Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday March 2nd 2023

We were missing a few familiar faces this month but still a good crowd gathered for our session. We began with some notices, including brief discussion of the SDFS public events proposed for this year - with many thanks again to John for his efforts in exploring and arranging these. (More details will be on this Blog's Diary Dates Page soon.)  

Our singing started with “Pleasant and Delightful” and “One For the Rook”.  Then, prompted by the problems reported from the Chichester group when it was revived at their last session, Emily led us through “The Cuckoo”, first learned by some of us in our original song workshops 10 years ago!  A gentle but rather sad song - for which Emily has created an extra more cheerful verse which was welcomed (and will probably get added to the "Other Songs to Try" page for general consideration).  We then sang Alan’s lovely song “My Downland Remembered” before returning to “The Oak” which Emily had introduced us to last month. We enjoyed the chorus again and ventured into learning the verses (these will also be added to the Other Songs to Try page soon).

After a break and some more notices of interest, we tackled “Lark in the Morning", using the Copper's version of the lyrics - after taking into account the SDFS edits here and there!  (This is already on the Other Songs to Try page and will probably be added to our Main Songs page soon, as an option alongside the original version we adopted.)  On this chilly March evening the seasons ahead were cited in the round “Summer’s Near” (also known as “Rambling Rolling Downs in Spring”), new to some so taught again by Emily, and Alan who created it.  It sounded lovely in two parts.  Last but not least we closed with the “Parting Song”.

We will be back at the Barn for our next open group session on Thursday April 6th - and before then for our SDFS private social event, our "Revels", later this month.  If you sing with any of our local groups and you would like to attend but haven't yet got a ticket, please let us know (by the SDFS email) and we’ll send you more details.