The evening was set aside as rehearsal and timing exercise for the June Chichester Fringe appearance and seventeen members of the “cast” duly came along to what turned out to be a busy evening.
Songs tackled for the first half of the performance were: Country Life, Sugar Wassail (including the last verse), On Sussex Hills, Bee Boys Song, followed by Amaryllis re Wassailing the bee hives One for the Rook, When Spring Comes In, Searching for Lambs (with men and women taking different verses), Rambling Comber (a great attempt with two harmonies – although it was noted that the timing still needed careful attention in parts), Summer is a Coming In Again (Dave to sing the opening “So” to start the chorus), Hal and Tow (Dave on drum with a sharp finish). Ladies Go Dancing, and to finish, Rosebuds in June.
These, with interspersed narration by Steve W, a poem, Sompting Shearer’s Beer by Steve A and great traditional saying on Wassailing by Dave after Sugar Wassail, made up a good first half lasting approximately 43 minutes which is about the right length for the first half.
After a well-earned break, and a practice at beer drinking, the second half started with a lovely duet by Julia and Nichola – The Holly King and the Oak King. Then proceeded following the planned narrative intro with the following songs: Lammas Carol, Farmer’s Toast (our version) (with a repeat of the last line in the chorus at the end), Turmut Hoer, Dark December (lead by Dave with guitar accompaniment), Fields Lie Silent, Thousands or More and finally a rousing Golia to end.
All agreed, the programme seemed to work pretty well with the second half being approximately 30 minutes. There was some discussion at the end of the evening about whether to encourage “audience participation” – possibly resolved by Alan deciding he would pick and choose which songs might best work for this possibility!
Anne S
Songs tackled for the first half of the performance were: Country Life, Sugar Wassail (including the last verse), On Sussex Hills, Bee Boys Song, followed by Amaryllis re Wassailing the bee hives One for the Rook, When Spring Comes In, Searching for Lambs (with men and women taking different verses), Rambling Comber (a great attempt with two harmonies – although it was noted that the timing still needed careful attention in parts), Summer is a Coming In Again (Dave to sing the opening “So” to start the chorus), Hal and Tow (Dave on drum with a sharp finish). Ladies Go Dancing, and to finish, Rosebuds in June.
These, with interspersed narration by Steve W, a poem, Sompting Shearer’s Beer by Steve A and great traditional saying on Wassailing by Dave after Sugar Wassail, made up a good first half lasting approximately 43 minutes which is about the right length for the first half.
After a well-earned break, and a practice at beer drinking, the second half started with a lovely duet by Julia and Nichola – The Holly King and the Oak King. Then proceeded following the planned narrative intro with the following songs: Lammas Carol, Farmer’s Toast (our version) (with a repeat of the last line in the chorus at the end), Turmut Hoer, Dark December (lead by Dave with guitar accompaniment), Fields Lie Silent, Thousands or More and finally a rousing Golia to end.
All agreed, the programme seemed to work pretty well with the second half being approximately 30 minutes. There was some discussion at the end of the evening about whether to encourage “audience participation” – possibly resolved by Alan deciding he would pick and choose which songs might best work for this possibility!
Anne S
