Hayley on BBC Songs of Praise-16th Sept 2007

[Dave]

Hello everyone,

As this Songs of Praise was a Rugby World Cup Special, there was a very interesting potted history of Rugby given at the start by Aled Jones (lasting just over a minute) so if you didn't see it, you can now... together with Hayley's interview and performance of Abide With Me - at HWI.

Hayley on Songs of Praise - HWI Video

It looks reasonably good in full screen too - double-click on the video.

Cheers, Dave

[roger]

Hi Dave,

Do my eyes deceive me or is that the best quality video we have ever had? It isn't reasonably good on full screen, it is superb.

And what an exellent performance of 'Abide With Me' from Hayley. If that isn't the lovliest voice in the world, I will eat my CD player!

Roger

[martindn]

I loved it. This is what Hayley is all about. This should win more converts (to Hayley fandom as well as Christianity).
OTOH Lesley Garrett, who appeared at the end, seemed to be really struggling with "The World in Union", at one point she suddenly dropped a whole octave for no apparent reason. The low notes that followed were really rather ugly IMO. I can only imagine she was struggling for range, something Hayley has never done.
I was trying to work out how Hayley's "Abide with me" had been recorded. I listened carefully to the backing, a good giveaway if you suspect she was miming, and I didn't think she was. But in that case where were the backing musicians, recorded or what? Yes, it was beautiful, And Hayley's singing is so consistent and perfect that you sometimes don't believe that she is really doing it live.
It is interesting that Aled was interviewing Hayley. Of course they had a lot in common. "Walking in the air" was the first recording for both of them. Aled, in his earlier incarnation as a boy soprano, had a purity and clarity of voice that reminds one of Hayley, although Aled lacked Hayley's feminine warmth. Hayley is perhaps something like what Aled might have become if his voice had never broken, although Aled did say at one concert I attended that he could still sing those high notes! I'm sure they are very dear friends, and if I go to another Aled concert, I shall ask him about Hayley in the question and answer session he always has.
What have I got in common with Hayley? Well, my church, of which I am secretary is called Christ Church and my middle name is that of an English river. Not much else I'm afraid. I have never sung "Walking in the air (and never could)

Martin

[Dave]

roger said:

Hi Dave,

Do my eyes deceive me or is that the best quality video we have ever had? It isn't reasonably good on full screen, it is superb.
Roger

Thanks Roger,

It may be... I am trying. So everyone tells me.

But I am limited by the pathetically slow standard broadband connection speed of 500 kbps (I now have 15 mbps at home) so that's the best I dare put up on HWI. Better than YouTube videos, I think! i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

However... having recently got a new all singing all dancing computer (for a bargain price ) I can now provide DVD quality videos in Windows Media Player format but only for download. If anyone wants to see Songs of Praise as it should be seen, you can download the same video as above at 2 mbps and DVD quality but if you have standard broadband (512 kbps) it will take half an hour as the file is 96 megabytes. At dial-up speeds, it is impossible.

Hayley on Songs of Praise at DVD quality [/b] - 2 mbps, half an hour download at standard broadband speed you have been warned (the website hosts Servage may limit everyone to that anyway) - and South of the Equator, it may never happen... but let's try!

Please let me know if the experimental DVD version is successfully downloaded by anyone. If it doesnt work, and for some it will not, here again is the standard version...

Hayley on Songs of Praise - HWI Video 464 kbps

Cheers, Dave

[timj]

Hi Dave, Got it,94.8meg, beautiful!!!...........Thanks...TimJ

[Richard]

Thanks for the video, Dave!

I forgot all about 'Songs of Praise' yesterday, so you've saved the day as usual!

Hayley was wonderful as always, and I'm really looking forward to seeing her again this evening. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

See you later,

Richard

[Steve H]

Thanks Dave,

This is a superb video, well done, see you tonight

Steve H

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for recording this Dave - I too remembered to late to watch the programme Hayley was fantastic

See some of you tonight

Best regards
Mark

[roger]

It is slightly worrying to hear that several members forgot to watch the programme. re worrying to admit that I was one of them!

Thanks again for saving the day, Dave!

Roger

[graemek]

Hi Dave & thanks for the non streamer !!!! I'm looking forward to viewing it very much.

You said : "South of the Equator, it may never happen..." but mine downloaded at 160 kb/sec & took about 9 mins all told to download.

My broadband IP is rated at 1500 Kb/sec & thats pretty common here.

There are available speeds much higher than that too. Or have I missed the point? You're talking frame rates maybe?

OK I've watched the 2 clips now. Nero Player handled the higher frame rate clip perfectly (but couldn't fix the aspect ratio). VLC player couldn't. WMP also couldn't. ACDSee is fine. Irfanview is also fine (with plugins)

The standard rate one was OK for all.

Hayley's "Abide With Me" (need I say it?) was utterly magnificent. I can't believe she mimed that but if she did she was perfect !!!!!

I enjoyed Hayley's & Aled's ease with each other....lovely.

Many thanks once more Dave for the 2 clips.

History is still being made & each additional part of the unfolding saga that is Hayley seems to demand better & better quality.
Well Done.
Graeme
PS I was trying to remember a book I read about Rugby School.
Now I have remembered: Tom Brown's Schooldays. Thomas Hughes.
www.literature.org/authors/hughes-thomas/tom-browns-schooldays/

[graemek]

And Martin, to quote you:
"This should win more converts (to Hayley fandom as well as Christianity)."
I'm not quite sure of your drift but I find Hayley sings "Great Hymns" in such a worshipful manner (can't think of a better way to put that) that it makes me gasp in awe.
Graeme

[Raymond]

Thank you for providing this video, Dave. The quality is very very very good. I enjoy Hayley's performance of Abide with me very much!

Raymond

[grant]

Hi Dave

It took about 15 minutes for me to download the DVD version, but I had to keep restarting as everytime it finished buffering it started to play and hitting pause paused everything!

Anyway, I've got it now (and the complete programme on tape!) and it is absolutely brilliant.

Many thanks for your efforts and keep them coming. It's worth a few hiccups for quality like that!

Best wishes
Grant

[Karsten]

Hi Dave,

after a 30 minutes download the DVD version was on the HD. Many thanks for sharing it in this superb quality.

All the best

Karsten