Book Corner

Finding a book with a musical theme proved to be quite difficult at first. My hope was to locate a joyful book with a slant towards praise and worship. After wandering around various bookshops, finger wandering around library and other catalogues, I believe I have found such a book. It is an affectionate and informative look at one of the world’s longest running television programmes, Songs of Praise, the Nation’s Favourite by Andrew Barr. Andrew Barr produced the programme for 30 years, from 1970 to 2000.

In this book he traces the story right from the first broadcast in 1961. There is even a copy of the page from the Radio Times announcing that first programme. I was interested to read in his introduction his first steps into producing, coping with, amongst other things, the time-shifts (in St James’s Church, Louth, the month was in October before Harvest, but the team were recording Advent hymns for transmission in December).

Scattered amongst the book are lots of anecdotes and facts. Did you know, for instance, that every verse or line of every hymn is allocated a camera shot? The aim, I gather, is to balance people and buildings, to give the impression that the camera crews, technicians and their various pieces of equipment were invisible. Pages of photographs, in both black and white and colour, compliment the text, bringing its history alive.

Andrew looks back at the most inspirational of interviews, and shows how the programme has responded to changing musical styles and taste. We also meet our favourite presenters from past to present and, of course, look at some of the programme’s favourite hymns.

This is a book full of happy recollections and would make an excellent gift for any devotees of the programme. Warmly recommended.

Songs of Praise The Nation’s Favourite by Andrew Barr. Lion Publishing. ISBN 0 7459 5085 X. £9.99

Lynn Winter