The 19 Singers (including a welcome new singer) who were available chose the Worthing SDFS meeting over the numerous firework celebrations in the area which nonetheless were often heard outside throughout the session. Some event information and other notices interrupted the 'meet and greet' conversations still underway as the clock ticked past our start time of 7.30pm. A list of songs chosen for use at our public events this month and next, had been distributed prior to the meeting - and choices from these, and perhaps others for this season of Remembrance, were invited from the circle of contributors waiting to sing.
In the absence of a volunteer from the Worthing group ready to facilitate our singing for the evening, David (a singer from our Chichester local group) who had joined us to help prepare a song due to be used at a lunchtime concert in Christ Church in Worthing on December 8th, kindly assisted and found himself in this role. After agreement to take turns to choose, and hopefully start, a song - we began with David's suggestion of "The Wood Cutters Song".
"Holly and the Ivy", and "Turmut Hoer" were the next requests, before "Gaudete" - which is in the set for one of our Christmas events. It received a mixed response, with many (but not all) singers uneasy with singing in latin. It was tried twice - the second attempt sounding better than the first, having relied upon David for the verses, needing others to manage just the choruses. Some concerns about using it at a public event were eased by this option, but others continued to advise against it. "The Sussex Mummers Carol" (also known as "Righteous Joseph") - was requested next - it is one of the oldest seasonal songs we have in our collection, first learned by some at the 'Songs of the South Downs' workshops. It had not been used by the Worthing group for a long while - and even singers who knew it of old needed to be reminded of the tune. It was attempted once, rather cautiously and slowly, which prompted some to express their dislike of it - in spite of its place in our local and folk heritage. So it was not sung again to perhaps improve it, but left for another time. Instead the more familiar "Ideo" was requested, favoured and sung through.
"The Field Mouse Carol", was sung, with a reminder about a harmony in the refrain that had been used last year. Then "Friendly Beasts" led by Amaryllis to the tune she had written, and with added stage directions - which will need to be shared with other singers, not present, who are due to sing it soon at a public event. (An extra preparation session planned for next week may help in this.) This took us to the break, with time to consider and sign-up for the public events we have on the books, now including dates into 2027 - and to resume the social conversations suspended at the start of our singing.
David helped everyone to re-focus for the shorter second half, by singing "Dark December" (and playing his guitar to accompany), after briefing singers with the chorus lines they needed to join in. After that, when prompted to resume choices from where we'd reached in the singing circle, we sang the "Sans Day Carol" ("Holly Bears a Berry") - and with further prompts, "Sweet Chiming Bells", which was a very popular choice amongst a cluster of singers for whom it is a particular favourite. Perhaps voices and concentration were tiring when the next suggestion was for "I heard a Bird Sing" - a seasonal round. This is another favourite and was readily recalled after a reminder of the words and tune. Singing it together worked well - but when separated into parts it soon disintegrated, to the amusement of many. By then there was only time for one more - and the "Sussex Carol" was chosen and sung to finish the evening.
We'll be back at the Barn on December 3rd - without firework accompaniment!
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