Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday March 20th 2025

15 singers came along to a corner of the Chichester Inn for the March SDFS get together.

 

The object of the evening was to continue to rehearse material that was going to be sung at the Chichester Fringe event this coming June.  Alan outlined that the start song was that old favourite that the group perform really well – "Country Life".  He also suggested to general agreement that the group could add emphasis to the chorus by punching the air in every chorus.  So, with that in mind the first song was launched, rowdily sung and given full actions!  "Sugar Wassail" followed in keeping with the seasonal progress of the planned Fringe programme with some tips on counting to ensure that the gaps in the song are clearly defined.  Dave G gave a splendid wassail recitation at the end and it was agreed that implements to make a noise as per the Wassailing tradition could be brought along.  

"On Sussex Hills" sung in the usual robust fashion was followed by "The Bee Boys Song", after which Amaryllis led her small “harmony” section into some lovely harmonies and completed the song with a great rendition of a traditional beehive wassail text from 19C Amberley.  A very competent "One for the Rook" came next followed by "When Spring Comes In".  The latter – appropriate as the first day of Spring was actually upon us, was partially tried again at a slightly faster pace which improved it, with a note to remember to keep up the pace at the start of each new verse.  Men and Women sang appropriate verses of the next song "Searching for Lambs" following the familiar discussions about varying words!  Alan recapped all parts to "Rambling Comber" which seemed to go pretty well as the first attempt at singing all three parts together.  A busy first half was rounded off with our version of "Summer Is A-Coming In" with agreement to leave out the chorus at the end and finish by repeating the last line slowly.

 

The second session of the evening, started out with a hearty rendition of "Hal and Tow" including all to clap once in the chorus which also formed the start of the song, rather than the verse.  "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" was sung by ladies with some accompaniment by the men, followed by the well known "Rosebuds in June" which was sung extremely competently and led on to the "Lammas Carol" which again went well with a small review of some of the notes in a couple of lines.  "Farmers Toast" – with a reminder that we were performing the “shortened” version came next which worked well.  A resounding performance of "Turmut Hoer" was next before Dave G’s lovely version with guitar accompaniment of "Dark December" to which the group joined in the chorus with harmonies beginning to be introduced.  

"The Fields Lie Silent was the penultimate offering before a rousing "Thousands or More" encore, brought to an end a very successful evening. The group having performed really well across the eighteen songs tried this evening.

 

Anne Sartain

"South Downs Folk Singers" at the Chichester Fringe - Sunday June 1st 2025

The "South Downs Folk Singers" are pleased to announce...... 

A group of us will be singing at the Chichester Canal Basin Cafe at 7.00pm on Sunday June 1st  - as part of the Chichester Fringe 2025!

The Chichester Fringe programme of events has just been launched and tickets are on sale NOW

For full details of our appearance - and to secure yourself a ticket - please go to the Fringe's own website:  www.chichesterfringe.co.uk 

Please share this exciting news with family and friends, and..... DON'T DELAY,  BOOK TODAY!! 

The Cuckoo

"The Cuckoo", a song first used by us during our early days in the 'South Downs Songs' project and already listed on our Songs and Recordings page, now has a fourth verse (author unknown). 

We have been in the habit of singing the first verse again to conclude the song - but now instead we have this end of season departure verse as a conclusion to compliment the herald of springtime in the first. 

Have a look - and enjoy a sing!

(You can find the updated lyrics on our Songs and Recordings page by clicking on this page link.)

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday March 6th 2025

25 of us met at the Barn for this month's session.  Unfortunately Emily was needed at home so couldn't join us but sent good wishes to all in her absence.  Alan and Amaryllis kindly agreed to lead us through a goodly mix of songs and they took turns to introduce them and guide us.  Henny began the evening by giving Em's apologies and sharing some notices, including additional details and reminders about this year's programme of SDFS public events (already on our Blog Diary page), with an invitation to singers to volunteer to sing at them.  (The first of these will be singing at Petworth House again, on April 12th as part of their Spring Festival; Amaryllis will be leading and will soon prepare two sets of songs to sing at 12.00 noon then 2.00pm.) 

Our singing at this session began with Alan leading with "When Spring Comes In" - a suitable celebration of the recent up-turn in our weather and the joys of spring arriving at last!  Amaryllis took her first turn with "Life of a Man" reminding us in a different way of our life cycle and seasons' changing.  We headed for the hills after that, with Alan "Searching for Lambs" and Amaryllis with "Hares on the Mountain".  We sang the latter together, men and women, with the repeat line in each verse sung softly like an echo.  Continuing the spring theme we looked towards May with "Hal an Tow" - and Alan encouraged a united and positive single hand clap to punctuate the pause in the first line of the chorus (i.e. Hal an tow, (clap) jolly rumbalo) - which seemed to work well and added to the vibrancy of the song. 

Continuing with our tandem leads we sang "Lark in the Morning" - after a discussion about which lyrics to use. We ultimately chose the one based on the Coppers' version without chorus intervals. (This is on the 'Other Songs to Try' page of the SDFS Blog, but will soon to be added to the main 'Songs...' page).  Next came "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" with a reminder to ensure use of the extra lift in the notes of 'go' in the last line when just women's voices end the song. 

We sang "The Cuckoo" with a light bright touch, led by Amaryllis, remembering to pace the timing to hold the note a little at the end of the third line in each verse, and also to give emphasis in the last line of each verse on 'summer', 'bring'  and 'maiden'.  We sang it with a repeat of the first verse to conclude the song on a more cheery note - but Angela S then shared with us some alternative lines she has which might serve better - "And when her time is come her voice we don't hear, and where she goes we do not know until another year'.  (These will soon be added to the song on the Blog.) 

After a break with various drinks and chats, we continued with a mix of songs suggested by Alan or Amaryllis or by general request.  Starting with "Summer is Acommin' In Again", and "My Downland Remembered", before Alan suggested "The Rambling Comber" including its low and high harmonies which are now beginning to bed in.  "One for the Rook", now a firm favourite, was prefaced by details shared by Steve and Henny of their recent contact with Paul (an associate and friend of the song's writer, Mike Barber), who has endorsed our use of the song saying that he and Mike's family are pleased to know his songs are being used, this being a fitting epitaph to Mike who died a few weeks ago.  With this in mind we sang the song with our usual pleasure and gusto.  

As the clock ticked on, two more requests followed to conclude the evening - "Rosebuds in June" and last but not least the "Parting Song".

Many thanks to Alan and Amaryllis for their generous efforts - and to all the singers who turned up in the face of winter colds and other bugs, multiple works or diversions on the roads just now, and all the other demands in their busy lives -  to support another jolly good sing at the Barn!    See you in April !   

"Shine Radio", Petersfield - Interview with and about the "South Downs Folk Singers"

Please use the link below to find and enjoy the interview with three of our singers (Sue, Stephen and Viv) from our Chichester Local Group, recently broadcast on "Shine Radio" in Petersfield.  

Thank you to all of them for their fine performance on our behalf and to Mike Waddington from "Shine Radio" for providing the link. 

 Folk singing for joy and remembrance | Petersfield's Shine Radio

 

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday February 17th 2025

Half term, along with work, illness and a bereavement, kept the numbers down to 9 today, men outnumbering women for once (6:3) but the latter were experienced singers and harmonisers who more than held their own. Between talk of dogs, cough sweets and road works, we managed 18 songs from our spring, summer and outdoorsy list.  

  

A rousing “Country Life” was followed by Irish interloper “Eileen Aroon” (given honorary Sussex residence thanks to it, allegedly, being a Hilaire Belloc favourite). The Copper family’s “The Birds on the Spray” and “When Spring Comes In” both involved pleasant harmonies and led Tina to wish we were recording the session. Ken said he would oblige when next here in April. The more recent creation “Oldland Mill” led to another, “Oak Tree Song” before “The Nightingale’’ ended the first half, though there was some discussion as some of the lyrics suggesting ‘ale’ rather than ‘pale beer’ would have to be drunk in India - India Pale Ale was invented for that very purpose as ale spoiled on the trip! Who said folk songs had to be factual anyway. 

  

 After the short drink and toilet break “Pleasant and Delightful” kicked us off and was followed by the oldest song in the set: “Love and the Ball”, concerning the local sport of stoolball, based on a poem by Robert Herrick, a 17^th century lyric poet and Anglican cleric and set to music by Alan Wheeler. “My Downland Remembered”, another of Alan’s adaptations of an existing poem, tells of a man transported to Australia for the theft of unwinnowed oats (what would have been the sentence if the grain he pinched had sprouted?). “Fathom the Bowl”, “Sussex Wedding Song” and “On Sussex Hills” generated more harmonies. After “Searching for Lambs” we dreamed of “Rosebuds in June” and “Green Grow the Laurel”. Kipling’s “Bee-Boy’s Song” took us to a rousing Copper send-off with “Thousands or More”. 

  

Pleasant company. Good beer. Great harmonies. A treat. 

  

Ken 

  

And Another Post on the Misc. Page ....

A rather belated post - offering a link to a podcast from the Findon Valley Wassail held on January 4th, where a few of us sang and our own Alan W was interviewed - do have a look and a listen!  

A New Post has landed on the Miscellaneous Page

With Spring just around the corner - booking has now started for a "Wassail" concert planned for December!  Check our Misc. Page for more details.....

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday February 20th 2025

15 singers came along to a corner of the Chichester Inn for the February gathering and managed to hold their own with a good singing practice despite a joyful young party at the neighbouring tables!

Alan started the evening with a reading from “A Dictionary of the Sussex Dialect” by W E Parish (1875), describing the singing of folk songs by Sussex folk and the local songs in non-too complimentary terms.  It was generally agreed that the SDFS must do it’s best to disprove these comments.  

"Hal and Tow" was the first song tried, starting with a chorus, using the more recently added first verse and with helpful clapping at the appropriate points and a view that this should be sung reasonably briskly for best effect.  "Bee Boys" followed with advice from Dave G that a smile whilst singing the word “bees”, helped keep everyone in tune and together.  Harmonies were a feature of the next song – "Rambling Comber" which should in the end comprise three parts but in this instance the tune plus a base harmony showed great promise.  "Turmut Hoer" sung with gusto, led on to Dave G performing a very lovely version of Graeme Miles song "Dark December" (n.b. not on the SDFS Blog), with guitar accompaniment.  The group quickly learned the chorus and added their voices to good effect.  Everyone agreed that this would make a great contrast to the unaccompanied songs planned for the Chichester Fringe event.  The first half of the evening finished with an especially shortened version of "Farmer’s Toast" which had been specially adapted to fit in with the Fringe event programme.  It was also decided to repeat the last line to give a good finish.

After a well-earned break, the second half opened with "Lammas Carol" plus some interesting bits of background to Lammas.  The ladies in the group then attempted "Ladies Go Dancing" with a helpful reduction in starting note to A the second time around.  The men aided and abetted with a “hum” in the usual places.  A 'through the year' version of "Summer Is a-Coming in Again" came next, followed by male and female alternate singing in "Searching for Lambs".  A lusty rendition of "One for the Rook" completed the evening's planned programme and was followed by requests, comprising; "Rose Buds in June", "When Spring Comes In" and finally the old favourite finishing song, "Rolling Home".  

That plus a rather cheeky birthday song from Les in celebration of Alan’s forthcoming birthday, provided a good rounding off to a busy and enjoyable evening of singing in Chichester.

Anne S

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday February 6th 2025

Our February session got off to a lively start as Emily launched us with some of the songs from our original song books - and encouraged that we sing these without reference to the lyric sheets in everyone's folders (with some allowance for singers not with us back in the day who may be less familiar with what had been learned then by ear).  Most were in any case known to us all from more recent use and, with paper prompts or without, we sang our way through them with gusto - "Country Life", "Sussex Hills", and "Ale Glorious Ale" - all produced a rich sound and set us up well for more.  

The "Bee Boys Song" and "One for the Rook" followed, before Alan suggested we continue focus on the changing seasons and the promise of spring and summer ahead - so next came "When Spring Comes In", "Searching for Lambs" and "Summer is A'Comin' in Again".  Before the break Emily reminded us a spring time round Alan had brought to us - "The Summer is Near"(which is on the rounds and catches page of the SDFS Blog) - known to some by its first line Rambling Rolling Downs.   

Our second half began with Alan and Emily revisiting a song still fairly new to us, "The Rambling Comber" - with Alan guiding a small group to learn the low harmony part.  High harmonies were also tried a little - and all parts deserve more attention at future sessions to perfect this lovely song.  More harmonies accompanied the "Oak Tree Song" which enriched an already beautiful song.  more requests followed with "My Downland Remembered", "Green Grows the Laurels" and last but not least, back to another old favourite (again without relying on our word sheets!) - "Fathom the Bowl".

Thanks to everyone - and see you at our next Barn session on March 6th. 

Lewes Local Group Report - Monday January 20th 2025 (with update from Monday December 16th 2024)

As our regular pub venue was unavailable for our last session of the year in December, eleven singers were instead hosted by Mac and Margaret at their home in Saltdean. We took turns in choosing from the “cold weather and winter” collection with nineteen carols, wassailing and other seasonal songs being sung, in between much convivial conversation and enjoyment of the very welcome mince pies and chocolates kindly provided on the house. Many thanks again to M&M for a lovely evening.

 

On the other side of the festive season, ten singers reassembled in January back at our upstairs room at the Lewes Arms. Despite it being Blue Monday, reportedly the most depressing day of the year in the Northern hemisphere, and this year also having Donald Trump’s return inauguration to cap it off (!), we were all in good spirits and shared cheerful greetings. There was a slight blip when the pub didn’t have our booking carried forward in the new diary so that we needed to wait for some diners, together with a couple of chess players who had spilled over from the club meeting downstairs, to finish up before we could start our singing. One of the chess players expressed an interest though and said she may return for a future session.

 

As in the December session, with no particular gig on the immediate horizon I went round the room for everyone to choose their favourites from the Christmas, wassail, winter and general songs. Since we have a couple of recently joined singers who are knowledgeable about music in general but relatively new to the folk scene, we spent some time, during introductions at the start  and also between songs, talking in detail about the history of SDFS and about the songs, song collectors and folk as a genre, along with some personal anecdotes and memories about the songs and previous events, and ideas for future events*.

 

In the first part of the evening, we sang “Here We Come a-Wassailing”, “Home Lads Home”, “Wassail the Silver Apple”,  “East Sussex Drinking Song”**, “The Magpie”, “Where Stormy Winds do Blow”,  “The Woodcutter’s Song”, “One for the Rook”, “The Boar’s Head Carol”, “Hard Times of Old England” and “Sugar (Sussex) Wassail”.

 

After a slightly prolonged break due to the queue at the downstairs bar, we kicked off again. To get round the circle twice we agreed to sing a bit beyond our usual finishing time and got through the following: “Parting Song”, “The Turnip/Turmut Hoer”, “Hares on the Mountain”, “Seasons Turn”, “The Oak Tree Song”, “Fields Lie Silent” and “Life of a Man”.

 

I then had the final choice of “Thousands or More” before we set off home at 10:15p.m. Another lovely evening with good company and good singing.

 

From next month we will begin looking ahead to spring and beyond and I will send out suggested songs in advance of the February, March and April sessions. 

 

Tina

 

*Fi and Rosie have suggested the possibility of singing at an apple pressing event at Wallands Primary School in Lewes in October and will obtain more information.

 

**One of our newer singers James works for a Lewes Brewery, and pointed out that there are now three, rather than one (Harvey’s of course) as in the original song which was written by our own Adrian Figgess in 2013 as a counterpoint to Hilaire Belloc’s “West Sussex Drinking Song”. Adrian was present this evening and agreed this change to his lyrics in verse 2: “They once had nine breweries – SIX more than they’ve got now!”(instead of eight more).

 

 

Farmer's Toast - A Shortened Version

Alan has offered a shortened version of Farmer's Toast, the lyrics of which you can find on the Main Page using this Link

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday January 16th 2025

13 singers turned out on a cold January day to start the new SDFS singing year.  Alan confirmed that following the visit of a representative from the 2025 Chichester Fringe, the SDFS had been invited to perform in this event on 1st June 2025.  It had been decided that as this was a Chichester based event, and a limited number of places owing to venue size that singers would be drawn from regular attendees at the Chichester SDFS practices.   An early request for Chichester singers had produced 17 volunteers which was about the right number required.  The singers would be included in the advertising material for the Chichester Fringe and so the evening started with an attempt to obtain a suitable photograph!

Alan had worked out a possible draft programme which would drive some of the practices between now and June at Chichester.  Two rousing chorus songs – "Ale Glorious Ale" and "One for the Rook" with Alan suggesting possible harmony lines for those that found it difficult to reach particularly high notes.  Continuing with "On Sussex Hills" Alan reminded all that there were some good harmonies to this and they could be found on the SDFS website.  Although it’s due to be included in the programme, a "Country Life" practice was firmly declined!  Alan stated that harmonies were definitely required in "The Rambling Comber" which was tried next – again these could be found on the SDFS website.  The group had two attempts at "Searching for Lambs", taking extra care to stay in key with Julia providing the singing tip that holding in one’s tummy could well assist in this!  The ladies present then tried "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun", the men coming in with the usual humming after the first verse.  It was decided that this arrangement should continue with the ladies taking the main tune as it was a “ladies” song.
 
After a well earned break, with much enthusiasm for Gordon’s Burn’s Night Poem and Dave G’s excellent rendition of the address to the Hagis in keeping with the theme, the second half of the evening opened with "Summer is a Coming in Again".  It was agreed that it was best to leave off the chorus at the end and finish on the last verse.  "Hal and Tow" was tried next with the idea that the group start singing it with the chorus and that clapping or a drum would help keep a good rhythm.  Continuing the Spring theme,  "When Spring Comes In" and "The Magpie" followed with a suggestion that several ladies joined in the harmony when it was next sung.  
 
In response to several other song suggestions, Alan explained that those tried this evening were just a handful of the final programme and others would be introduced in the practices leading up to the Fringe event.  
 
The whole group finished the evening with a joyful “Happy Birthday” to Chris, who was due a birthday at the weekend.
 
 
Anne S
 

A "Thank You" for our Singing

Thank you to the South Downs Folk Singers who came along (in fairly inclement weather) to sing for the Sompting Wassail in Tarring.

Despite some annoying drizzle, there was a good audience, and we managed to go ahead with the procession, the blessing of the apple trees, and the Mummers' play, all out in the open air. It was lovely to hear the sound of the Wassail songs as the     procession made its way into the Vine garden, and many members of the audience joined in the songs with enthusiasm.

Many thanks again and we hope that the South Downs Folk Singers will be willing to join the celebration next year, when the date will be Monday 5th January 2026.

Best wishes
Sompting Village Morris

New Items on our Miscellaneous Page

If you are interested in folk dances as well as folk songs and music - do have a look! 

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday January 2nd 2025

On the second day of 2025 and for our first Worthing SDFS session of the New Year, the Barn welcomed us again with its fairy lights and Christmas Tree, still there to see out the season's festivities.  18 singers gathered on a chilly evening, with icy roads out and about which had perhaps deterred a few of our 'regulars'.  Emily was needed at home so unable to join us for this session, but Alan nobly stepped up as our guide for an evening of wassailing songs ("Sugar Wassail", "Gloucester Wassail", "Here We Come A'wassailing", "Apple Wassail" and  "Silver Wassail") and other seasonal choices by request ("Sweet Chiming Bells", "The Field Mouse Carol", "Sussex Mummers Carol", "Moon Shone Bright", "Fields Lie Silent" and for a finale, "Thousands or More").  

Between times we enjoyed Lyn singing for us her version of "Hard Times" which she'd shared at the last Chichester group session (and it's now available on the SDFS Blog pages: "Other Songs to Try" and "Songs Created by Us") - and we followed it by all singing the original version "Hard Times of Old England" again.   Keith and Jean also entertained us with the version they knew of "Friendly Beasts" - similar to the one we've learned from and arranged by Amaryllis - but sung as a gentle lullaby.  Later in the evening Alan gave us "Where Does Father Christmas Go in the Summer Time", which prompted more cheery smiles and some folks joining in on the chorus.  

So all in all we enjoyed fifteen songs with a sociable break mid way (made all the better by the mincepies contributed by Suzie) - but with the chilly and possibly dropping temperatures in mind we concluded the evening in good time before taking to the roads again to wend our ways home.  We'll be back at the Barn on Candlemas Eve (February 1st), without fairy lights by then but still with good company and songs to cheer us - and a hopeful look towards the spring returning very soon!  

H. 

Findon Valley Community Orchard Wassail - Saturday January 4th 2025 - Podcast report

Some of our South Downs Folk Singers supported the first ever Findon Valley Community Orchard  Wassail held yesterday, and offered a few songs in celebration of the newly planted fruit trees to encourage them to grow and prosper in future years. 

You can listen to the Worthing Podcast article about the event here - which features an interview with our very own Alan Wheeler!

Many thanks again to Alan and the singers there for our first sing out of the New Year!  

A Song To Try - The Folk Songs of Old England

Here's an amusing alternative of the traditional song "Hard Times of Old England" written by Lyn Ford, entitled "The Folk Songs of Old England".

Lyrics