Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday June 23rd 2022

Fifteen singers (and two very well-behaved dogs) arrived for our monthly sing at the Chichester Inn and we had a very jolly and sociable evening. Expertly led by Alan we spent the first half practising and learning some new songs, notably Stuart Leon’s "Oldland Mill", "My Downland Remembered", which is a poem by E.V.Lucas set to music by Alan Wheeler, and "A Lammas Carol", with words and tune also written by Alan. We followed these songs by singing "The Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" and "The Loyal Lover". Then Dave introduced us to a Sussex song based on Hilaire Belloc’s "The South Country", which has a very catchy chorus. It was agreed that Dave should try to seek permission for us to learn this song in future.

We had a lengthy interval which allowed us to chat and order more drinks. I especially enjoyed a pint of Long Man Brewery’s Old Man original old ale, but other beverages were of course available! Then we sang out the evening with "Ale Glorious Ale", the "Saucy Sailor", "Rosebuds in June", the "Parting Song" and finished with "Rolling Home". Our singers are very good at bringing their song words with them. Sometimes however song sheets are found to be in short supply and there was great hilarity when Sue and Julia announced that they were happy to share their “saucy sailor” between them!

It was a most enjoyable evening. We hope to see lots more of you again next month at the Chichester Inn on Thursday 21st July when once again we will have fun singing songs old and new that connect us with our beautiful county of Sussex!

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday June 21st 2022.

Only seven quality singers tonight:  sadly Mac could not be with us.  We were disappointed not to have sung at the Jubilee Celebrations at Saltdean Lido, but in the open air seven singers are not enough and with only one man we didn't have the balance of voices.   In the Lewes Room of The John Harvey Tavern we can hear ourselves and produce a really good sound.  As we are in June, we had to start with “Rosebuds in June” and ”The Nightingale” before working on“A Lammas Carol”, we are quite confident with “Oldland Mill” now, as also,  “Country Life” and “Green Grows the Laurel” before a break.   After topping up our glasses, it was time to work on “Birds On The Spray”, “The Brave Eleven”, Ray’s “Forlorn Oak” (which reminds Tina of “Life of a Man” not sung tonight), then easing into “The Smugglers Song”, “The Parting Song”, “East Sussex Drinking Song” and finishing with “Thousands or More”. 

Weald & Downland Museum Midsummer Celebrations - Video

For your interest, here is a short video made of us whilst we sang "Rosebuds in June" during one of our sets at the Weald & Downland Living Museum's 'Midsummer Celebrations' last Saturday, June 18th.  Filmed and shared with us by one of our audience at the event, and forwarded for this Blog by one of our singers.  Thank you both.  

A Song to Try

The words and music for "A Site for Sore Eyes" have been written by Gordon Stephenson.   He says - "The Virgin Mary Spring, located in the woods east of Petworth, is a long-revered source of holy and healing water and every year, on the patronal festival in early September, St. Mary's Church holds an afternoon walk to the spring where a short service is conducted and those attending get sprinkled.  I wrote the song in 2012 and since then it has been sung on these occasions".

You'll find the lyrics and score using the links below.

Lyrics

Score

Tune

---

A Song to Try

Here's a new song offered by Amaryliss Gunn -  "Sussex Shepherd's Song" ("Up Above Sullington").   It uses a poem by A. F. Bell set to a tune written, and sung on this recording, by Amaryliss. 

You'll find the lyrics and tune using the links below.

Lyrics

Tune

REMINDER

SDFS' Chichester Local Group will be meeting on Thursday June 23rd this month instead of June 16th .

Because of other commitments on 'Sussex Day" this week, Thursday June 16th, it has been agreed to move the SDFS Chichester Local Group session forward a week to Thursday June 23rd.

Same time (7.30 for 8.00), same place ("The Chichester Inn") - just a different week for this month only.  Back to the regular 3rd Thursday in the month as usual from July onwards.

Worthing Local Group Report - Wednesday June 8th 2022

 25 of us were at the Barn this month, with Emily leading, and newcomer Karen joining us and adding her voice to the harmonies; welcome Karen!   We launched with “Country Life” and continued with a selection of other songs also on the set list for the Stansted Garden Show event - “Jim the Carter Lad”, "Ale Glorious Ale”, “When Spring Comes In”, Gooches Beer”, “Bee Boys Song”, "One For the Rook”, "Oak and Ash and Thorn”, and last but not least, “Hard Times of Old England”, this time sung by men and women together. “Jolly Good Song”, not one we often do at sessions, was tuned to get the best start note and suitably enough heralded a break for refreshment.  “Turmut Hoer” followed before attention turned again to “Oldland Mill” to work on the lyrics, without the words in front of us, and to layer in the harmonies.  Emily briefed us about plans for our sing at the Weald and Downland Midsummer event on June 18th, and with little time left "Thousands or More” was requested as a good one to round off the evening.

Two other songs were discussed, but with no time to do more than this.  The first being different words for “The Lark in the Morning” (found in the Coppers Song Book) - and the second, the “Lamas Carol” and the harmony parts prepared for it.  We look forward to having time for both at our July meeting.   REMINDER - our July meeting at the Barn sees the start of our recently agreed change to the 1st Thursday of the month - so we'll be singing there again on Thursday July 7th.   

Current Events

The sun is just about shining again and we're looking forward to a dry sunny day and singing at the Stansted Park Garden Show tomorrow, June 11th.  The event opens at 10.00 and we'll be singing two sets there, on the steps of Stansted House, from around 11.30.

Then the following Saturday, June 18th, we'll be part of the Weald and Downland Living Museum's Midsummer Celebrations - singing during the day at the House on Sole Street, first set there at 11.30.

Why not come along to enjoy the events, the singing and the sunshine!

(For details of our other events later in the summer please refer to the Diary Page.)

Some Alternative Lyrics to Try

Here is a link to some different words for "The Lark in the Morning" (as found in the The Copper Family Song Book).  Sung to the tune we know (as listed on our Songs and Recordings page). 

Please note - some amendments to these lyrics have been proposed (at SDFS local group meetings in Sept 2022). These have been noted in the text for information (to try, discuss, and jointly agree before any changes are confirmed). 

Lyrics  

Our Events in June

June is here and the Summer has arrived!  Our "Diary Page' on this Blog lists the public events where we will be singing this month. 

Very unfortunately, and with apologies for any disappointment caused, due to Covid affecting a few of our singers we have had to cancel our appearance at the first of these, the Jubilee Celebrations at Saltdean Lido, today (June 3rd). 

We expect to be back to full strength for Saturday June 11th at the Stansted Park Garden Show, and then the following week-end Saturday June 18th at the Weald and Downland Living Museum's Midsummer Event.

The times we'll be singing at these events, and details of future events we have planned, can be found on our "Diary Page".  Please keep checking there and on this "News Page" for any additional events that may pop up as the year progresses.