Miscellaneous (SDFS Related)

This page provides Miscellaneous Information about things outside the "South Downs Folk Singers", but still relating to our own purpose and activities, which may be of interest to our readers. 

9th December 2023  -  "A Medieval Christmas"

Lyn has kindly alerted us to some Radio 3 programmes about "A Medieval Christmas". 
She reports "There are 5 programmes of 1 hour each, about medieval Christmas customs, and music - first programme starting with Gaudete and Ideo. I found it quite fascinating!"

Here is a link to the BBC sounds page where you can find the link to listen.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001svyh

20th November 2023  -  "A Sussex Christmas" 

For anyone interested in hearing Alan, Anne, and their friends in "Cotillion" sing ....

There will be a Christmas performance with "Cotillion" in Sompting Church on Saturday 9th December.  Start Time: 2.00 pm, to run with a break for about 90 minutes.                           

It's a combination of seasonal Songs,  narration and join in carols.  The organisers usually provide some kind of refreshment during the break.  Tickets in aid of Sompting Church on the door.

17th August 2023 - Shirley Collins on "Desert Island Discs"

If you haven't heard (or did hear but want to hear it again) last week's 'Desert Islands Discs' on BBC Radio 4 (6th and 11th Aug) with Shirley Collins - it's now on BBC Sounds catchup. 

Shirley is a folk legend, in the South Downs area and far beyond.  She grew up in Sussex and now lives in Lewes - and many of her musical choices for the programme will be familiar to the ears and hearts of the South Downs Folk Singers. 

4th June 2023 - "Pub to Pulpit"

From our SDFS friend Margo - who has alerted us to this event coming up in early JULY -  which may be of interest to our South Downs folkies, and others - especially to our singers who sang at the event we did recently at Rustington Museum.  (During which, when talking about folk song collectors in the Sussex area, Alan had exampled songs collected by Vaughan Williams.) 

Having been to one of the "Pub to Pulpit" dates (at Wells Cathedral) earlier in their tour, like Margo, I can recommend it and all the musicians in it.  

Margo wrote......

"I attended "Pub to Pulpit" which was a workshop, talk and concert celebrating the folk tune collecting of Vaughan Williams and featured two of the songs that Alan tried to teach us, "Our Captain Cried All Hands" and "The Murder of Maria Marten".  

Do you remember "Broomdasher" who sang with us in one of the marquees at Bognor's Southdown Festival?  They were based at Cecil Sharp House and were excellent!  Their tour of mostly cathedrals around the country is nearly at an end but they should be at All Saints, Hove, on 1st July, 7.30 pm together with 3 multi-instrumentalists; Paul Hutchinson from duo Belshazzar's Feast, young Anna Tam and Karen Wimhurst who plays a mean clarinet and bass clarinet."

(Tickets from Evenbrite can be accessed through "Broomdasher"'s own website, or by a search for "Pub to Pulpit" tour.)  

3rd May 2023  - "Alehouse Sessions"

From one of our singers, Angela S: 

"I recommend to you .... BBC4 tv programme, from 9-10pm, "The Alehouse Sessions", showing the energy and joy of folk, shanty and dance music from their 17th century origins."

(This programme was broadcast on Sunday April 23rd 2023 and may still be available on BBC IPlayer.)

4th January 2024 -  " While Shepherds Watched"

Another item of interest sent in by Angela S: 

"I'm just listening to the BBC Sounds catchup of the Radio 3 programme at 6.30pm on Christmas Eve - Sunday Feature: "While Shepherds Watched - the hidden world of the South Yorkshire village carol sings".  (Sweet Chiming Bells is 4 mins in)." 

And another, a TV programme recently mentioned by Alan, you might also enjoy:  

"Lucy Worsley, exploring "The History of our traditional Christmas Carols".  It was first broadcast on BBC 4 and is currently still available on BBC iPlayer for another 14 days.