14 Singers and 18 songs made for a productive and sociable evening at the "Chichester Inn" this month. Singers each took a turn to suggest a song and count us in to launch it (with a a few false starts and little help from friends to achieve this!) - and we had the added treat of an extra home-grown song from Gordon. (His song "Epilogue" - to the tune of 'Jim the Carter Lad'- has been added to the 'Other Songs to Try' page on our Blog for others to enjoy it too.)
With general agreement we began with a well tried and tested favourite - "Thousands or More". After this confident opener came "Ale Glorious Ale", before discussion of another song learned by some during the South Downs Songs project many years ago - "Birds in the Bush" aka "Three Maidens a Milking" - but only snatches came to mind and attempts failed, Resolution was made to listen and learn it from the Blog, and to revive it at future sessions. We returned to more familiar ground with "On Sussex Hills", before "All Among the Barley" - although the latter was pitched a little low at first, but improved by raising it for a second go. "England For Me" and "Fathom a Bowl" were the next requests, before managing "Ebernoe Horn Fair" with men and women's voices in conversation. Anecdotes were shared by Alan and Gordon aobut the local history of the Fair, which still happens on July 25th each year with a celebratory cricket match on the village green.
The women led "Magpie" and we all joined voices for "Gooches Beer", before "Jim the Carter Lad" took us to the break - after hearing a solo version of this from Gordon, "Epilogue", which tells a less cheery tale of a weary modern-day 'carter lad'!
After refreshment, and chat about future sessions and events (looking ahead as far as Christmas!), our singing resumed with Alan's "Lammas Carol". This was helped by his guidance on the song's pace and the pattern and emphasis of notes intended to enrich its rendition. "One for the Rook", "Pleasant and Delightful", and a different group of maidens this time, the "Three Drunken Maidens", were all chosen and sung, before - "Searching for Lambs", "Rolling in the Dew", and "Turmut Hoers", each sung with men and women taking their turns to sing. Last but not least - "Rolling Home" was agreed for our parting song to finish on.
Good songs, good singing and good company! We'll be back at the "Chichester Inn" on September 17th.
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