Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday December 22nd 2022

19 of us crammed into a packed Chichester Inn to offer the customers an evening of proper pub carols, sung loudly and lustily to the accompaniment of melodeon, whistles and guitar. Thank you, Anne, Alan and Dave, for bringing your instruments. 

We sang all our favourite carols and some wassail songs as well. Floor spots were performed by Chris, reciting Les Barker’s hilarious poem “Spot of the Antarctic”; Gordon who, whilst juggling, gave us an amusing self-penned ditty entitled “Look after your Balls”; Dave who gave us “Gaudete” with all the verses sung in Latin; Alan who led us in singing the “Boar’s Head Carol” and followed that up by reciting Kipling’s “Eddi of Manhood End”. 

Our singing eventually cleared some much-needed space in the room, but not everyone left and many came to say how much they enjoyed singing along with us! We sang “Happy Birthday” to Amaryllis and Beryl and also to a group of youngsters who came in from the other bar where they had been celebrating the birthday of a lad called Tom. 

Thank you to everyone who came to sing, enjoy a drink, share mince pies and spread some seasonal cheer. It was a very jolly evening! Happy Christmas to you all! See you again next month at Tarring Wassail on 5th January?

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday December 1st 2022

Our December session was in the company of a Christmas tree and some seasonal sparkle at the Barn.  We began with a few notices before the singing - including the announcement that our SDFS “Revels” party evening for all our singers and their family and friends, is making a post Covid comeback - on March 25th 2023.  Not a winter wassail this time - but on ‘Lady Day’ as a celebration of the coming Spring!  (More details for our singers will follow in the new year.)

Our singing started with a couple of the songs used at the recent Weald and Downland Advent Market, and we were warmed by the positive feedback from Emily and others about how much our performance there had been enjoyed.  We sang the "Holly and the Ivy" and "Sweet Chiming Bells", and then moved to other seasonal songs, not in any current event sets - starting with trying all the verses of the "Falmer Carol".  Quite a long one in its entirety, so we trimmed it a little by having fewer chorus intervals.  It’ll need some more attention next year, but agreed its local history makes it one we should keep in the frame for future performances, and our enjoyment.  "Masters in the Hall" was nominated to sing next - another one liked by some folks but not by others. Then, one offered in previous years but hardly tried since - “Ideo" - and agreed to add it to the 'songs to try' reminder list for next year.   Attention turned next to January festivities and the Wassail songs we love.  Starting with the "Gloucester Wassail" (this time using verses 1,4, 5,6 and 10), and the "Apple Tree Wassailing Song".  In the break Emily shared details of the ‘wassail' event at Sullington Barn on January 21st, after which our singing resumed with birthday good wishes to Sheila!

Continuing with the seasonal songs, we enjoyed “Here We Come A-wassailing", the "Moon Shone Bright", and the "Sugar Wassail”.  Alan sang for us, and then we tried, "Wassail the Silver Apple", which is a little different to the other wassail songs we do, well liked by all, and certainly one we’d like to use more often. We finished our singing with a rousing rendition, in multiple parts, of Alan’s 'Wassail Around”.  The evening concluded with seasonal good wishes all round too,  plus a reminder that there will be no Worthing session at the Goring Barn on January 5th.  (We will instead be gathering to contribute to the Sompting Morris’ Wassail in Tarring Village, starting at 8pm.)  Our usual Worthing local group sessions will resume at the Goring Barn in February (Feb. 2nd).

Come and join us in 2023 - or maybe see you before then at Petworth House on Dec.10th!

Chichester Local group's December meeting - change of date for this month only

For December only - The "Chichester Inn" will be hosting our Chichester Local Group session on the fourth (not the third as usual) Thursday of the month - so we'll be meeting there on December 22nd, for an evening of festive songs in festive mood. Same time as usual, 7.30 to be underway by 8.00pm.

(And, advance warning of a change to our Worthing Group's session at The Barn in Goring Barn in January ......                     Because the date (January 5th) coincides with the Sompting Morris side's Wassail event in Tarring village, to which we have been invited, we will be joining the fun there instead.  In Tarring High Street and at the Vine Pub, 8pm start.  We'll be back at the Barn for our February meeting on Thursday Feb 2nd 2023.) 

Weald and Downland Museum's Advent Market - "Thank You All"

A big "Thank You" to all our singers who made their way through foggy conditions to get to the Weald and Downland Living Museum to sing at their Advent Market yesterday (Nov.27th.)  And many thanks to our generous hosts at the Museum, for their invitation and hospitality.  Although the elements were damp and grey for most of the day it was not enough to prevent enjoyment of this festive event and the pleasure we always have in singing there. Thanks also to the visitors who stopped to listen to us, some joining in with a song or two - singing is such a joy in itself, and sharing our songs with others is always a plus!

Keeping the festive mood going, our next performance event is on December 10th at the National Trust's Petworth House, where halls with be decked in readiness for Christmas. We're looking forward to singing our songs and sharing them with visitors there too - so we'll see you soon!

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday November 17th 2022

Ten singers gathered at the "Chichester Inn" to share some songs.  We were sad to miss the leadership of Alan who had to stay at home on flood alert as the waters of the Arun rose, but in his place Stephen A. did an excellent job in keeping us all on track.

The group worked its way through the songs listed for our events at the Weald and Downland Museum (November 27th) and Petworth House (December 10th) - without too much arguing about keys and starting notes, or the word changes that have been made here and there over the years - and by keeping up a good pace we sounded pretty good.  Exceptions were: "Silent Night ", an incomer to our usual songs and we weren't prepared for more than a single verse - and our modest attempts at the rounds "Gather Round the Fire" and "Hey Ho".  We moved on with the "Falmer Carol", not in the current event sets but which we all liked - and wondered why we only sang two verses and repeated one when there are other verses which help to tell the Christmas story?  Something to be considered with SDFS chums in our other groups, in the hope of using the whole song in future.

NB - At close of play our host at the "Chichester Inn" informed us that arrangements for our next meeting on December 15th would need to change due to a Christmas party booking.  The smaller bar was offered instead. Our singers will be consulted on this option and revised plans will be confirmed as soon as possible.  (Please watch this News page or the Diary Dates page for details.)

 

Festive Events for Advent and Christmas

We are looking forward to the pleasure of some seasonal singing at two festive events in the next month.

The first, on Sunday November 27th, is the "Advent Market" at the lovely Weald and Downland Living Museum.  We'll be singing there, near the Market Square, at 11.40 and again at 1.45pm.  

Then on Saturday December 10th we'll be singing at splendid Petworth House, for one of their pre-Christmas open days.  Our two sets there will be in the courtyard near the house, at 11.30 and 2.30pm.

Come and enjoy the beautiful surroundings, the festive mood and the songs we have to share at either or both of these special events before Christmas - and why not have some extra fun by joining with us on a song or two!

(See our Diary Page for more details of what else we're up to - and please check the National Trust's and the Weald and Downland's own websites if you want more details of their events.)

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday November 15th 2022

With several regulars absent due to illness, shielding, train difficulties and other events (gospel singing, pub carols and dancing, we’re a busy lot!) there were twelve singers at the John Harvey Tavern tonight. We welcomed returning singers Ruth & Steve who sang with us several years ago when we were at The Royal Oak and have also sung with local group “Shepherds Arise”.

After warming up with the lively “Country Life” we then marked the Remembrance period with “Follow Me ‘Ome” representing the life and loss of a soldier and “Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun” depicting the women left behind to carry on traditions. Next was “Caburn Hill” in two equal parts harmony with the composer Dave Turner leading one part and Tina leading the other.

Turning to Christmas we sang the familiar “Falmer Carol” (“See Seraphic Throngs”) and then two new ones from the list to try for next year. “Now Christmas is Come”, is a lively carol collected by Lucy Broadwood from the “Singing Baker of Cuckfield”. In contrast “The Sinners’ Redemption” is more unusual but equally lovely in a minor key. Singers picked them both up very quickly and enjoyed singing them.

In the break we discussed the session time. The pub is now opening later, and all present agreed to revert to our later starting time (Nick had already expressed a preference for this via email, due to timing of travel from Bexhill after work). Sessions will therefore be 7:30-10pm starting from December. Jan passed on thanks from her mother, other care home residents and staff after our small group sing in Henfield. Other singers thanked Jan for the convivial gathering afterwards at her house, including excellent cakes. Now Margo has departed we are looking for a volunteer(s) for the admin support role and to represent Lewes at the SDFS Committee. Jan agreed to write future Local Group session reports for the Blog. Others will give further thought to the other roles and a general appeal will go out by email.

After all the “business”, back to the singing, and we restarted with “On Sussex Hills”. More Christmas songs followed. “When it’s Christmas Time (Ring Bells Ring)” is another new one to try, a jolly modern song by Glen Redman of Brighton Morris & Brighton Pub Carols, which mentions the ancient Yule, Saturnalia and misrule as well as Christmas, so something for everyone there. Then “Gather Round the Fire” (a newish winter round) and “While Shepherds Watched” (to the Pentonville tune). We rounded off another evening together with “East Sussex Drinking Song” and “Come Stranger, Come Friend”.

Some, new to some of us, "Seasonal Songs to Try"

Tina in our Lewes local group has reminded us of some seasonal South Downs songs we have yet to try or use regularly. They were added to our main "Songs and Recordings" page when we started this new SDFS Blog, before the "Other Songs to Try" page was created.  They are:

"Now Christmas is Come"

"Shepherds Arise"

"Sinners Redemption"

"Then Let Us Be Merry"

"Wake Ye Shepherds"

"When It's Christmas Time"

So give them a look and a listen and see what you think.  There is still time to sing and enjoy them at our South Downs Folk Singers local sessions this winter, and then perhaps use them more, and share them at public performances, in December 2023.

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday November 3rd 2022

A goodly crowd gathered again at the Barn again, full of cheer in anticipation of singing songs in readiness for the festive season ahead.  We started with an update about plans for the Weald and Downland Advent Market event (Nov.27th) - then we got on with the singing!  We began with "Holly Bears a Berry", followed by "The Coppers Christmas Song", the "Pentonville" shepherds watched, "Angel Gabriel", "Sweet Chiming Bells" and the "Sussex Carol" (remembering to repeat the last verse to finish it).  More fun was had with the seasonal Rounds: "Child of Light" mixed and matched with "Hey Ho Winter Snow", and "Gather Round the Fire".  We look forward to sharing these with any listener wanting to join in at the Advent Market and our sing at Petworth House on Dec.10th. A well earned break included some more forward planning notices - including mention of another seasonal sing at Sullington Barn on January 21st (more details to follow).

Singing resumed with "Masters in the Hall", "Deck the Halls", "Fields Lie Silent" and "The Woodcutters Song".  "Silent Night" was then suggested and tried, although not everyone knew or had the words available.  Its origins are not in the South Downs, but most agreed it would be a familiar song that listeners at our events would be able to join in with. (N.b. it's not on the SDFS Blog, but doubtless can be found online elsewhere.)

The evening concluded with the pleasure of another Round, “I Heard a Bird Sing”, which was tried in multiple parts but in the end agreed that just 2 parts worked best.  The evening concluded with a cheery rendition of "The Holly and the Ivy" with our usual folksy tune.  Well done all!

See you in December!

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday October 18th 2022

Eleven of us gathered at the John Harvey Tavern. Tina had brought along suggestions and word sheets for a selection of seasonal autumn and winter songs, mostly based on the set lists for upcoming events in Henfield (small group event at Jan’s mother’s care home), Weald & Downland Living Museum and Petworth. Singers took it in turns to call out their preferences as we went along and we got through 15 of these songs.

We warmed up with old favourites “Farmer’s Toast” and “Fields Lie Silent” . Some time was then spent concentrating on Alan’s new composition “My Downland Remembered” which everybody agreed was musically delightful as well as moving in its depiction of his Sussex ancestor who had been transported to Australia for a minor theft. Back on familiar ground we rattled through “Seasons Turn”, “Sweet Chiming Bells”, “The Angel Gabriel”, “Copper’s Christmas Song, “Holly and the Ivy” (to the “folkie” tune) and “I Heard a Bird Sing” (as a round in two parts, we were running out of time leading up to the comfort break, so didn’t venture into more parts on this occasion).

Having refilled drinks, we spent some time in general chat and catching up. We welcomed Margo who was back again from Wales. The Henfield event is now confirmed on 8th November and there is space for a couple more singers. There is the option of wassail singing at Tarring on 5th January instead of the usual Worthing session. We discussed future Lewes sessions and agreed not to move the November and December days as in previous years but to continue on the third Tuesday for simplicity. These will be at the John Harvey Tavern for the moment, while also looking into other future options and it was agreed this could be widened to consider venues other than pubs. We passed the hat round to cover the £25 room fee and ended with a float of £5 to carry forward.

 We continued with the cold and seasonal items of “Poor Froze Out Gardeners”, “Where Stormy Winds do Blow” and “Masters in This Hall” before diverting to “Parting Song”, then “Woodcutters Song” and ended with “Thousands or More” (we stood for this last song - somehow it feels more joyful and vibrant than sitting down!)

A very enjoyable evening with everyone working hard and some glorious harmonies.