Sunday, March 24, 2024

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday March 21st 2024

A small but enthusiastic eight singers, plus a couple of interested parents of one of our number, came along to take part in this month’s Chi SDFS.
 
The theme of the evening was definitely “Spring” in spite of the weather and fittingly opened with "Hal and Tow" including a new opening verse and some discussion about inclusion of the St George’s verse and the timing in certain lines.  Increasing the tempo the second time around seemed to improve the feel of it.  "Oak and Ash and Thorn" followed with gusto and Steve confirmed with some authority that Alder was definitely used in clog making!  In keeping with the theme of the evening "When Spring Comes In" came next with comment about the slightly odd arrangement of chorus and verse and discussion about the way “sweet retire” had probably replaced “sweet attire” as it came down the years.  "Searching for Lambs" came before farming topics "One for the Rook and Ale Glorious Ale" and whether or not our MPs in Parliament needed a copy of the song.  The first half was rounded up with old favourite "Rosebuds in June and It is the First of May".
 
Alan was unable to resist singing Bold Sir John in the interval – fairly quickly recognised as a masterpiece of word play from the pen of the late Ronnie Barker.
 
Numbers depleted by a further departure, it was decided that the evening would finish a little earlier than usual and the second half opened with "The Nightingale" - generally felt to be the SDFS Anthem!  "May Day Carol" followed and then the relatively new addition to the repertoire "Summer is a Coming In Again".  Alan was pleased to report that he’d had a conversation with the composer Mick Ryan who had given his permission for the SDFS to sing it out and even complimented Alan on his two additional verses.  "Three Drunken Maidens" was the next offering with discussion about timing in verse 3 and this was followed by "Come Stranger Come Friend".  To finish off, "The Parting Song" made a change from the usual Rolling Home.  
 
Just as the choir was departing, a couple visiting from the Midlands arrived and expressed great disappointment that we’d finished singing, to which Dave G led a rousing "Country Life" which they joined in with enthusiasm!
 
Anne S
 

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday March 18th 2024

There were 13 at today's session including another Jo, also from Lewes, a new member attending for a taster session. Tina had prepared a mix of seasonal songs and other more general songs and said we would be spending time going through harmonies for several of these. After some trial and error, the background music from the other bar was obligingly turned off by the barman and we got started.
 
We warmed up with the lively and raucous “Ale Glorious Ale” and the contrasting gentle “Turtle Dove” (paying attention to both the tune and the one harmony and explaining for the newer singers that it was collected locally by Lucy Broadwood). Next, a pair of seasonal songs - “It is the First of May” (which we first sang on May Day at Oldland Mill a couple of years ago, we’re back there on the 5th May this year so very close) and “May Day Carol” with some discussion about these songs being similar in wording to some of the Christmas carols in our repertoire, and about travelling round the “big houses” singing for money.  We then tried out existing harmonies, and some people added their own, for “Pleasant and Delightful”, “Sussex by the Sea” (the new non-military version of the words by Amaryllis from our Worthing group), and “The Nightingale”.  Some time was devoted to “Oldland Mill” , including Ray relating how his friend Stuart wrote the song, gave it to us and came along in the audience when we performed it at an open day at the mill; and explaining that the words ‘don't bite too hard on your morning toast, be careful what you chew’ arise from the grit which came off the new grind stones into the first flour after the restoration of the mill. We went through the chorus several times in three-part harmony and then ended the first part of the evening with the more familiar “Sussex Wedding Song”.
 
During the break, as well as a welcome refilling of glasses for thirsty throats, there was wide ranging chat about the group Lankum and their latest Mercury prize nominated album (sparked by the band T-shirt that Celia was wearing); Lisa Knapp’s album about May (as recommended by Nick last month); the Seahaven poets’ sessions in Seaford; Grace Petrie (Billy Bragg style singer I recently saw in concert); and Adrian’s weekly Wednesday evening DJ slot on Eastbourne Radio DGH (he rotates genres and it’s folk again in a few weeks’ time) https://www.radiodgheastbourne.com/.
 
Back to South Downs songs again, we revisited several old favourites, again putting in harmonies for most of them: “Country Life”, “The Bee-Boy’s Song” (Tina mused on the unusual word “dwine” which she thought came from Dutch, one of her ancestral languages, and Wikipedia later confirmed its Germanic roots), “On Sussex Hills” (with some information about Hilaire Belloc), “A Smuggler’s Song” (with some discussion about Rudyard Kipling and Rottingdean) and ending with our own “East Sussex Drinking Song” (written by Adrian to go with Belloc’s West Sussex one).
 
Another enjoyable and interesting session. There was a consensus that it was the best this year and Tina said it sounded so good she wished we had recorded it!
 
Do come and join us anytime, to sing or to listen, if this sounds like your kind of evening.
 
Ken 

Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday March 7th 2024

A merry band of 35 singers met at the Barn for our March session with the Spring very much in mind.  Notices about our spring season public events opened proceedings before the main business of the evening - singing.   Suitably enough we began with “When Spring Comes In” , followed by  "Hal n Tow” for which Emily sang for us a first verse we have not thus far included.  We didn’t learn and sing it at this session but it could be added in the future (so it's now on our “Other Songs to Try” SDFS Blog page for reference).  Moving further into the spring we sang the lovely  "Ladies Go Dancing" with the arrangement of women leading and men’s voices backing them initially with a gentle hum and later with softly sung words as the song progressed.  We gave it a second go to polish the pace and the emphases in the phrasing.  

In a pause from the spring theme we sang  "Come Stranger Come Friend”, which has been used in the Chichester and Lewes SDFS sessions but not in Worthing so deserves more of our attention.  Alan and Anne reminded us of it in their duet before we all had a go and agreed we should sing it more often.   Returning to the spring “It is the First of May” came next, with Alan and Emily highlighting the fall and rise of notes in the last line of the chorus - lower on ‘of’ and rising on ‘May’, which was duly practiced.  Before a break we closed the first half with a bright rendition of the “May Day Carol”.     

We resuming our vocal journey towards warmer and longer days with “Summer is A’Commin’ in Again” - including a couple of lovely verses Alan has offered either as substitutes or additions to the song.  (They are now available as appendices to the original on the SDFS Blog's "Other Songs to Try" page, and also on our "Songs by Us" page.)  This reopened discussion about the possible meaning and intention of, and some previously voiced objections to, the last couple of verses in the original (with their references to battles, fighting men and the slain).  Agreement was reached that Alan’s verses are available to be used when and if preferred  - or they could simply be added to an already good song.  (In this discussion due respect was paid to the creator of the original, noting that his views had not yet been explored nor permissions given - but we hoped our interest in his song and our wish to sing and enjoy it would be appreciated by him as a positive.)   

After that debate ”The Oak Tree Song” was requested and unanimously welcomed.  We took time again, under Emily’s careful guidance and supervision, to continue to develop the high and low harmonies for this lovely song, as well as polish the melody.  There is still enjoyable work to be done to be really fluent, but the combined sound after just a few goes was already rewarding and lovely to be a part of - and thank you again Emily for what you bring to our singing!

Last but never least - we raised the rafters to finish the session with the tried, tested and, by most, much loved “Thousands or More” - an anthem from our original workshop days and a reminder of how much the Copper family have helped to keep the songs of the South Downs alive.   And thanks to everyone who brings their voice to the "South Downs Folk Singers", you are helping us to do this too! 

Friday, March 8, 2024

Additional Verses to Try for "Summer Is a-Coming In Again"

Alan has offered two additional or alternative verses to try with the original lyrics by Mick Ryan.  It has been suggested that if not used to replace any of the original song, Alan's verses could be added at the end.  

Mick Ryan has given permission for the SDFS to sing his song out and he has complimented Alan on the two additional verses.  

"Jack Frost he will be banished and the sun will tell us Spring
Is waiting there to greet us with new life it soon will bring,
The hedgerow will be greening while the summer birds will sing.
For Summer is a-coming in again.

The Summer days are longer when we’re waken in the dawn,
By cuckoos calls and martlets as they welcome in the morn,
To see the wealth of nature is to meet a world reborn,
As Summer is a-coming in again".


You can find the full lyrics on the link below.


An Additional Verse to Try for "Hal an Tow"

Emily has sourced and offered an extra verse for the start of the song for us to try and see if we'd like to include it. 

"Since Man was first created, 
 His works have been debated 
And we have celebrated 
The coming of the Spring".

You can find the full lyrics on the link below.



Friday, March 1, 2024

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday February 19th 2024

12 singers met for our Monday night gathering at the King’s Head pub, the first for the new evening!  Very sadly the enforced change by the pub from Tuesday to another night (with Monday becoming the chosen evening) has meant that Jan, Angela, Amaryllis, Beryl and Chrissie are no longer able to come to the Lewes nights – you will be greatly missed...

It did mean however that a couple of newer or new singers were able to make it, so we’re pleased to have them. And we were welcomed  by the barman, which was very good! After a brief hello from Tina we started off the evening by introducing ourselves to each other before singing a mixture of longstanding and newer items in the repertoire.

In the first part we covered “Jim the Carter Lad”, “Birds on the Spray”, “Rosebuds in June”, “Magpie”, “Searching for Lambs”, “Green Grow the Laurel”, “East Sussex Drinking Song”, “Ha’nacker Mill”, and “Oldland Mill“ (briefly trying out the two low and high harmony parts for the latter song}, and more generally thinking ahead to the very welcome promise of Spring, with perhaps singing for some of us at Firle, Stanmer Park and Oldland Mill. We also enjoyed practising Mick Ryan’s “Summer is a-Coming in Again”  and although the two final verses are about battle we felt they appeared to be allegorical references about good and evil (as in mummers’ plays) so appropriate for performance overall.

Then time for a welcome break to refill glasses & chat! 

After which there were various notices from Tina. Emily will sadly no longer be leading the singing at any events, due to other commitments, and the leading will be shared between Alan, Amaryllis and Tina. The SDFS committee meets every 3 months, and another Lewes representative would be very welcome. A 'Social and Sing' event is being looked into for Highdown Hill in mid May and details will be confirmed later.
 
We then went on to our final songs: “Fathom the Bowl” and “When Spring Comes In”, followed by the lovely “My Downland Remembered” and “The Oak Tree Song”, and closed with the very evocative songs “Come Stranger, Come Friend” and “Thousands or More”

A good evening!

Margaret
 

Monday, February 26, 2024

A Song to Try - The Holly King and the Oak King

Another new song for us, "The Holly King and the Oak King" - written by J. L. Dean, a writer who grew up in Chichester and is a member of the South Downs Folk Singers.  

She heard the legend of the Holly and the Oak King just before Christmas 2023 and thought it would make a good folk song. The melody was composed especially by Susan Legg a singer, pianist and composer who lives in West Sussex and trained at the Royal College of Music. She is a great fan of J. L. Dean's writing and is delighted to collaborate with her on this song!

Lyrics

Score

Tune


Thursday, February 22, 2024

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday February 15th 2024

A very respectable eighteen singers came along on an unseasonably warm February evening to acknowledge recent Valentine’s Day and start to prepare for the upcoming SDFS Spring/Summer season.  It was also good to be able to welcome two new potential members who came along to “try us out!”

"Country Life" was an appropriately rousing opening (to the accompaniment of a determined stamp by Alan to keep at pace.  This "The Bee Boys Song" followed– known well but extra care required to hit the high note in the middle.  "Summer Is a Coming In Again" came next, with two new verses provided by Alan at the request of the Worthing Group and to some extent the Lewes group, who found the original last two verses a little too war-like for today’s difficult times.  There was some discussion about whether this should be done and whether or not Mick Ryan, the Author, needed to be consulted.  By way of a complete contrast, Julia presented and sang a new Christmas song that she had written and her singing teacher had set to music – The Holly King and the Oak King with a interesting minor note ending to reflect Winter’s arrival.  The evening could not pass without a nod to yesterday’s Valentine’s Day, "The Sussex Wedding Song" followed and was successfully split into men/women groups in view of the healthy number of attendees.  The relatively new offering of "Come Stranger Come Friend" was tried next.  Not everyone knew it but joined in as it progressed.  It was maybe one for the future.  There was much amusement and discussion about the very traditional local sport of stoolball around the singing of "Love and the Ball".  This including some useful background on particular prizes – a Tansy Cake that might have been presented to the winners.  This could contribute to an interesting introduction when singing out.  A rousing rendition of "Drink Old England Dry" followed, with discussion about a “double ending” or not - to be taken up at Worthing.  The first half concluded with "The Oak Tree Song" and some discussion about “Scottish snaps”!
 
The second half opened with "Follow Me Home" by popular request, sung by all usually sung by men only.  At the start, Dave G reminded everyone by singing a few lines of the tune.  "Hannaker Mill" came next with a possible modern verse added by Alan which no doubt would not be acceptable to the esteemed Belloc!  The ladies took the lead in "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" and "The Constant Lover" was sung by all with some discussion about the content.  Staying with the Spring theme, "It Is the First of May" followed which may have caused some confusion amongst casual listeners in the bar!  To round the off the session, there was a hearty rendition of "Rolling Home" a very popular finish to the evening.
 
 
Anne S

 

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Alert! - The Lewes Group Sessions have moved to the Third Monday of the month (from Feb. 19th)

The SDFS Lewes local group has needed to change its regular meeting day. 

We are pleased to confirm that the monthly sessions will continue, but they've had to move from the third Tuesday to the 3rd Monday of each month.

This new arrangement will start VERY soon - for this month's session on  Monday February 19th

(Venue: The Kings Head, 9 Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1HS.)                                                 

A warm welcome awaits all comers!




Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday February 2nd 2024

33 singers in good voice, including another two new faces, came together for our February session.  A theme for the evening, introduced by Emily, was one of revival after the winter and looking ahead towards the spring.  Our singing included choices by request and or to revisit old favourites and established songs, with also some newer material to carry us on into the year.

"Country Life” got us off to a good start as it often does, followed by another old favourite "Green Grow the Laurels” then "Lark in the Morning” (using the amended Coppers' version).   "Rosebuds in June" (with guidance from Emily to stay on the same lower note for ‘lasses’ if the original high note to finish proves difficult to reach and voices fade at that point).  "Smugglers Song”, "When Spring Comes In” and  "Hares on the Mountain” saw out the first half of the evening before we took a breather for refreshment - and to use our voices for chats instead!

With renewed vigour the "Bee Boys Song”  launched the second half, before we took on the challenge of singing all the verses of the "Song of the Sussex Downsman” with surprising success.   Looking towards its inclusion in our song sets for performance if liked by all our groups, we enjoyed again a song originally brought to us from Dave in our Chichester group, "Summer is A’commin In Again” .  Moving towards the close of the session we wound down, first with "Home Lads Home”, then "Life of a Man” and last but not least the "Parting Song”.

Thanks to everyone for turning out on a chill February evening. We hope to see you again at our next Barn session on March 7th, when with lengthening days and spring on our doorstep we can again celebrate the changing seasons with song.