Our evening on October 3rd began early at 7.00 pm to accommodate the necessities of the SDFS Annual General Meeting (the minutes and annual account sheets can be made available to any SDFSinger upon request). A total of 26 singers attended or arrived soon after.
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday October 3rd 2024
Friday, October 11, 2024
Boar's Head Carol
Amaryllis has provided us with the high harmony. You will find this and the lyrics by using this link to the main "Songs and Recordings" page
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
A Song to Try - The Ditchling Carol
Here's a Christmas song offered by Tina:
Published in 1811, words by William Robert Spencer, music setting by Peter Preston, church musician of Ditchling. Collated by Vic Gammon from several Sussex manuscripts.
(Ref: "Mainly Norfolk and Other Good Music" online site.)
Monday, October 7, 2024
Sunday, September 29, 2024
Lewes Priory by Candlelight – Saturday 14th September
The weather was kinder today when ten singers from the Lewes and Worthing local groups arrived for the sound check in blazing sunshine. After lining up at the Helmet statue (presented by the local MP to commemorate the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Lewes), we were met by people dressed as monks and carrying flaming tar lanterns, who escorted us along the path lined with hundreds of fairy lights back to the stage area.
We sang eleven of our best loved songs including “Country Life”, “On Sussex Hills”, “Pleasant and Delightful” and “Rosebuds in June”. Our set had started late so apologies to those who had wanted to hear the two Belloc and Kipling songs which we skipped to finish on time. The audience was spread out in small groups throughout the large Priory Park. Those in the front rows nearest to us appeared quietly appreciative. Although they were a little shy when invited to join in on choruses, we could see lips moving and people nodding in time. Dusk fell just as we sang “Fade slowly in the dying light as darkness folds around” in “Fields Lie Silent” and when we ended with “Thousands or More” bright Phoebe had long departed from the sky.
The other acts, the Archway Choir and Lewes Goes Gospel, followed in darkness to end a magical and atmospheric event, where the plentiful and varied food and drink from the stalls dotted around the park were equally welcome.
Tina
(Thanks to David, Jerome & Rebecca for photos)
Lewes Local Group Report - Monday September 16th 2024
A waxing gibbous moon was visible in the evening sky as we gathered at the Lewes Arms for our September session. This was the fourth time at our new venue, into which we have settled happily. Some eight apologies for absence had been received for various reasons including Covid. However, with suitable throat lubricants in hand, eight singers – five gentlemen and three ladies - assembled in the upstairs room of this more than two hundred years old pub.
Parish notices during the mid-session break were mainly a ‘heads up’ from Tina for forthcoming events over the next few months including the 8th November lunchtime concert at Brighton Unitarian Church, 12th January Wassail at Stanmer Park and the SDFS AGM on 3rd October, with encouragement to attend and/or stand for the committee. There was also a brief review of the performance at Lewes Priory on 14th September, and Tina will provide feedback to the organisers. The room at the Lewes Arms will not be available for our December session, but two singers offered to host us at their home in Saltdean, subject to family commitments [this has now been confirmed].
The moon was riding brighter and higher in the sky when the session ended at 10pm, and we each wended our way home. In the lyrics of folk singer and songwriter Reg Meuross the word ‘moon’ seems to feature quite often. However, this is perhaps not the case for the SDFS where, instead, the emotive words ‘ale’ and ‘beer’ seem to pop up fairly regularly!
[Note from Tina: Funny you should say that, David. We session leaders had noted the lack of moon songs in our repertoire a while back, and I think I have found one from local singer-songwriter the late Maria Cunningham which I will be suggesting as a song to try very shortly…watch this space…]
Monday, September 23, 2024
A Song to Try - A Harvest Round
Alan has offered this round.
Lyrics:
Sunday, September 22, 2024
Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday September 19th 2024
The evening had been geared to the expected visit of the Chichester Fringe representative who was assessing the group with a view to a booking at the Chichester Fringe next year. However, he was not now able to attend so the song list could change from the “tried and trusted” to the more adventurous newer material. It was also a good opportunity to try out likely material for the forthcoming harvest time gigs.
So, with that in mind, the first song tried was "Brisk Young Ploughboy" which went well once it had been established that the second verse had been discontinued. This was followed by a very successful rendition of "All Among the Barley" which had been proving a bit tricky up until now. "Lammas Carol" followed as Alan pointed out it hadn’t gone particularly well at the Fernhurst event, possibly because of a change in timing since it had originally been learned. It went well this time.
Anne S
Monday, September 16, 2024
Notice for the S.D.F.S. Annual General Meeting - Thursday October 3rd 2024 - 7.00pm at "The Barn"
As required by our Constitution - our A.G.M. is happening soon ........
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Song to Try - Michaelmas - New Words
This is an update to the song "Michaelmas" offered by Amaryliss Gunn (see the post of 3rd September 2022)
Sung to the tune of ’Poor Froze-out Gardeners’, you'll find the updated lyrics and tune using the links below.
(October 7th 2024 - This song has been moved to our "Songs and Recordings" Page)
Please find it using this page link