. Conductor: Maxine Brooks. Featured Artist: Ainsley Johns. Featured Artist: George Acquah. Featured Artist: Colin Peter. Featured Artist: Graham Campbell. Lyricist: Fanny Crosby. Lyricist: Frances Van Alstyne.Phoebe Knapp
Stories
Shakespeare
In the week that the country has been celebrating 400 years of William Shakespeare鈥檚 legacy, Josie d鈥橝rby joins the commemorations in the bard鈥檚 home-town of Stratford upon Avon. She goes in search of his religious faith, deciphering medieval wall paintings with Dr Paul Edmondson. Josie also glimpses a prayer book believed to be Shakespeare鈥檚 personal copy, and Dr Daniel Swift reveals how this book is a hidden ingredient in the bard鈥檚 plays. Josie also discusses the significance of Sonnet 146, often described as his only Christian sonnet, before ending her search at Shakespeare鈥檚 resting place in Holy Trinity church.
Simon Callow
Simon Callow reveals what it鈥檚 like to perform the great bard鈥檚 work and tries to understand more about Shakespeare鈥檚 spirituality. He meets Professor Alison Shell at St Leonard鈥檚 church, close to the first-purpose built London playhouse.
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | Josie d'Arby |
| Presenter | Simon Callow |
| Series Producer | Matthew Napier |
| Executive Producer | Tommy Nagra |