The Sacred

NARRATOR: Please welcome Maestro Luke Frazier and the American Pops Orchestra in "One Voice: The Songs We Share."

Let APO take you to church as we celebrate sacred music, with performances by, prodigy organ player, Daniel Colaner, Broadway and recording artist, Justin Guarini, Broadway star, Adam Hyndman and Metropolitan Opera soprano, Maureen McKay.

Hosted by Grammy Award winning recording artist, Michelle Williams.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ FRAZIER: Thank you so much, Daniel.

I'm Luke Frazier, Music Director of the American Pops Orchestra.

Welcome to "One Voice: The Songs We Share".

To join me, I'm excited to welcome Grammy Award-winner and pop icon Michelle Williams!

WILLIAMS: Thanks Luke.

It's always a joy and pleasure to work with you and the American Pops Orchestra.

"One Voice" celebrates the power of a single song to reach far beyond its original context.

And we're in church for a reason.

Tonight's show features music that was inspired by sacred traditions, but has transcended the walls of the church.

Tonight I'm happy to be joined by the incredible members of the American Pops Orchestra and luminous stars of opera, pop music, and Broadway.

Artists from Rosemary Clooney to Willie Nelson have made this next song their own.

To sing Elvis Presley's version of "In the Garden" please welcome Broadway's Adam Hyndman.

♪ HYNDMAN: I come to the Garden alone, ♪ ♪ while the dew is still on the roses.

♪ ♪ And the voice I hear, ♪ ♪ falling on my ear, ♪ ♪ this song of God discloses.

♪ ♪ And He walks with me, ♪ ♪ and He talks with me, ♪ ♪ and He tells me I am his own.

♪ ♪ And the joy we share as we tarry there, ♪ ♪ none other has ever known.

♪ ♪ He speaks, ♪ ♪ and the sound of his voice ♪ ♪ is so sweet, ♪ ♪ the birds hush their singing.

♪ ♪ And the melody ♪ ♪ that he gave to me ♪ ♪ within my heart is ringing.

♪ ♪ And He walks with me, ♪ ♪ and He talks with me, ♪ ♪ and He tells me I am his own.

♪ ♪ And the joy we share as we tarry there, ♪ ♪ none other has ever known.

♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WILLIAMS: Joshua fit the battle of ♪ ♪ Jericho, Jericho, Jericho, ♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho ♪ ♪ and the walls came tumblin' down.

♪ ♪ Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho, ♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho ♪ ♪ and the walls came tumblin' down.

♪ ♪ You may talk about the man of Gideon, ♪ ♪ you may talk about the man of Saul, ♪ ♪ but there's none like good old Joshua ♪ ♪ and the battle of Jericho.

♪ ♪ Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho ♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho ♪ ♪ and the walls came tumblin' down.

♪ ♪ Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho ♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho ♪ ♪ and the walls came tumblin' down.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Up to the walls of Jericho, ♪ ♪ with the sword drawn in his hand.

♪ ♪ "Go blow them horns" cried Joshua, ♪ ♪ "and the battle of Jericho, Hallelujah".

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho.

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, ♪ ♪ and the walls came tumblin' down that mornin'!

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho.

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, ♪ ♪ and the walls came tumblin' down.

♪ ♪ Hallelujah!

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho.

♪ ♪ Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, ♪ ♪ and the walls came tumblin' down!

♪♪ There will only ever be one Aretha Franklin.

She took music that originated in the church and created some of the most powerful celebrations of the human spirit that we've ever heard or are likely to hear.

To sing a medley of these iconic songs Aretha made famous, please welcome Broadway and pop recording artist Justin Guarini.

♪ GUARINI: A-a-a-a-a ♪ ♪ amazing ♪ ♪ grace.

♪ ♪ How, ♪ ♪ oh how sweet the sound, ♪ ♪ that saved a wretch like me!

♪ ♪ I once, I once was lost, ♪ ♪ but now am found.

♪ ♪ I was blind, ♪ ♪ but now, now I see.

♪ ♪ Through, ♪ ♪ Through, ♪ ♪ Through ♪ ♪ many, many dangers, ♪ ♪ woah, dangers, ♪ ♪ toils and snares, ♪ ♪ I have already, I have already, ♪ ♪ I have come, yes.

♪ ♪ Don't you know it was, ♪ ♪ it was, it was, it was, ♪ ♪ it was grace, ♪ ♪ that taught my heart to fear.

♪ ♪ And it will be grace that will lead me home.

♪ ♪ Yes it will be grace that will lead, ♪ ♪ will lead me home.

♪ ♪ Precious Lord, ♪ ♪ take my hand, ♪ ♪ lead me on, ♪ ♪ to let me stand, ♪ ♪ I am tired, I am weak, ♪ ♪ I am worn, ♪ ♪ through the night, ♪ ♪ hey, through the night and the storm.

♪ ♪ Lead me on, to the light.

♪ ♪ Precious Lord, ♪ ♪ take my hand lead me.

♪ ♪ Oh, won't you lead me.

♪ ♪ Oh, right now.

♪ ♪ I know you can do it.

♪ ♪ Oh, won't you lead me home.

♪ ♪ Yeah, won't you lead.

♪ ♪ Oh!

♪ ♪ Precious Jesus, take me by the hand, ♪ ♪ oh Lord, ♪ ♪ take my hand, ♪ ♪ amen!

♪♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WILLIAMS: Why should I feel discouraged?

♪ ♪ And why should the shadows come?

♪ ♪ And why should my heart feel lonely ♪ ♪ and long for heaven and home?

♪ ♪ Since Jesus is my portion ♪ ♪ a constant friend is He.

♪ ♪ His eye is on the sparrow ♪ ♪ and I know He watches over me.

♪ ♪ His eye is on the sparrow ♪ ♪ and I know He watches over me.

♪ ♪ I sing because I'm happy, yes ♪ ♪ and I sing because I'm free.

♪ ♪ Oh, ♪ ♪ His eye is on the sparrow ♪ ♪ and I know He watches over me.

♪ ♪ Oh his eye is on the sparrow ♪ ♪ and I know He watches, ♪ ♪ I know He watches, ♪ ♪ I know He watches me.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪♪ FRAZIER: The great African American pastor Charles Tindley is most known for his 1901 song "I'll Overcome Some Day" which was the foundation of the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome".

WILLIAMS: Tindley's sacred music changed the world.

To perform an original arrangement of his classic "Beams of Heaven," please welcome Metropolitan Opera soprano, Maureen McKay.

♪ ♪ ♪ McKAY: Beams of heaven as I go, ♪ ♪ through the wilderness below, ♪ ♪ guide my feet in peaceful ways, ♪ ♪ turn my midnights into days.

♪ ♪ When in the darkness I would grope, ♪ ♪ faith always sees a star of hope, ♪ ♪ and soon from all life's grief and danger, ♪ ♪ I shall be free someday.

♪ ♪ I do not know how long t'will be, ♪ ♪ nor what the future holds for me, ♪ ♪ but this I know, ♪ ♪ If Jesus leads me, ♪ ♪ I shall get home someday.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Burdens now may crush me down, ♪ ♪ disappointments all around, ♪ ♪ troubles speak in mournful sigh, ♪ ♪ sorrow through a tear-stained eye.

♪ ♪ There is a world where pleasure reigns, ♪ ♪ no mourning soul shall roam its plains, ♪ ♪ and to that land of peace and glory, ♪ ♪ I want to go some day.

♪ ♪ I do not know how long t'will be, ♪ ♪ nor what the future holds for me, ♪ ♪ but this I know, ♪ ♪ if Jesus leads me, ♪ ♪ I shall get home someday.

♪ ♪ I do not know how long t'will be, ♪ ♪ nor what the future holds for me, ♪ ♪ but this I know, ♪ ♪ if Jesus leads me, ♪ ♪ I shall get home, ♪ ♪ I shall get home.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ If Jesus leads me, ♪ ♪ I shall get home ♪ ♪ someday.

♪ ♪ Lord, I'll get home, ♪ ♪ Lord, I'll get home, ♪ ♪ Lord ♪ ♪ someday.

♪♪ FRAZIER: We hope you've enjoyed "One Voice" with the American Pops Orchestra.

And a huge thanks to Michelle Williams and the other incredible artists who made this program so special.

WILLIAMS: Thank you again for having me.

And remember to look for other episodes in our "One Voice" series here on PBS.

Thank you for taking the time to enjoy "The Songs We Share."

♪ GUARINI: Oh how sweet the sound.

♪ ♪ That saved a wretch ♪ ♪ like me.

♪ ♪ I once, I once was lost.

♪ ♪ But now am found.

♪ ♪ I was blind ♪ ♪ but now... ♪♪