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