Welcome to our website for singers who want to learn and sing South Downs folk songs, old and new, sung in the traditional way. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To contact us, email: southdownsfolksingers21@gmail.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
A select group of Westerners gathered for the second post-lockdown session of the Chichester group. As well as going over a number of songs in preparation for the Advent event at Weald & Downland, we sang the "The Parting Song" and "One for the Rook". Hope to see these two fine songs added to the repertoire.
Next session is on December 16th when we will be spared the need to prepare for a performance, so party turns will be the order of the day and there may even be an instrument or two.
Ten singers socially distanced themselves in the John Harvey Tavern but the singing produced some close harmonies. Alex joined us for the first time, having found us on-line during lockdown, so we hope that he found our style suits him. We started with "Country Life" to get us going and visited "Ladies Go Dancing" and "Home Lads Home" as a reminder of the November Commemorations. Then it was straight into as many of the songs on the set list for WDLM event on 4th December as we could: "Sweet Chiming Bells", "Hark The Herald Angels Sing", "The Angel Gabriel", "I Heard a Bird Sing", "The Copper’s Christmas Song", "The Holly Bears a Berry", "Righteous Joseph", "Masters In This Hall", and "Poor Froze-Out Gardeners" and finishing with a run through of "The Parting Song" and finally "Thousands or More" as the Pub closes at 9 pm these days.
(Footnote: The Brighton Pub Carols have decided to have two sessions this year and walk the streets of Hanover on Saturday 18th and near the Level on Tuesday 21st December, but you need to register your intention to participate via Facebook; obviously no rehearsals.)
We were at The Barn in Goring again for our second regular session since resuming live singing indoors. 30 singers gathered and we welcomed old friends and new faces. Emily led us through a variety of songs, including requests and some with a forward view to the festive season when we will again be singing for the public. "Country Life" got us started, then going on to "The Woodcutters Song", "The Smugglers Song" and "Poor Froze Gardeners". Alan from our Chichester group have offered “The Parting Song” as one to try if we like it, and Emily led us through it. It was met with general approval and will likely be sung again at future sessions. (For reference, it is on the 'Songs to Try' page of this Blog.) "Sweet Chiming Bells” was the first of the festive songs requested, then "Hark the Herald Angels", and good old “The Holly and the Ivy". We spent some time enjoying the round "I heard a Bird Sing" in two then three parts, which was lovely - and also, when Emily reminded us of it, “Hey Ho Winter Snow”. “Masters of This Hall”, “The Sussex Mummers Carol” and While Shepherds Watched to the “Pentonville” tune were given an airing before we closed the evening suitably enough with “The Parting Song” again. Next session - Dec. 8th at The Barn.
Just a reminder - our next Worthing Sing will be at The Barn, on Wednesday November 10th. From 7.15 for a 7.30 start.
If you've not already done so, please let us know by email if you're planning to attend. Hope to see you there!
SDFS LEWES - THIRD SUNDAY OF MONTH ZOOM MEETING - ALL SINGERS WELCOME
