Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday April 18th 2024

A small but vocal group of ten singers gathered for this month's sing, with two more, weary from their busy day, arriving much later just in time for our last few songs.  Although missing the company and voices of Alan, Anne and Stephen A, we were all ready for a good old sing - but our start was somewhat delayed by low light levels in the area we usually occupy (albeit boosted by a cheery string of fairy lights). There being no solution to this, a move to the other better lit bar area was negotiated with our amiable hostess, and once settled around the tables there we began with "Country Life" before another 14 songs, some in group, some solo, some half and half!  

The songs requested or offered moved on to revival of an old, not much used of late, favourite "Rolling in the Dew".   "Hard Times"  came next, then, with Chris and Lyn leading on the verses, "To Be a Farmer's Boy" - which we agreed would be a good one to learn better and use more often.  Gordon offered to lead on his "Three Moles" song (in anticipation of the Chichester SDFS group singing again at the pub of this name in Selham for our June 20th meeting).  Those familiar with his words joined in and as usual everyone enjoyed it.  

The "Farmer's Toast" flowed well, which maybe inspired the next two: "Fathom the Bowl" and the "West Sussex Drinking Song" which covered the tos and fros of individual refreshment breaks and kept the singing going.  The next popular choice was "Summer is A'coming in Again"- this time sticking with the original verses of the song (whilst in discussion also complimenting the additional verses Alan has provided).  "Smugglers' Song" preceded "Saucy Sailor", the latter another one not often sung by us but we just about managed the narrative of verses split between men and women.  

After a late arrival, Les offered and sang to us a "1930s protest song" about "The Man Who Watered Down the Workers Beer" by song writer Paddy Ryan.  Changing mood and direction to conclude the evening on a seasonal note we sang "It is the First of May" and "Hal n Tow" (including the added first verse) - leaving just "Rolling Home" for our finale and farewells.

With thanks to all for their contributions, and a few apologies for absence in advance for the May meeting, this month's session, as convivial as ever, closed.

HH

  

ALERT ! ! - Cancellation of Lewes Local Group's April Meeting - and Change of Plan for Future Sessions

This month's (April) meeting of the SDFS Lewes Local Group was cancelled yesterday and regrettably there will now be an interim, temporary suspension of our Lewes Local Group's monthly sessions in Lewes.  

Unfortunately the arrangements made with The King's Head pub were concluded yesterday - so the search for another venue for future sessions is now under way.   

Tina, our Lead in the Lewes group, will be discussing future plans with the group's regular singers - in the hope that a new venue can be found as soon as possible. 

(NB - Any offers of a new home for the sessions would be gratefully received to add to these discussions - so if you have a new 'home' to offer or you can suggest a possible venue, please drop us a line on our SDFS email address.) 

We thank the managers at the King's Head for their hospitality in the past - and we extend apologies to any singers who may not have seen Tina's message giving notice of this change before travelling there yesterday evening.

Please watch for updates about arrangements for our Lewes Group, on this Latest News page and on our Diary Dates page. 

SDFS Public Events - Update

The clocks have changed, the Spring has just about sprung and the days are getting longer (and we hope warmer and drier) - and our public performances for 2024 are underway.

Today (April 9th) a group of us sang to an appreciative audience in Christ Church, Worthing where we had been invited to contribute to their programme of lunchtime 'concerts'. Thank you to our hosts for this opportunity.

In a few days time we will be making a return visit to sing at Petworth House on Sunday April 14th, where the National Trust has asked us back to share our songs and entertain visitors during the final day of their Spring Festival. You can see and hear us in the courtyard by the house at 11.30am and at 2.30pm.

A week later on a group of us will be at beautiful Firle Place on Sunday April 21st, for another return visit, to sing and continue our celebration of the Spring at this year's Garden Show there.  It's always a pleasure to sing in such lovely surroundings and we look forward to enjoying a glorious sunny day (fingers crossed)!

"Apple Blossom Day" will be happening the Sunday after (April 28th) in Stanmer Village, one of a number of seasonal events they hold there each year, and our group will be singing in the Orchard again at 1.15 and again at 4.00pm.  

And there's more ..... on Sunday May 5th we will be up on the hills above Keymer at Oldland Mill for their Open Day.  Another beautiful site and a splendidly renovated Sussex windmill to celebrate for it's own sake - AND another opportunity to enjoy singing and sharing our songs with all.

Then on Saturday May 18th, starting at about 10.30am, we are hoping to have an open-air Open Session to simply sing for ourselves outdoors for the simple pleasure of it, on Highdown Hill, west of Worthing.  All weather permitting of course - so watch this space for any possible changes to plans. 

Thereafter we look towards the rest of the summer and beyond - so keep an eye on our Diary Dates page and again - "Watch This Space"for more news and updates!  

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday April 4th 2024

We welcomed another new singer in the thirty-three of us at the Barn this month.  In celebration of the lengthening evening daylight after the clocks changed over Easter, our evening included songs with a springtime theme and featured those proposed for the next two SDFS public events (in Christ Church, Worthing on April 9th and at Petworth House on the 14th). Emily took the lead but at intervals invited Amaryllis and Alan (our leads for the above events) to contribute with their direction of some songs. We opened with  “On Sussex Hills”  then moved on with "It is the First of May" and the “May Day Carol”.   Alan has suggested “The Cuckoo”  for Petworth, one we have not sung for a while so some revisiting and relearning was needed for the pace, particularly for the longer notes towards the end of the verses.  Unease with the sombre last verse resulted in the decision to repeat the first verse at the end, to conclude the song with a more positive mood. There was light hearted experiment with ‘cuckoo” calls over the ending of the song - but Alan, and others, preferred not to add this to our performance at Petworth.  "Summer is A’ coming In Again” had another enjoyable airing using Alan’s new verses (which have been approved by the song’s original writer) to replace the last two verses.  Note was made of the slowing pace in the very last line of the song.  “Oak, Ash and Thorn” was requested before we took a breather and a break.  

We resumed with “When Spring Comes In” followed by “ Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun”.   At Emily’s suggestion Amaryllis led us in “Green Grow the Laurels”  to demonstrate the song's narrative and moods in our singing - concluding with an emphatic last verse and a triumphant final chorus!  “Hard Times of Old England” with men and women together was an interval before going back to the spring with "Hal ’n’ Tow”, with the extra verse Emily had found for the start of the song.  (The words for this can be found on the "Other Songs to Try” page on our Blog.)  Alan confirmed he would like to use this lengthened version of the song at Petworth, including the spontaneous hand-claps offered by some singers to punctuate the pauses the choruses. Time was by then already running out after a busy evening, but we found time to conclude with the “Parting Song” - and finally Alan’s appeal that singers for Petworth use the Blog recordings to run though “Searching for Lambs” and "My Downland Remembered’” at home in readiness for the 14th.    A late finish but an enjoyable and productive evening -thanks all!   

HH

(P.S. - Our next Worthing session on May 2nd will be held in the Church next to the Barn)

 

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 

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! 

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.

Lyrics

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.

Lyrics

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