Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday October 19th 2023

Fourteen stalwart singers came out on a rainy evening to a fairly quiet venue, where we entertained and probably surprised those that passed through the bar, with a selection of Christmas songs and carols which as Alan explained, was in preparation for the forthcoming SDFS Christmas events.
 
The evening opened with "Coppers Christmas Song" – a good rendition, familiar to all.   There was some discussion at the end about the last few words, were we wishing everyone a Happy Christmas, New Year or Winter? The  "Pentonville"  version of While Shepherds Watched followed, well sung by all.  Having confidently started, the group tackled a new offering from the Lewes Group –  "Now Christmas is Come".  Dave G was enthusiastic about the new possibilities and confidently led the group through this and followed it with  "When It’s Christmas Time (Ring Bells Ring)".  The group were not keen on the latter but nevertheless tackled it under Dave’s excellent tutelage.  Again there was some discussion about line scanning in some verses.  "In The Bleak Mid-Winter"  followed with the group confidently singing this well known carol where it was felt that harmonies were definitely required to enhance and liven it up.  The group sang with equal confidence "The Angel Gabriel"  to conclude the first half of the evening.
 
The second half opened with  "Ideo", well sung and remembered by all with a discussion about the best speed it should be sung and Alan reminded all to watch the conductor whilst singing out!  This was followed by a song from the “to try” list  "The Boar’s Head Carol"  which was much enjoyed by all.  Steve A had amazingly found a link to Sussex in a Roman reference in the song!  To continue the Latin theme, Dave G was prompted to sing "Gaudete" which was quickly enhanced in the chorus by the group who added top and bottom harmonies to rousing effect!
 
Alan then invited suggestions from the floor as we had tried all the potential new material.  This resulted in  "Deck the Halls"  sung with gusto and a rendition of  "Sussex Mummers Carol"  after discussion about which verses to sing and an excellent round in three parts on the last verse. Henny had found an older version which was interesting.  Dave G requested "Falmer Carol", so he could try out the bass harmony and after discussions, the group settled on singing four verses with chorus between each, to which the base harmony by the men went well.  Henny had found references to other local carols and suggested it would be very appropriate for the SDFS to try and sing them. "The Ditchling Carol"  was one such example and all listened to a couple of versions via Steve’s mobile!  
 
To round off a very productive evening, the two new carols from Lewes were tried once more with increasing confidence ready for the Christmas season!
 
Anne S
 

A Seasonal Song to Try

Here's another ancient seasonal song, well know and loved across the land, offered by Dave Garrard for our enjoyment -  "Guadete".   

You'll find the lyrics using the link below.  Dave has provided both the English version (page 1) and the original latin (page 2)

Lyrics

You'll find the tune, a high harmony and a low harmony using the links below. 

Tune

High Harmony sung on second chorus

Low Harmony sung on second chorus

Tune and Harmonies sung together

Lewes Local Group Report – Tuesday October 17th 2023

10 singers made their way to the Kings Head, including new singer Celia, and tackled the usual mix of old and new, seasonal, and general songs. 

We started out with old favourites “On Sussex Hills” and “Poor Froze Out Gardeners” with references to snow, wind and seasonal unemployment.  There are four remembrance songs in our repertoire and, as in previous years, we sang two tonight and will sing the other two in November.  “All Things Are Quite Silent”, sung mainly by the women, is a plaintive lament from the point of view of a wife whose husband was pressganged into the Navy in the Napoleonic Wars.  The contrasting robust “Follow Me ‘Ome”, sung mainly by the men, is a setting of a Kipling poem where soldiers mourn the loss of a comrade.  We had another look at “Oak Tree Song”, a suggested new song and then “Run of the Downs” to the new tune written by Worthing member Amaryllis a couple of years ago.  She said tonight she’s unsure if she still likes this tune but was met with loud cries of approval from other singers who love it! We had a second go at one we started last month, “Summer is a-Coming in Again”, another suggested new song which isn’t set in summer, but in winter looking forward.  The first half ended with “Coppers Christmas Song”, not really about Christmas but more about changes in nature and the coming turn of the year. 

After the comfort and socialising break, we sang three of our slower and more reflective pieces – “Lammas Carol”, “Life of a Man” and “My Downland Remembered” (including the new verse about the sea journey to Australia).  This was followed by “Seasons Turn” which talks about all the seasons, saying for each of them, “oh THIS is the time I love best”.  We spent some time on another newish song “All Among the Barley” before singing by request “Hard Times of Old England” and winding up a very pleasant and tuneful evening with “East Sussex Drinking Song” and “Come Stranger Come Friend”.
 
Tina
 
 

The Fittleworth Harvest Supper (October 7th 2023) - with many thanks to Alan, our lead for this Event

18 of us crammed onto a stage amidst haybales and chairs to entertain guests at the village Harvest Supper.  We chose songs that had some connection with harvest time, Steve W acting as our song-announcer.   Our scratch band of two guitars, one concertina, a flagelolet, a recorder and a melodeon played folk tunes as the guests were entering and finding their places in a beautifully decorated village hall.  

The SDFS was given a table for itself where cottage pies were eaten, with veggie alternatives available.   After clearing away the first course we climbed back on the stage.  Dave G presented a lively short history of the SDFS and the aims of the group.  Following this, a short poem was recited about harvest which led into three punchy shorter songs before we descended to eat our desert. 

Then once more to the stage for an hour’s worth of relevant songs.  During this session Chris, our own historian who had scoured many archives, presented anecdotes concerning the village and its inhabitants, many of them well-known. This created quite a noise amongst the guests, with, ’I knew him, I didn’t know that, surely that can’t be true, that’s where I live now’.  

Amaryllis sang a humorous solo to the tune of, ‘We Plough the Fields and Scatter’, "Harvest Moan" by Sid Kipper. The audience joined us in a chorus read from their chorus sheets.  They sang with gusto also joining in the choruses of "The Turmut Hoer" and "One for the Rook". 

Then a very beautiful poem, read by Anne, about the geese sensing the Winter to come and setting off to the South.  This was followed by a round with audience participation to the tune of 'Wassail All Your Apple Trees'. A poem about the local pub, "The Swan", fitted perfectly into the round.  The song the "Lammas Carol" was preceded by an interesting introduction by Steve, who also quoted a poem spoken at Lammas which explains how to know the person you will fall for. The song was accompanied by a drum to give it bit of a more-full sound. 

We finished with "The Parting Song" and a cry of GOLIER. 
ALAN

Worthing Local Group Report (including the SDFS AGM) Report - Thursday October 5th 2023

We gradually assembled 31 singers for our session at the Barn, which started early to accommodate the necessary proceedings of the SDFS’ Annual General Meeting (the first since 2019 and the Covid gap).  Officers' reports were given, committee elections held (unfortunately without confirmation of a new Chairperson), and generous words were expressed to the outgoing Chair' ( gratefully received and much appreciated by H.)   

Some general discussion followed from comments and queries made about our public events, the introduction of new material for our performances, and the ongoing problem of managing the limited time available at our monthly sessions.  Suggestion was again made that we arrange occasional extra sessions or workshops to learn new songs, develop harmonies, and for special event rehearsals.  (We have two such sessions already booked to prepare for our Yuletide events - in addition to enjoying our seasonal songs at the SDFS local sessions in the next few months.)  All ideas and suggestions shared at the AGM will be considered with our leads and singers at our local groups (and with our Events Man, John, who was unable to attend this meeting) - and opportunities will be explored to take them forward if we can. 

Once the time allotted for the AGM had run over, and out, we took a breather to quench thirsts and rearrange tables and chairs - for our singing to commence.  Emily was unable to join us this evening but Alan generously offered to step up and lead, which he did with his usual positive and energetic approach - many thanks Alan!

 

We set off with  “Ale Glorious Ale”,  "Farmer’s Toast”  and  "Brisk Young Plough Boy”.  A solo from Alan followed, with some support from a few singers familiar with the song,  “Love and the Ball”  (about stool ball) to revive it in a Worthing session (it's probably better known in our Lewes and Chichester groups).  We all came together again to sing  “The Oak Tree”,  the "Lammas Carol”  (at the briskish pace preferred by its creator Alan), and then, maybe a little prematurely,  “The Parting Song”.  By request and in tune with Alan’s suggestions,  “All Among the Barley”  and  “The Turtle Dove”  were enjoyed and preceded another welcome solo from him, "Three Drunken Maidens”.  The latter was remembered by some from its first airing at a Worthing session in 2019 (pre-Covid) and enjoyed by all, and positive feedback suggested it would be a lively one to add to our performance repertoire.

We continued with  “Oak, Ash and Thorn”,  “The Constant Lovers"  and  "One for the Rook”, before Alan sang for us the story of  “Bold Reynard”.   The mood involved by its sad ending may have prompted the last request of the evening,  “Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun”  which brought a busy evening to a gentle close.   Thanks again to Alan and everyone who stayed the course - and hope we’ll see you for our next full evening of songs at the Barn on November 2nd.

H.