The Big Sing was conceived in 2001, on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of BBC1's Songs of Praise. The programme ethos remains the same: congregational and performance items, however on a bigger scale: a larger venue, orchestra, larger choirs, and overall bigger production.
Most of the programmes have been filmed at the Royal Albert Hall, the day after the Last Night of the Proms, as all the production equipment would have already been set up, and it was simply a case of changing the stage sets and logos.
When the new production teams, Avanti and Nine Lives Media, were tasked with making the programmes, a new idea was born: tour the event around the countries of the UK. Last year's programmes took place in Edinburgh; this year it will be in Belfast. As part of the set-up this year, there is a small team of three singers as well as the choir and orchestra. Part of this line-up is South Croydon member, and current soprano of the London Adventist Chorale, Michelle Toussaint-Bourne.
Ken Burton's role as conductor requires him to direct both orchestra and congregational and stage singers. This year he will be joined by Simon Lole, another television and record conductor, arranger, and producer, who will direct the orchestra when Burton is directing the congregation. In all other songs Ken will direct the orchestra.
As well as conducting, Ken is also responsible for arranging some of the music and the theme tune. This involves writing parts for orchestra, stage choir, solo singers and groups, and congregations. Burton feels this is a dream come true. "I sit at my keyboard and computer and arrange and record music, and as I see the deeper meaning in many of the songs which we have been singing for years, at times I cannot hold back the excitement, or the tears, as I reflect on the power of what God has done, and as my mind thinks about His glorious return. I then have to pinch myself and say, 'this is work.'"
Indeed 2019 has been a massive year on the programme for Ken Burton. In March, he led twelve singers in two special programmes from the Holy Land. He arranged and recorded all the music for the choir as well as guest singers. In May, he arranged and conducted eleven songs for the programme in Coventry (for various broadcasts). In September he conducted UK's Favourite Hymns −where he arranged songs for congregation and orchestra, arranged and produced recordings for singers Eddi Reader and Daniel O'Donnell, as well as arranging a song for the Kingdom Choir. Burton is also the overall musical director for the Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year, where his role includes overall music advising, track production, a vocal training workshop with all choirs who enter, and arranging a joint piece for the choirs to sing.
On the same weekend of the Choir of the Year, he arranged and conducted twelve pieces from Reading Town Hall, including an arrangement for celebrity singer Rick Astley.
