Festival of Remembrance - 13 November 2010

[postscript]

Well, they are about to perform the service part of the Remembrance evening and I felt I had to come on immediately to share my reaction.

Unfortunately but understandably, the cameras were on the various people bringing into the arena the equipment needed to perform the service, so only glimpses of Hayley. Carl Jenkins' music was superbly orchestrated and Hayley was full volume on some superb high notes. Her voice crystal clear, reasonably well balanced against the volume of supporting sound. I would have preferred a slight tweaking of her personal mike to give her that extra prominence BUT I can understand the balance of the collective whole that was the mixer's intention, so perhaps it is a Hayley fan writing rather than an objective music critic! However the superb melodic balance of her timbre had that unique quality of both blending and yet being distinctive. Well done Hayley.

Also magnificent was her dress. It is without doubt a substantial number showing its substance not in its brandishing the statement, "this is some dress" but in that more low key and subtle statement that can only come from superb design and exquisite presentation. This is a quietly presented statement of superb quality. It just is... we just are! The collective whole of Hayley was simply magnificent. VERY WELL DONE INDEED.

Peter S.

[Jillian]

Hi Peter S,

Thanks for the early review of Hayley's performance! From what I've read on Twitter, it was very good indeed. I can't wait to see a video of it!

Cheers,
Jillian

EDIT:

Here's a couple videos, but none of Hayley quite yet.

Camilla Kerslake & Flt Lt Matt Little - 'It's a Long Way to Go'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR1VoDnsRsg

God Save the Queen
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_BwRBJa7RI

Brian May and Kerry Ellis - 'Anthem'
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a7HIOWelSI

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

Here is the performance of the hymn "For The Fallen" by Hayley, with words spoken by Bernard Cribbins. It's taken a while as I was determined to do it in HD but as usual, I had problems converting the files, HD is hard to work with.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=azBmlXhbRF0

Standard versions are available now, HD version will be available when YT have finished working their magic.

I will copy here the description I have posted on that Youtube video:

In the presence of Her Majesty The Queen, Hayley Westenra sings the hymn "For The Fallen" composed by Karl Jenkins, at The Festival of Remembrance. The reading is by Bernard Cribbins. The performance took place on November 13th 2010 at the Royal Albert Hall in London and was broadcast on BBC 1 TV and BBC1 HD the same day.

Here is a transcript of the introduction to the performance by BBC announcer Huw Edwards:

"In the final year of the Second World War, a young airman lost his life on a mission over Berlin. It was Pilot Officer Alfryn Jenkins, whose nephew is the eminent composer Karl Jenkins.

For this year's Festival Karl Jenkins has composed a new musical setting for Binyon's timeless words, For The Fallen; it is dedicated to his uncle's memory.

As we prepare to lay the Altar of Drums, can we please give a warm welcome to Hayley Westenra and to Bernard Cribbins, thank you."

Here are the words, by the English poet Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), as performed on this occasion:

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them...

Dave

[Jillian]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for taking the time and effort and staying up late to record and upload that!

That is one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard - very moving. Hayley was amazing - check out the high note and Bernard Cribbins delivered his speech perfectly.

Wow. Just WOW.

Jillian

[Jillian]

Hi everyone,

Here are some screen captures of Hayley's beautiful performance at the Festival of Remembrance:























Cheers,
Jillian

[Jillian]

Nov 13, 2010 22:26:10 GMT postscript said:

Well, they are about to perform the service part of the Remembrance evening and I felt I had to come on immediately to share my reaction.

Unfortunately but understandably, the cameras were on the various people bringing into the arena the equipment needed to perform the service, so only glimpses of Hayley. Carl Jenkins' music was superbly orchestrated and Hayley was full volume on some superb high notes. Her voice crystal clear, reasonably well balanced against the volume of supporting sound. I would have preferred a slight tweaking of her personal mike to give her that extra prominence BUT I can understand the balance of the collective whole that was the mixer's intention, so perhaps it is a Hayley fan writing rather than an objective music critic! However the superb melodic balance of her timbre had that unique quality of both blending and yet being distinctive. Well done Hayley.

Also magnificent was her dress. It is without doubt a substantial number showing its substance not in its brandishing the statement, "this is some dress" but in that more low key and subtle statement that can only come from superb design and exquisite presentation. This is a quietly presented statement of superb quality. It just is... we just are! The collective whole of Hayley was simply magnificent. VERY WELL DONE INDEED.

Peter S.

Hi Peter S,

I agree with you totally. The way that Hayley's voice blended - but also stood out at the same time was wonderful.

I also adore her dress - it's beautiful, but also very appropriate for the occassion.

Jillian

[Richard]

Wow yet again!

That was indeed a beautiful and very moving performance by Hayley, and her voice stood out better than it does on the album. Although Hayley wasn't on screen as much as we would have liked, the shots of the drumhead altar made the occasion all the more poignant. Well done to everybody involved.

Best wishes,

Richard

[Martin]

Yes, a wonderful and dignified performance.

It was interesting to see that the Battle of Britain pilot leading that particular parade was a New Zealander. I hope Hayley was able to catch up with him.

Martin

[Sing]

Hi all
I watched the Festival of Remembrance last night and loved Hayley's performance...I too hope she got to catch up the New Zealander...
I loved her dress too although unfortunately at first I thought it looked a bit too old for her...and wasn't entirely sure about it as I thought it looked too much like J.K Rowling's and Emma Watson's dresses from the Harry Potter Premiere which I don't think too strongly of...but looking at the screen captures on here I really think it suits her and the occassion...
I think the whole song was brilliant...very poignant and inspiring at the same time... I also liked Camilla Kerslake's performance...though probably to be honest though more because I liked the song as opposed to her singing, although I think she is very very good...I think the Soldiers were really good too....overall it looked really good...really well staged and inspiring- particularly in terms of the recovery process for those who have been injured...and a great way of remembering the fallen.
Thanks for the screencaps and for the videos! now i can watch the perfromance over and over again!
best wishes
Sing

[grant]

Hello everyone

I have found every aspect of this years period of remembrance particularly moving - from observing a very poignant two minutes silence in my usually bustling and noisy ASDA store on Thursday to our own Service of Remembrance in church this morning.

Sadly, I was otherwise engaged last night and missed the service from the Royal Albert Hall and have only just managed to watch our dear Hayley's performance. What can I say??? Every time Hayley does something like this she excels herself - such that we are inclined to think that she could not perform anything else any better - yet, she does! And, yet again she has given what must be her most powerful and moving performance ever.

Bless you Hayley - you were magnificent!!

Best wishes
Grant (feeling very humble)

[Mark]

Hi everyone

Many thanks for the lyrics Dave and for the screen shots Jillian. I watched this live last night and was very moved by the whole event. Hayley looked stunning and did a wonderful job. Fantastic!!

Best wishes

Mark

[Richard]

Hello folks!

Highlights of the afternoon performance were broadcast on BBC Radio 2, and you can listen on the BBC iPlayer:

www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00vs4kx/Festival_of_Remembrance_2010/

There is a short interview with Karl Jenkins at 31:00, followed by Hayley's performance. Bernard Cribbins does not appear in the recording.

Richard

[Elliot Kane]

Absolutely stunning performance by Hayley! Beautiful and haunting at the same time. Simply astounding!

Reminded me once again why I always think she's the best female singer on planet Earth.

[martindn]

Well, what a weekend. I've finally found time to get onto HWI.

We were at a football match yesterday (saturday), at Leicester City where this was the annual "Remembrance Fixture". They do it well, there was a minutes silence and the match ball was delivered by RAF helicopter! Sorry Grant, your team, Derby County, lost (OK I know you are not a football fan), as I knew they would before the game, when some of their fans were chanting during the minute's silence. That really annoyed the Leicester fans, and I suspect the players too, judging by the way they started the game with all guns blazing.

Then in the evening we went to a ballet performance at the De Montfort Hall, which ended surprisingly early, so I was home in time to catch Hayley's performance on TV.

Well, what can I say about it! Absolutely wonderful. Powerful, wonderfully moving, a magnificent performance, and much better sound balance than on the record, I could actually hear Hayley throughout.

I thought Hayley got this exactly right. She didn't push herself forward, she doesn't at this festival, sort of takes a back seat, in a modest way as if to say "this is not about me, it is not Hayley Westenra that is important here, it is our brave servicemen and women that fell in battle. I am just here as a voice". Most singers would not do that, they would want to be the star of the show. My admiration for Hayley just grows and grows, what a truly beautiful human being she is!

Last years performance wasn't about her either, if I remember, it was about Dame Vera Lynn.

As for the performance, Karl Jenkins setting of the poem to music, the choir, the band, Bernard Cribbins' reading, and of course Hayley's vocals, it was all just perfect. Well done to everyone involved. I feel very proud of our Hayley.

And to cap what was I think the most memorable Remembrance weekend of my life, we had our Act of Remembrance in church this morning. As always we had lots of visiting service people and dignitaries, including our Deputy Mayor, and our Guides and Brownie pack. At times my friend Reverend Peter, who led the service, was fighting back the tears I could tell, as the names of our local heroes were read out and the wreaths were laid. And yes, that poem, "To the Fallen" was read during the service.

Just to get back on topic.

Martin D

[Dave]

Hi everyone,

I didn't have time last night to do screen captures so thanks to Jillian for that! But now I've gone back to the original HD recording (Youtube HD isn't quite like real HD) to add a couple of cropped enlargements, which you may like.

Hayley sings For The Fallen, in close-up


The Altar of Drums, completed to perfect timing by all concerned

I made a small photo gallery on the HWI website, with a few more screenshots. Small Photo Gallery is here, I may add a few more later.

As for Hayley's performance, I was impressed - it was perfect for the occasion. A gorgeous performance of a wonderful composition by Karl Jenkins and words by Laurence Binyon, perfect for the occasion. I did wonder about Bernard Cribbins getting involved but now, I think his words complemented Hayley's performance very well so well done to both of them.

I also enjoyed the entire Festival of Remembrance, we should always remember them.

Cheers, Dave