There were eight of us tonight, including the return of the two new singers from last time, with five apologies received from others prevented by illness, dog sitting and Morris dancing. We started with seasonal spring and outdoors songs and worked our way alphabetically through those likely to be on the set lists at Stanmer Apple Blossom Day, Oldland Mill and Alfriston Clergy House. Some of these were repeats from last month so we could check and practice harmonies.
First was Kipling’s “Bee Boy’s Song”, then “Birds on the Spray” from the Copper Family’s collection and “Country Life” with my usual reminder that the vibe we are looking for is more Poldark and less Songs of Praise. “Ha’nacker Mill” was sung after a discussion about Hilaire Belloc (not known to all present) and a recommendation to look out for his own poignant rendition of this online. Similarly, with “It is the First of May” we mentioned the charming video online featuring the woman with her guitar. To take us to the break, we turned to a general favourite popular at any time of year, David Dodds’ “Magpie” and we recounted for the newer singers the story of how he wrote it after being in a car with an old lady who greeted a passing bird in the traditional country way “Good morning, Mr Magpie, how’s your wife today?”. This led to a discussion of the TV series “The Detectorists” which featured the song, and then to the more recent “Small Prophets” by the same writer.
During the break there was further wide ranging discussion regarding the social for all three groups on April 11th; the suggestion from the committee regarding other events such as a canal barge trip e.g. at Chichester (welcomed); anyone else willing to join me as a Lewes rep on the committee (no); a possible harmony workshop in Lewes (generally keen, perhaps a Saturday combined with a trip to Lewes Folk Club in the evening); a suggestion for a singing tour of local “painted churches”; who could lead a session if I were unavailable at any time (3 people tentatively agreed to give it a go); a reminder to bring new local songs to teach others; and the discovery that one of the new singers knows the man in the red jacket who was at our Brighton Unitarian Church event and invited us to the Brunswick Festival (she gave me his mobile number to take this forward).
Back to the singing we carried on with others from the probable set lists: “May Day Carol”, “Oldland Mill”, “On Sussex Hills”, “Pleasant and Delightful”, “Run of the Downs”, and ”When Spring Comes In”. The remaining time was then filled with singers’ choices of “Green Grow the Laurel”, “Hal an Tow”, “Loyal Lover” and ending, as we often do, with, “Thousands or More”.
Our next session will be on Monday April 20th, and more singers are always welcome. Come along for a free taster session any time, just bring your voice and your enthusiasm.
Tina
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