Episode 1
Two-part documentary following choirmaster Gareth Malone as he forms a Military Wives choir to perform at a WW1 centenary prom. In this episode, Gareth begins the auditions.
Choirmaster Gareth Malone is back. He thinks the Military Wives are the perfect choice to launch the nation's centenary commemorations of the outbreak of World War I, and he pulls together a new Military Wives super-choir to stage a very special prom in association with the National Theatre's War Horse team.
It is three years since Gareth formed the first Military Wives choir, and since then the organisation has mushroomed with over 80 choirs and 2,000 members around the globe.
In this episode, Gareth sets out to audition as many of them as possible for his 100-strong choir. The wives usually sing pop songs, but Gareth has a repertoire of taxing classical pieces that were popular at the time of the First World War in mind, including Gustav Holst's fiendish Ave Maria set in eight-part harmony and a moving setting of Tennyson's poem 主播大秀 They Brought Her Warrior Dead, so he needs to recruit the very best technical singers for what will be their toughest ever musical challenge.
As the gruelling rehearsals get under way, Gareth discovers that the wives' dignity in the face of the constant threat of the death of their loved ones is as strong as ever, and the wives discover powerful parallels with their counterparts 100 years before them.
The first episode culminates in an emotional performance at RAF Brize Norton for some of Britain's last deployment of troops to return from Afghanistan.
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The first rehearsal with Gareth
Duration: 01:28
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Coronation Mass - Gloria
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Karl B枚hm
The Marriage of Figaro 聳 Duettino-Sull Aria
Performer: Orchestra of the German Opera, Berlin.From The Shawshank Redemption
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Dance of the Reed Pipes - Nutcracker
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Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Op.71a The Children's Galop - Entrance of the Parents - Nutcracker
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Johann Strauss II
Emperor Waltz
Orchestra: Vienna Strauss Orchestra. Conductor: Joseph Francek. -
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George Frideric Handel
Music from the Royal Fireworks
Orchestra: St. Petersburg Chamber Festival Orchestra. -
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV 1007: Courante
Performer: Yo鈥怸o Ma. -
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Unaccompanied Cello Suite No.6 in D Major, BWV 1012: Gigue
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Felix Mendelssohn
Venetian Gondola Song Mendelssohn
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Franz Schubert
Rosamunde, Furstin von Zypern, D. 797: Ballet Music II, No.9 in G Major
Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. -
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Joseph Haydn
La Fedelta Premiata 5
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Fr茅d茅ric Chopin
Preludes, Op. 28 : No. 15 in Db Major "Raindrop" Sostenuto
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Giacomo Puccini
Gianni Schicchi: O Mio Babbino Caro
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Ludovico Einaudi
Nuvole Bianche
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Gustav Holst
Ave Maria
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Johann Sebastian Bach
Suite No.6: VI. Finale (arr. From Partita No.3 in e Major, BWV 1006: Prelude)
Orchestra: 主播大秀 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin. -
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Sir Edward Elgar
The Snow
Performer: Military Wives. -
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Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.7 in A Major Op.92
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Jacques Offenbach
La Belle Helene
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Margot Cavalier
Corporate Piano and Strings
Composer: Philippe Bestion. -
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Ludovico Einaudi
Dietro Casa
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脡mile Waldteufel
The Skaters Waltz Op 183
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Thomas Arne
Rule, Britannia!
Lyricist: James Thomson. -
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Paul Mealor
Wherever You Are
Performer: Military Wives Choir. -
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
Let Us Now Praise Famous Men
Performer: Garath Malone. Performer: Hannah French. -
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Ethel Smyth
The March of The Women
Conductor: Philip Brunelle. Orchestra: Plymouth Festival Orchestra and Chorus. -
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Paul Mealor
Wherever You Are
Performer: Military Wives Choir. -
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Gary Barlow
Sing
Performer: Military Wives. Composer: Andrew Lloyd Webber. -
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Military Wives
Sweet Child Of Mine
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Joseph Haydn
The Last Post
Get singing!
If you're inspired by Gareth's Choir, watch these clips to help you get started.