Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday May 19th 2022

A group of 12 plus Stanley the dog gathered in the Chichester Inn for a few drinks and to sing.  Thank you for the warm welcome given to us by the Landlord and staff as our tables were all reserved and displayed vases of lovely blossoms. Two new members joined us, Lillian for her first visit and Julia who was with us last month, both excellent singers who picked up the tunes very quickly.  

 As usual the meeting was a banterful social occasion and a chance to experience the fun of singing together, and this month also to practice some of the songs that might be sung at the Stansted gig.  We sang 7 songs in the first half, warming up our vocal chords on ”Country Life" (briefly accompanied by a falsetto harmony contributed by another guest at the pub) before moving on to other numbers.  Whilst trying to keep a lively pace and maintain the starting keys, we covered: “When Spring Comes In”; “Searching For Lambs”; “Drink Me Brave Boys”; “Rosebuds in June”; “The Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun” and “Hard Times of Old England”. Then after the interval: “Oak and Ash and Thorn”; “One for the Rook”; “Turtle Dove”; “Lark in the Morning” and “Jim the Carter Lad” before closing with the “Parting Song”, ideal as an end piece.

 

We discussed the draft gig-list and remembering the rather difficult conditions when singing to a mostly moving audience and against background noise, we all believed the more upbeat songs (like “Oak and Ash and Thorn” and “ Jim the Carter Lad”) would do better than our quieter numbers, however much they might be our favourites. The final choice of songs will be confirmed once our time slots to sing at Stansted have been decided. 

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday May 17th 2022

Eleven singers spent a lovely evening revelling in song.  As this is probably the last session that Margo will attend at Lewes,Tina decided to let everyone choose the programme and this is the diverse and not entirely Sussex list:

“Rosebuds in June”, “On Sussex Hills”, “Pleasant and Delightful”, “Oldland Mill”, “Littlehampton Collier Lads”, “Searching for Lambs”, “The Sussex Wedding Song” (Come Write Me Down), “Hal-n-Tow”, a constructive session working through Alan’s “A Lammas Carol”, “Fathom the Bowl”, “Turtle Dove”, “ Bee Boys Song”, “ Hares on the Mountain”, (I shall adopt this as a Welsh song as Pen Y Fan will be in sight!) and “When Spring Comes In”.  

Beryl and Amaryllis joined us from Worthing and John and Gaynor who attended the original Lewes workshop in 2011 came along too and sang “The Parting Glass” and “The Leaving of Liverpool” as farewell songs and then we finished with “The Parting Song” and “Thousands or More”.

Sometimes, I do wonder why I am leaving such a wonderful group of people and such a varied landscape, so you are not alone in the puzzlement!  Thank you for all your good wishes and friendship over the years.  Golier – whatever that may mean.

"Words and Music" of May

The link below has kindly been forwarded to us by one of our singers.  It's to the Radio 3 "Words and Music" programme, with the theme of "May".  It includes music, readings and songs, and there are some lovely versions of a couple of the May songs that the SDFS also sing.  (On catch-up, it is possible to skim through and pick out the bits you like.)  

Here's the link

Event Cancellation Notice

We are very sorry to say the Saddlescombe Farm Open Day on June 12th, at which we were due to sing, has been cancelled. There may be another opportunity for us to sing there in September at a new event they are currently planning.  Details to follow. 

Worthing Local Group Report - Wednesday May 11th 2022

This month's evening at the Barn began with the presentation of a farewell card and gifts to one of our longstanding members, Margo, who has played an important part in the success of the South Downs Folk Singers since it began in 2013.  She will be missed by us all - but she remains an honorary member of the SDFS and we hope to see and sing with her again whenever she wants to visit.

We started our singing with a Sussex anthem "On Sussex Hills" before working on "One For the Rook", and "Searching For Lambs" with its lovely harmonies.  Emily then led us down a different path for an enjoyable sortie to sing an ancient catch "As I Walked Out One May Morning" - the fun and pleasure of singing it increased as we progressed towards achieving a four part round. Thanks Em, more please!    Emily's teaching continued, enabling us to learn the first verse or two plus the chorus of "Oldland Mill" the good old way - by ear!  After a break we returned to "Oldland Mill", adding the extra parts to the melody. Then, whilst May is still with us, "Hal an Tow" and "When Spring Comes In" were given another airing, before Alan and Em looked ahead and combined to sing for us a new one - the beautiful "Lamas Carol" which Alan has written and we hope to learn at future sessions.  By popular demand "The Bee Boys Song" and "Rolling Home" were sung, before we closed with "The Parting Song" - and more goodbyes and thank-yous to Margo. 

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday April 21st 2022

Singers gathered for another sociable evening of singing at The Chichester Inn.   Starting with some songs from the set planned for the event at Oldland Mill (in Keymer) on May 1st, including: "Country Life", "When Spring Comes In", "It Is The First of May"and 'Thousands or More".  "Searching For Lambs", the "Parting Song" and "One For the Rook" were also sung and enjoyed - and a couple of new songs were presented.  Dave shared "The South Country", and Gordon sang a song he'd written: "The Termite Hoer" (based on a recent typo in the title of one already in our repertoire!).  Join us for more songs and singing at the next Chichester session on May 19th.  

Chichester Canal Bicentenary Celebrations - Video

For your interest here is the 'You Tube' video made by the organisers of Chichester Canal's Anniversary Celebrations where we sang on April 9th.  

About 12 minutes in you'll see and hear our performance of "Ale Glorious Ale".  You may also spot some familiar faces in the crowds and during the shanty singing.   

Thanks again to all who contributed.

A Song to Try

Here is a new song using an old tune and inspired by a typo in the songs listed for one of our recent public events!  It has been written and offered by Gordon from our Chichester group. 

"Termite Hoer" - to be sung to the tune of "The Turmut Hoer"

You'll find the lyrics using the link below.

Lyrics