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
No comments:
Post a Comment