Our 'Barn session' in Worthing (Goring) this month was supported by 19 singers - and Emily was able to return to lead us although still taking care of her voice which is gradually recovering. We had a list of songs from Amaryllis, prepared for the sets some of us will be singing at the Weald and Downland Living Museum on Sunday June 14th. We sang most of them simply for the pleasure of singing, but following Amaryllis' advice on a few and with Emily's patient guidance, and occasional repetition, we also worked to improve our singing of them where needed.
"Old Adam", one of our oldest songs learned in our early songs project days, was the first of these - with the three men present doing an able job on the men's lines - with 16 women singing in reply to them! It prompted some discussion of the start note which had made some notes a little high to reach. The start notes of some others we sang were similarly modified slightly to make them more accessible for the tune and harmony singers present. "Jim the Carter Lad" was next with "crack"s and claps working well in the choruses, before "Hares on the Mountain" in which we tried to maintain a lighter mood and brisker pace. "Ale Good Ale" and "Sussex by the Sea" (the latter using the revised words created by Amaryllis with a more rural theme) were next - with the popular "Three Drunken Maidens" in hot pursuit. After them the mood was calmed again by the beautiful "Oak Tree Song".
"Country Life" brought everyone's attention back to singing after a break, and the second half continued with "England for Me", "Oak. Ash and Thorn" and "Rosebuds in June". The final choice for the evening was "The Magpie" which concluded the session. Thanks to Emily and all who attended - rest your voices when you can, enjoy the songs again in the lovely setting of the Weald and Downland Museum if you are going - and we'll be back to enjoy singing at the Barn again for our next meeting there on July 2nd.
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