Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday April 18th 2024

A small but vocal group of ten singers gathered for this month's sing, with two more, weary from their busy day, arriving much later just in time for our last few songs.  Although missing the company and voices of Alan, Anne and Stephen A, we were all ready for a good old sing - but our start was somewhat delayed by low light levels in the area we usually occupy (albeit boosted by a cheery string of fairy lights). There being no solution to this, a move to the other better lit bar area was negotiated with our amiable hostess, and once settled around the tables there we began with "Country Life" before another 14 songs, some in group, some solo, some half and half!  

The songs requested or offered moved on to revival of an old, not much used of late, favourite "Rolling in the Dew".   "Hard Times"  came next, then, with Chris and Lyn leading on the verses, "To Be a Farmer's Boy" - which we agreed would be a good one to learn better and use more often.  Gordon offered to lead on his "Three Moles" song (in anticipation of the Chichester SDFS group singing again at the pub of this name in Selham for our June 20th meeting).  Those familiar with his words joined in and as usual everyone enjoyed it.  

The "Farmer's Toast" flowed well, which maybe inspired the next two: "Fathom the Bowl" and the "West Sussex Drinking Song" which covered the tos and fros of individual refreshment breaks and kept the singing going.  The next popular choice was "Summer is A'coming in Again"- this time sticking with the original verses of the song (whilst in discussion also complimenting the additional verses Alan has provided).  "Smugglers' Song" preceded "Saucy Sailor", the latter another one not often sung by us but we just about managed the narrative of verses split between men and women.  

After a late arrival, Les offered and sang to us a "1930s protest song" about "The Man Who Watered Down the Workers Beer" by song writer Paddy Ryan.  Changing mood and direction to conclude the evening on a seasonal note we sang "It is the First of May" and "Hal n Tow" (including the added first verse) - leaving just "Rolling Home" for our finale and farewells.

With thanks to all for their contributions, and a few apologies for absence in advance for the May meeting, this month's session, as convivial as ever, closed.

HH

  

ALERT ! ! - Cancellation of Lewes Local Group's April Meeting - and Change of Plan for Future Sessions

This month's (April) meeting of the SDFS Lewes Local Group was cancelled yesterday and regrettably there will now be an interim, temporary suspension of our Lewes Local Group's monthly sessions in Lewes.  

Unfortunately the arrangements made with The King's Head pub were concluded yesterday - so the search for another venue for future sessions is now under way.   

Tina, our Lead in the Lewes group, will be discussing future plans with the group's regular singers - in the hope that a new venue can be found as soon as possible. 

(NB - Any offers of a new home for the sessions would be gratefully received to add to these discussions - so if you have a new 'home' to offer or you can suggest a possible venue, please drop us a line on our SDFS email address.) 

We thank the managers at the King's Head for their hospitality in the past - and we extend apologies to any singers who may not have seen Tina's message giving notice of this change before travelling there yesterday evening.

Please watch for updates about arrangements for our Lewes Group, on this Latest News page and on our Diary Dates page. 

SDFS Public Events - Update

The clocks have changed, the Spring has just about sprung and the days are getting longer (and we hope warmer and drier) - and our public performances for 2024 are underway.

Today (April 9th) a group of us sang to an appreciative audience in Christ Church, Worthing where we had been invited to contribute to their programme of lunchtime 'concerts'. Thank you to our hosts for this opportunity.

In a few days time we will be making a return visit to sing at Petworth House on Sunday April 14th, where the National Trust has asked us back to share our songs and entertain visitors during the final day of their Spring Festival. You can see and hear us in the courtyard by the house at 11.30am and at 2.30pm.

A week later on a group of us will be at beautiful Firle Place on Sunday April 21st, for another return visit, to sing and continue our celebration of the Spring at this year's Garden Show there.  It's always a pleasure to sing in such lovely surroundings and we look forward to enjoying a glorious sunny day (fingers crossed)!

"Apple Blossom Day" will be happening the Sunday after (April 28th) in Stanmer Village, one of a number of seasonal events they hold there each year, and our group will be singing in the Orchard again at 1.15 and again at 4.00pm.  

And there's more ..... on Sunday May 5th we will be up on the hills above Keymer at Oldland Mill for their Open Day.  Another beautiful site and a splendidly renovated Sussex windmill to celebrate for it's own sake - AND another opportunity to enjoy singing and sharing our songs with all.

Then on Saturday May 18th, starting at about 10.30am, we are hoping to have an open-air Open Session to simply sing for ourselves outdoors for the simple pleasure of it, on Highdown Hill, west of Worthing.  All weather permitting of course - so watch this space for any possible changes to plans. 

Thereafter we look towards the rest of the summer and beyond - so keep an eye on our Diary Dates page and again - "Watch This Space"for more news and updates!  

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday April 4th 2024

We welcomed another new singer in the thirty-three of us at the Barn this month.  In celebration of the lengthening evening daylight after the clocks changed over Easter, our evening included songs with a springtime theme and featured those proposed for the next two SDFS public events (in Christ Church, Worthing on April 9th and at Petworth House on the 14th). Emily took the lead but at intervals invited Amaryllis and Alan (our leads for the above events) to contribute with their direction of some songs. We opened with  “On Sussex Hills”  then moved on with "It is the First of May" and the “May Day Carol”.   Alan has suggested “The Cuckoo”  for Petworth, one we have not sung for a while so some revisiting and relearning was needed for the pace, particularly for the longer notes towards the end of the verses.  Unease with the sombre last verse resulted in the decision to repeat the first verse at the end, to conclude the song with a more positive mood. There was light hearted experiment with ‘cuckoo” calls over the ending of the song - but Alan, and others, preferred not to add this to our performance at Petworth.  "Summer is A’ coming In Again” had another enjoyable airing using Alan’s new verses (which have been approved by the song’s original writer) to replace the last two verses.  Note was made of the slowing pace in the very last line of the song.  “Oak, Ash and Thorn” was requested before we took a breather and a break.  

We resumed with “When Spring Comes In” followed by “ Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun”.   At Emily’s suggestion Amaryllis led us in “Green Grow the Laurels”  to demonstrate the song's narrative and moods in our singing - concluding with an emphatic last verse and a triumphant final chorus!  “Hard Times of Old England” with men and women together was an interval before going back to the spring with "Hal ’n’ Tow”, with the extra verse Emily had found for the start of the song.  (The words for this can be found on the "Other Songs to Try” page on our Blog.)  Alan confirmed he would like to use this lengthened version of the song at Petworth, including the spontaneous hand-claps offered by some singers to punctuate the pauses the choruses. Time was by then already running out after a busy evening, but we found time to conclude with the “Parting Song” - and finally Alan’s appeal that singers for Petworth use the Blog recordings to run though “Searching for Lambs” and "My Downland Remembered’” at home in readiness for the 14th.    A late finish but an enjoyable and productive evening -thanks all!   

HH

(P.S. - Our next Worthing session on May 2nd will be held in the Church next to the Barn)

 

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday March 21st 2024

A small but enthusiastic eight singers, plus a couple of interested parents of one of our number, came along to take part in this month’s Chi SDFS.

 
The theme of the evening was definitely “Spring” in spite of the weather and fittingly opened with "Hal and Tow" including a new opening verse and some discussion about inclusion of the St George’s verse and the timing in certain lines.  Increasing the tempo the second time around seemed to improve the feel of it.  "Oak and Ash and Thorn" followed with gusto and Steve confirmed with some authority that Alder was definitely used in clog making!  In keeping with the theme of the evening "When Spring Comes In" came next with comment about the slightly odd arrangement of chorus and verse and discussion about the way “sweet retire” had probably replaced “sweet attire” as it came down the years.  "Searching for Lambs" came before farming topics "One for the Rook and Ale Glorious Ale" and whether or not our MPs in Parliament needed a copy of the song.  The first half was rounded up with old favourite "Rosebuds in June and It is the First of May".
 
Alan was unable to resist singing Bold Sir John in the interval – fairly quickly recognised as a masterpiece of word play from the pen of the late Ronnie Barker.
 
Numbers depleted by a further departure, it was decided that the evening would finish a little earlier than usual and the second half opened with "The Nightingale" - generally felt to be the SDFS Anthem!  "May Day Carol" followed and then the relatively new addition to the repertoire "Summer is a Coming In Again".  Alan was pleased to report that he’d had a conversation with the composer Mick Ryan who had given his permission for the SDFS to sing it out and even complimented Alan on his two additional verses.  "Three Drunken Maidens" was the next offering with discussion about timing in verse 3 and this was followed by "Come Stranger Come Friend".  To finish off, "The Parting Song" made a change from the usual Rolling Home.  
 
Just as the choir was departing, a couple visiting from the Midlands arrived and expressed great disappointment that we’d finished singing, to which Dave G led a rousing "Country Life" which they joined in with enthusiasm!
 
Anne S
 

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday March 18th 2024

There were 13 at today's session including another Jo, also from Lewes, a new member attending for a taster session. Tina had prepared a mix of seasonal songs and other more general songs and said we would be spending time going through harmonies for several of these. After some trial and error, the background music from the other bar was obligingly turned off by the barman and we got started.
 
We warmed up with the lively and raucous “Ale Glorious Ale” and the contrasting gentle “Turtle Dove” (paying attention to both the tune and the one harmony and explaining for the newer singers that it was collected locally by Lucy Broadwood). Next, a pair of seasonal songs - “It is the First of May” (which we first sang on May Day at Oldland Mill a couple of years ago, we’re back there on the 5th May this year so very close) and “May Day Carol” with some discussion about these songs being similar in wording to some of the Christmas carols in our repertoire, and about travelling round the “big houses” singing for money.  We then tried out existing harmonies, and some people added their own, for “Pleasant and Delightful”, “Sussex by the Sea” (the new non-military version of the words by Amaryllis from our Worthing group), and “The Nightingale”.  Some time was devoted to “Oldland Mill” , including Ray relating how his friend Stuart wrote the song, gave it to us and came along in the audience when we performed it at an open day at the mill; and explaining that the words ‘don't bite too hard on your morning toast, be careful what you chew’ arise from the grit which came off the new grind stones into the first flour after the restoration of the mill. We went through the chorus several times in three-part harmony and then ended the first part of the evening with the more familiar “Sussex Wedding Song”.
 
During the break, as well as a welcome refilling of glasses for thirsty throats, there was wide ranging chat about the group Lankum and their latest Mercury prize nominated album (sparked by the band T-shirt that Celia was wearing); Lisa Knapp’s album about May (as recommended by Nick last month); the Seahaven poets’ sessions in Seaford; Grace Petrie (Billy Bragg style singer I recently saw in concert); and Adrian’s weekly Wednesday evening DJ slot on Eastbourne Radio DGH (he rotates genres and it’s folk again in a few weeks’ time) https://www.radiodgheastbourne.com/.
 
Back to South Downs songs again, we revisited several old favourites, again putting in harmonies for most of them: “Country Life”, “The Bee-Boy’s Song” (Tina mused on the unusual word “dwine” which she thought came from Dutch, one of her ancestral languages, and Wikipedia later confirmed its Germanic roots), “On Sussex Hills” (with some information about Hilaire Belloc), “A Smuggler’s Song” (with some discussion about Rudyard Kipling and Rottingdean) and ending with our own “East Sussex Drinking Song” (written by Adrian to go with Belloc’s West Sussex one).
 
Another enjoyable and interesting session. There was a consensus that it was the best this year and Tina said it sounded so good she wished we had recorded it!
 
Do come and join us anytime, to sing or to listen, if this sounds like your kind of evening.

 
Ken 

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday March 7th 2024

A merry band of 35 singers met at the Barn for our March session with the Spring very much in mind.  Notices about our spring season public events opened proceedings before the main business of the evening - singing.   Suitably enough we began with “When Spring Comes In” , followed by  "Hal n Tow” for which Emily sang for us a first verse we have not thus far included.  We didn’t learn and sing it at this session but it could be added in the future (so it's now on our “Other Songs to Try” SDFS Blog page for reference).  Moving further into the spring we sang the lovely  "Ladies Go Dancing" with the arrangement of women leading and men’s voices backing them initially with a gentle hum and later with softly sung words as the song progressed.  We gave it a second go to polish the pace and the emphases in the phrasing.  

In a pause from the spring theme we sang  "Come Stranger Come Friend”, which has been used in the Chichester and Lewes SDFS sessions but not in Worthing so deserves more of our attention.  Alan and Anne reminded us of it in their duet before we all had a go and agreed we should sing it more often.   Returning to the spring “It is the First of May” came next, with Alan and Emily highlighting the fall and rise of notes in the last line of the chorus - lower on ‘of’ and rising on ‘May’, which was duly practiced.  Before a break we closed the first half with a bright rendition of the “May Day Carol”.     

We resuming our vocal journey towards warmer and longer days with “Summer is A’Commin’ in Again” - including a couple of lovely verses Alan has offered either as substitutes or additions to the song.  (They are now available as appendices to the original on the SDFS Blog's "Other Songs to Try" page, and also on our "Songs by Us" page.)  This reopened discussion about the possible meaning and intention of, and some previously voiced objections to, the last couple of verses in the original (with their references to battles, fighting men and the slain).  Agreement was reached that Alan’s verses are available to be used when and if preferred  - or they could simply be added to an already good song.  (In this discussion due respect was paid to the creator of the original, noting that his views had not yet been explored nor permissions given - but we hoped our interest in his song and our wish to sing and enjoy it would be appreciated by him as a positive.)   

After that debate ”The Oak Tree Song” was requested and unanimously welcomed.  We took time again, under Emily’s careful guidance and supervision, to continue to develop the high and low harmonies for this lovely song, as well as polish the melody.  There is still enjoyable work to be done to be really fluent, but the combined sound after just a few goes was already rewarding and lovely to be a part of - and thank you again Emily for what you bring to our singing!

Last but never least - we raised the rafters to finish the session with the tried, tested and, by most, much loved “Thousands or More” - an anthem from our original workshop days and a reminder of how much the Copper family have helped to keep the songs of the South Downs alive.   And thanks to everyone who brings their voice to the "South Downs Folk Singers", you are helping us to do this too! 

Additional Verses to Try for "Summer Is a-Coming In Again"

Alan has offered two additional or alternative verses to try with the original lyrics by Mick Ryan.  It has been suggested that if not used to replace any of the original song, Alan's verses could be added at the end.  

Mick Ryan has given permission for the SDFS to sing his song out and he has complimented Alan on the two additional verses.  

"Jack Frost he will be banished and the sun will tell us Spring
Is waiting there to greet us with new life it soon will bring,
The hedgerow will be greening while the summer birds will sing.
For Summer is a-coming in again.

The Summer days are longer when we’re waken in the dawn,

By cuckoos calls and martlets as they welcome in the morn,

To see the wealth of nature is to meet a world reborn,

As Summer is a-coming in again".

You can find the full lyrics on the link below.

Lyrics

An Additional Verse to Try for "Hal an Tow"

Emily has sourced and offered an extra verse for the start of the song for us to try and see if we'd like to include it. 

"Since Man was first created, 

 His works have been debated 

And we have celebrated 

The coming of the Spring".

You can find the full lyrics on the link below.

Lyrics

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday February 19th 2024

12 singers met for our Monday night gathering at the King’s Head pub, the first for the new evening!  Very sadly the enforced change by the pub from Tuesday to another night (with Monday becoming the chosen evening) has meant that Jan, Angela, Amaryllis, Beryl and Chrissie are no longer able to come to the Lewes nights – you will be greatly missed...

It did mean however that a couple of newer or new singers were able to make it, so we’re pleased to have them. And we were welcomed  by the barman, which was very good! After a brief hello from Tina we started off the evening by introducing ourselves to each other before singing a mixture of longstanding and newer items in the repertoire.

In the first part we covered “Jim the Carter Lad”, “Birds on the Spray”, “Rosebuds in June”, “Magpie”, “Searching for Lambs”, “Green Grow the Laurel”, “East Sussex Drinking Song”, “Ha’nacker Mill”, and “Oldland Mill“ (briefly trying out the two low and high harmony parts for the latter song}, and more generally thinking ahead to the very welcome promise of Spring, with perhaps singing for some of us at Firle, Stanmer Park and Oldland Mill. We also enjoyed practising Mick Ryan’s “Summer is a-Coming in Again”  and although the two final verses are about battle we felt they appeared to be allegorical references about good and evil (as in mummers’ plays) so appropriate for performance overall.

Then time for a welcome break to refill glasses & chat! 

After which there were various notices from Tina. Emily will sadly no longer be leading the singing at any events, due to other commitments, and the leading will be shared between Alan, Amaryllis and Tina. The SDFS committee meets every 3 months, and another Lewes representative would be very welcome. A 'Social and Sing' event is being looked into for Highdown Hill in mid May and details will be confirmed later.

 

We then went on to our final songs: “Fathom the Bowl” and “When Spring Comes In”, followed by the lovely “My Downland Remembered” and “The Oak Tree Song”, and closed with the very evocative songs “Come Stranger, Come Friend” and “Thousands or More”. 

A good evening!

Margaret

 

A Song to Try - The Holly King and the Oak King

Another new song for us, "The Holly King and the Oak King" - written by J. L. Dean, a writer who grew up in Chichester and is a member of the South Downs Folk Singers.  

She heard the legend of the Holly and the Oak King just before Christmas 2023 and thought it would make a good folk song. The melody was composed especially by Susan Legg a singer, pianist and composer who lives in West Sussex and trained at the Royal College of Music. She is a great fan of J. L. Dean's writing and is delighted to collaborate with her on this song!

Lyrics

Score

Tune

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday February 15th 2024

A very respectable eighteen singers came along on an unseasonably warm February evening to acknowledge recent Valentine’s Day and start to prepare for the upcoming SDFS Spring/Summer season.  It was also good to be able to welcome two new potential members who came along to “try us out!”

"Country Life" was an appropriately rousing opening (to the accompaniment of a determined stamp by Alan to keep at pace.  This "The Bee Boys Song" followed– known well but extra care required to hit the high note in the middle.  "Summer Is a Coming In Again" came next, with two new verses provided by Alan at the request of the Worthing Group and to some extent the Lewes group, who found the original last two verses a little too war-like for today’s difficult times.  There was some discussion about whether this should be done and whether or not Mick Ryan, the Author, needed to be consulted.  By way of a complete contrast, Julia presented and sang a new Christmas song that she had written and her singing teacher had set to music – The Holly King and the Oak King with a interesting minor note ending to reflect Winter’s arrival.  The evening could not pass without a nod to yesterday’s Valentine’s Day, "The Sussex Wedding Song" followed and was successfully split into men/women groups in view of the healthy number of attendees.  The relatively new offering of "Come Stranger Come Friend" was tried next.  Not everyone knew it but joined in as it progressed.  It was maybe one for the future.  There was much amusement and discussion about the very traditional local sport of stoolball around the singing of "Love and the Ball".  This including some useful background on particular prizes – a Tansy Cake that might have been presented to the winners.  This could contribute to an interesting introduction when singing out.  A rousing rendition of "Drink Old England Dry" followed, with discussion about a “double ending” or not - to be taken up at Worthing.  The first half concluded with "The Oak Tree Song" and some discussion about “Scottish snaps”!
 
The second half opened with "Follow Me Home" by popular request, sung by all - usually sung by men only.  At the start, Dave G reminded everyone by singing a few lines of the tune.  "Hannaker Mill" came next with a possible modern verse added by Alan which no doubt would not be acceptable to the esteemed Belloc!  The ladies took the lead in "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" and "The Constant Lover" was sung by all with some discussion about the content.  Staying with the Spring theme, "It Is the First of May" followed which may have caused some confusion amongst casual listeners in the bar!  To round the off the session, there was a hearty rendition of "Rolling Home" a very popular finish to the evening.
 
 
Anne S

 

Alert! - The Lewes Group Sessions have moved to the Third Monday of the month (from Feb. 19th)

The SDFS Lewes local group has needed to change its regular meeting day. 

We are pleased to confirm that the monthly sessions will continue, but they've had to move from the third Tuesday to the 3rd Monday of each month.

This new arrangement will start VERY soon - for this month's session on  Monday February 19th

(Venue: The Kings Head, 9 Southover High Street, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1HS.)                                                 

A warm welcome awaits all comers!

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday February 2nd 2024

33 singers in good voice, including another two new faces, came together for our February session.  A theme for the evening, introduced by Emily, was one of revival after the winter and looking ahead towards the spring.  Our singing included choices by request and or to revisit old favourites and established songs, with also some newer material to carry us on into the year.

"Country Life” got us off to a good start as it often does, followed by another old favourite "Green Grow the Laurels” then "Lark in the Morning” (using the amended Coppers' version).   "Rosebuds in June" (with guidance from Emily to stay on the same lower note for ‘lasses’ if the original high note to finish proves difficult to reach and voices fade at that point).  "Smugglers Song”, "When Spring Comes In” and  "Hares on the Mountain” saw out the first half of the evening before we took a breather for refreshment - and to use our voices for chats instead!

With renewed vigour the "Bee Boys Song”  launched the second half, before we took on the challenge of singing all the verses of the "Song of the Sussex Downsman” with surprising success.   Looking towards its inclusion in our song sets for performance if liked by all our groups, we enjoyed again a song originally brought to us from Dave in our Chichester group, "Summer is A’commin In Again” .  Moving towards the close of the session we wound down, first with "Home Lads Home”, then "Life of a Man” and last but not least the "Parting Song”.

Thanks to everyone for turning out on a chill February evening. We hope to see you again at our next Barn session on March 7th, when with lengthening days and spring on our doorstep we can again celebrate the changing seasons with song.  

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday January 18th 2024

Thirteen singers shook off the last vestiges of seasonal celebrations and faced the New Year weather to practice songs in preparation for the forthcoming SDFS Spring/Summer season.
 
Alan reminded all that there was now a request for a £2 contribution to SDFS funds.  There was some discussion and clarification from Henny about this.
 
The evening opened with "Ale, Glorious Ale" sung with enthusiasm and moved on to a suitably hopeful "Summer Is a Coming In Again" a new addition to the repertoire well remembered by all.  There was some discussion about which verses to retain.  A couple of tries at "The Oak Tree" Song followed with the second set in a higher key at a slightly faster pace which was much preferred.  "Hal and Toe" proved a popular next rendition and lead up to the forthcoming Spring. "My Dowland Remembered" was tried next – proving popular with some members of the group.  Alan sang his new composition as a penultimate contribution to the first half of the evening -  My Sussex Maid – a Ronnie Barker style rendition of a Sussex song.  "Summer is Near" was attempted as a round to finish the first half after the decision not to try it in any greater than two groups as it seemed to collapse at times!  Further practice definitely required for the summer.
 
"When Spring Comes In" seemed a suitable opening to the second half followed by the "Lark in the Morning", with some discussion about which version to sing. "Rosebuds in June" followed and "Searching for Lambs" about which word debate almost got as far as consulting Fowler’s Usage of the English Language!  The ladies present took the lead on "Green Grow the Laurels" and "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" which both followed.  The "Saucy Sailor" was given an airing and the evening finished with the favourite "Parting Song".  All departing with a sense of a new season about to start!
 
Anne S
 

Urgent Alert - Change of Plan for our Lewes Group Sessions

Tina, lead in our Lewes local group, has been notified by the manager at the pub where the group meets that, unfortunately and with immediate effect, the third Tuesday of each month is no longer available for the regular SDFS sessions there.  

This means the session on Tuesday February 20th has been cancelled but alternative days of the week and dates in February and thereafter have been offered and are currently out for discussion with and decision by the singers. Confirmation of the new arrangement will be posted on this News page and our Diary Dates pages as soon as known.

We are very sorry for any disappointment or disruption to your plans - please keep an eye on our Blog for further details in due course. 

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday January 16th 2024

Prior to the session, apologies had arrived from regular singers detained by illness, travel abroad, a funeral, the imminent birth of a baby, an invasion of mice and points failure on the railways! Those of us who managed to get there made up a medium sized group which was balanced in voice and stalwart in spirit. We admired the plush new seating and welcomed a new singer Ken from Uckfield. 

As we hadn’t been able to sing any of them in December, we sang all six wassailing songs tonight, along with a range of other cold season numbers and some general favourites.

In the first part of the evening we Sing” (On Sussex Hills”, “Apple Tree Wassail”, “Here We Come A-Wassailing”, “I Heard A Bird Sing”(as a round), “Wassail the Silver Apple” (not a South Downs Song but one of our agreed guest songs for performances, from the West Country), “My Downland Remembered” (Alan’s setting of a poem, including his new verse), “The Oak Tree Song” and “Poor Froze-Out Gardeners” which suited the cold evening very well.

In the interval we discussed the invitation to sing at Oldland Mill on Sunday May 5^th (5 are potentially available so we will say a tentative yes). We also talked about ideas for performers and CDs to suggest to Ted, our US visitor from last month’s cancelled session.  

 

We continued with “The Woodcutter’s Song,” “Seasons Turn”, “Sugar (Sussex) Wassail”, “Wassail all your Apple Trees” (as a round), “Wassail Wassail all over the Town”, “Where Stormy Winds do Blow”, “Hard Times of Old England”, and “A Smuggler’s Song” before ending with “Thousands or More”.

 

Tina 

Worthing Local Group Report - (belated from) Thursday January 4th 2024

We welcomed some new faces in the happy band of 29 singers opening our new year at the Barn.  With the waining festive season and current Wassails in mind, Emily set the scene and we began with a favourite, “Pentonville", before moving on to a selection of wassail songs - for the pleasure of singing them, and to confirm choices for our contribution to the Tarring Village Wassail with Sompting Morris the following evening.  Selected verses from the "Gloucestershire Wassail” were sung with gusto before the “Apple Tree Wassail”, "Sugar Wassail”, “Here We Come a-Wassailing” and the “Silver Wassail”.  Last but not least, before a well earned break, was the round “Wassail All Your Apple Trees”, in two then in three parts.

The second half of the evening gave us a chance to sing some more favourites plus a few of our newer songs from this Christmas season's repertoire, before future sessions take us forward into the spring and through the rest of the year.  “Ideo”; "Boar’s Head Carol”; “Gaudete”; “Sweet Chiming Bells”; “Holly Bears a Berry”; “Hark the Herald Angels”  and “The Holly and The Ivy” each had their enjoyable turn, as did another lovely round which began our look forward to the return of spring: “I Heard a Bird Sing”.

To end this seasonal session on a South Downs note, we concluded with a rousing rendition of the “Sussex Carol" - and, with new year resolution, we confirmed plans for the Tarring Wassail on January 5th and to gathering again at the Barn for our next Worthing session on February 1st.  (Feb 2nd. is "Candlemas", by which date, as tradition has it, any remnants of Christmas greenery in our homes should be removed - and  there is even a Candlemas song, perhaps we'll have a chance to hear or sing it).

H.

Another Jolly Wassail in Tarring on January 5th

Thank you to all our singers who came along to sing with us and enjoy this seasonal event - and thanks also to Sompting Village Morris for inviting us to contribute to the fun - we look forward to joining you again for the next one on January 5th 2024.

Here's a message from Lyn (also one of our singers) and Sompting Village Morris.

"To Emily and all the singers

Very many thanks from Sompting Village Morris dancers to the South Downs Folk singers for coming along to sing Wassail  songs on Friday night, at our Wassail event in Tarring.

A number of people, both dancers and bystanders, commented on how lovely the singing sounded; - "it get's better every  year" was the remark from one onlooker.

There seemed to be more singers attending, and also (as Emily said) all the people attending are getting to know the words!  The singing adds so much to the atmosphere, and it is great to have you there.

We all had a marvellous evening, and thank you again for coming along.
I hope you will put the date in the SDFS diary again for next year, which will be Sunday 5 Jan 2025.

Lyn Thomas
(Bag) Sompting Village Morris"