New Year Update

After the pleasure and success of our singing at the the Weald and Downland Living Museum's Advent Market and at Petworth House before Christmas, and then the fun of sharing our songs at the Tarring Village Wassail and also Sullington Barn's "Sing and Stomp" in a very chilly January - our three local groups are up and running again as usual at their monthly sings in Worthing, Lewes and Chichester - and we're looking forward to another musical year.  

Planning for this year's programme of SDFS public performances is under way, with some things already pencilled in on the calendar from April through to December 2023.  Dates and details will gradually appear on out Diary Dates page, and full details will be shared with our singers to invite their contribution.  (SDFSingers - please keep an eye on your email inboxes for our messages about these.) 

N.B. - If you are exploring our Blog because you are organising an event, and you're interested in having us there to sing for you - please refer to our guide notes for Organisers to be found on this Blog, and drop us a line on our email: southdownsfolksingers21@gmail.com.

Or - If you've just found our Blog and would like to join us at one of our local groups - drop us a line to let us know and we'll look forward to meeting you.

 

A special date definitely inked onto our calendar is our own, private, social event in March, when our annual "Revels" party for all our singers is happening again after a gap of 3 years due to the intrusion of Covid.  It'll be great to gather and celebrate with singers from all three of our local groups. (SDFSingers, for more details please check the invitation email sent to all.) 

Although it's now February, it's not too late to say another "Happy New Year' to all our readers!

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday February 2nd 2023

After enjoying the fun of the Tarring Village Wassail for our January sing, a goodly crowd of 31 singers gathered again at the Goring Barn for our first group session of the new year and we welcomed two new faces joining us this month.  After meets and greets, and some shared discussion about possible options for the public events our Events Organiser John is exploring for our 2023 programme, we launched into song.  

Shaped by singers' requests we chose to move away from our 'winter' songs and began with "Country Life" which gave us a rousing start, followed by the gentleness of "Rosebuds in June".  Still looking ahead to the seasons changing, "When Sprnig Comes In" followed, before the quiet optimism of "I Heard a Bird Sing"*, enjoying this as a lovely two part round.  Suggestions from the floor then took us into new territory - and after hearing a couple of brief samples sung to us by Emily, we chose to try "Oak of Old", a song from a collection written by a local song writer in honour of our native trees.  The song has three parts - and with Emily's guidance we managed as much as time allowed - the chorus melody with the high harmony.  We hope to revisit this lovely song to try the verses and the low harmony at future sessions.  (It will be on our 'Songs to Try' Page of our Blog in due course - for our other groups to consider and enjoy if they would like to.)  

A break for refreshments and more chat included discussion about an event we may be contributing to in celebration of Beltane at the end of April. (If confirmed, this will appear on the Blog 'Diary Dates' Page and more details will be sent to all our singers.)  Singing resumed with more requests - starting with the "Smugglers Song".  "Lark in the Morning" was suggested but the lyrics we had were at odds,  i.e. the ones we first learnt vs the Coppers songbook version that has been tried since.  (The 'official' version we choose to use at events is still unclear and needs to be confirmed between all our local groups - a work in progress!)  So instead we moved on to "Magpie", "Oldland Mill" and "One For the Rook".  The evening closed as well it might with "The Parting Song".

Hope to see you all again at the Barn in March - when, as the song* says, we will be even "closer to Spring than we were in September"! 

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday January 17th 2023

I am pleased to report a slight upturn in the situation this month. 7 apologies from singers - some finishing off the tail end of family festivities in Manchester and Somerset, others not wishing to face the icy Sussex roads, and a new singer who had expressed interest but was ill on the day. On the plus side, the pub had us in the diary so we had the whole of the Lewes Room to ourselves (hurrah).

6 singers, with Margaret and I again keeping up the female side, started with “Here we come a Wassailing”, “Hey Ho Winter Snow”, “The Holly and the Ivy” (to the folkie tune), “One for the Rook”, “Shepherds Arise” (a newer one to try for next year, we’ve sung this a few times now and like it), “Wake ye Shepherds” (another new one, which we managed successfully in 2 part harmony), “Wassail Wassail all over the Town”, “Sugar (Sussex) Wassail).

In the break we discussed possible new venues and items from the last committee. This included the singers’ survey which I had forgotten to circulate, but our views during recent discussions had matched the findings of wanting to continue with large and small events, formal and informal, and spread across the West, Central and East areas; CD (on hold); Twitter (continue at present); importance of singers attending practice sessions before coming to live performances. No volunteers came forward for the next Committee on 31^st March so I will attend but would welcome 1 or 2 other Lewes reps. 

Ray gave us “The Blank Sheet” a wry poem regarding New Year’s resolutions. We then continued with “Apple Tree Wassailing Song”, “Wassail the Silver Apple" (not a South Downs song but pretty and unusual)” , “Wassail all Your Apple Trees" (a round in 4 parts) “Seasons Turn”, and “I Heard a Bird Sing”  before ending with “Parting Song”.

We made a creditable sound with a small number but here’s hoping that for February we might be back to normal with a few more to swell the sound, and Jan has agreed to write this report in future so thanks to her too!

Tina

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday January 19th 2023

I can almost copy the opening line from the Lewes Group before Christmas where 8 apologies had reached us before we left home and similarly on arrival, we found the pub didn’t have us in the diary and there were several folk finishing their meals in the usual space we occupied!  However 11 of us eventually settled around a large coffee table and embarked on a determined effort to rehearse the set list being proposed for the forthcoming Sullington Barn event.  (A small girl sitting nearby was delighted with our efforts).

 Anne attempted to keep law and order in the absence of Alan’s singing voice and get everyone started at the same time, although Alan managed vigorous conducting and hoarse instructions.  The group warming to the theme of winter wassails and seasonal songs, managed to run through the whole Sullington set list and included four rounds – "Hey Ho Winters’ Snow", "I heard a Bird Sing", "Gather Round the Fire" and Alan’s "Wassail Round".  Other seasonal songs were attempted, including "Wassail All Over the Town", "Sugar Wassail", "Poor Froze Out Gardeners" etc.  We all got to grips quite successfully with a good up-beat version of the "Silver Apple Wassail" – some of our group hadn’t encountered it at all before.  The "Jacobstowe Wassail" was explored via internet and mobile phones and we all agreed it was a great song but that we were unlikely to sound like Steeleye Span without a fair amount of rehearsal!

 

Meanwhile, the diners had finished and gone home, some offering appreciative remarks about the entertainment and we ended up as usual but this time from the comfort of our sofas, reclaiming our space and finishing a useful revision of seasonal songs.

 

Anne S

Lewes Local Group Report – Tuesday December 20th 2022

This was another small but determined gathering which nearly didn’t happen at all! 11 apologies had reached me before I left home - ranging from pub carols, Covid, dark nights, working late, shielding, dodgy weather, other illness, A27 closure – so I got the bus over from Brighton with some trepidation. On arrival I found the pub didn’t have us in the diary and there were already several other drinkers in the room we use so it couldn’t be reserved for our use.

4 other singers arrived, making 3 men and 2 women in total, so we decided we had enough balance and enthusiasm to carry on with the session and enjoy ourselves anyway. We started tucked away in a corner singing quietly but the other drinkers said they were enjoying hearing us and were very complimentary so we then sang louder.

We each in turn chose our favourites and also tried one of the new proposed songs. So we got through “Coppers’ Christmas Song”, “Sweet Chiming Bells”, “Poor Froze-Out Gardeners”, “Masters in this Hall”, “Wake Ye Shepherds” (the new one), “Good King Wenceslas”, “Falmer Carol”, “Fields lie Silent”, “On Sussex Hills” and “Seasons Turn” from the Christmas and cold weather songs and carols. Ray and I gave a close harmony rendering of “White Christmas” and we then closed with “Parting Song”.

As they cleared up around us at closing time the bar staff said what a lovely sound we had made and we headed out in high spirits but hoping for a few more singers to keep us company next month!

For Your Interest ....

Here is a message from one of our singers, Lyn .... thanks Lyn.

SDFS members might be interested in this BBC Radio 3 programme: "Music Planet" about Martin and Eliza Carthy.  It starts with a rousing rendition of "Country Life". 

(Go to BBC IPlayer "Sounds" and a search request for 'Radio 3 "Music Planet" Martin and Eliza Carthy' should find it.)

Enjoy!

Some more seasonal songs to try

Three more carols that have been tried our at recent Chichester and Worthing sessions.

Ideo or "Personent Hodie" 

This is a carol, taken from a 16th Century collection of carols called Piæ Cantiones.

(Feb 3rd 2024 - This song has been moved to our "Songs and Recordings" Page) Please find it by using this Page Link

In the Bleak Mid-Winter 

Also know as "A Christmas Carol"  This is a poem by Christina Rossetti, published in 1872, sung to Gustav Holst's setting (Cranham, 1906). She may have written it during a winter visit to William Blake at his cottage in Felpham. 

(Feb 3rd 2024 - This song has been moved to our "Songs and Recordings" Page) Please find it by using this Page Link

The Boar's Head Carol 

The boar's head with an apple in its mouth is carried into the banquet hall on a gold or silver dish to the sound of trumpets and the singing of minstrels. At Hurst College in Hurstpierpoint, the boar’s head is paraded around the cloisters followed by the choir singing the Boar’s Head Carol.

(Feb 3rd 2024 - This song has been moved to our "Songs and Recordings" Page) Please find it by using this Page Link

Seasons Turn ....

As the old year of 2022 draws to a close and the new year 2023 approaches, the "South Downs Folk Singers” can look back with pleasure at all the singing and good company we’ve had at our Local Group sessions, and at the variety of public events we done this year. 

Many thanks to all our hospitable hosts for their invitations, to our audiences who have listened and joined in - and of course to all our loyal singers and our singing leads who have prepared, travelled and sung for these sessions and events. 

This December we greatly enjoyed singing at two seasonal events - first at the Weald and Downland Living Museum’s "Advent Market " and then at a "Petworth House at Christmas" open day - and the festive season continues into January with the fun of two "Wassails".

On Thursday January 5th some of us will be singing in support of the Sompting Morris side’s “Wassail"  in Tarring Village (located in West Worthing). The event begins at 8pm with a torch light parade in the village High Street, and we'll be singing in the garden of “The Vine” pub to welcome the crowds as the parade returns for the traditional Wassail ceremony. 

(Please note - this gathering replaces the usual Worthing Local Group session at the Barn in Goring on the first Thursday of the month.  We will resume our Worthing sessions as usual in February - on February 2nd.)

On January 21st we will be contributing to the “Sing and Stomp” evening in Sullington - and more lovely events will doubtless follow through the year as our 2023 programme develops.  (Please keep an eye on our Diary Dates page for details.) 

We are always open to new events, and to new singers joining us - so if you need to make a new year resolution why not decide to invite us to sing for you, plan to come and see us at an event - or come along and SING with us at one of our regular Local Group Sessions?    We hope to hear from you soon!

"Happy New Year" !

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!