A few months ago, Lin, Sarah, Louise and Jenny recorded a programme of Songs of Praise for the BBC at The New Community Church Southampton.

The first week they practised the songs with around 150 other singers, with direction from the conductor. It was interesting to be instructed how to ‘perform’ for filming – no looking directly at the cameras, having a joyful expression and conveying visually and musically the meaning of the songs.

The second week recording took place, the process of which was truly engrossing. Each song was sung twice and if required, a few bars were re- recorded for the mixing crew to blend in. The conductor directed  voice warm up exercises before recording, many of which were familiar from choir and the words were projected on a large screen with the accompanying band playing from the stage.

There were only 3 cameras, one on a boom for wide angle shots, one on a track for closeups and a hand held one for filming from all positions. Several takes were done so as to mix up the filming angles to give the impression that there were more cameras than there really were.  Obviously a BBC Cutback! Everything was relayed to a huge mobile studio parked outside the church and the conductor had 2 ways to talk to the Producer – one through a headphone mic , which everyone could hear and another which was an old WWII type field ‘phone which ensured a private conversation – obviously so the Producer could tell the Conductor ‘to get the old dear in the second row to smile etc!

After 3 hours, with no loo stops and minimal time to sit down, everything was ‘in the can’  as they say.  Ultimately it was a really interesting experience and despite not knowing any of the songs initially, we had them ringing in our heads as we left.