Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday March 2nd 2023

We were missing a few familiar faces this month but still a good crowd gathered for our session. We began with some notices, including brief discussion of the SDFS public events proposed for this year - with many thanks again to John for his efforts in exploring and arranging these. (More details will be on this Blog's Diary Dates Page soon.)  

Our singing started with “Pleasant and Delightful” and “One For the Rook”.  Then, prompted by the problems reported from the Chichester group when it was revived at their last session, Emily led us through “The Cuckoo”, first learned by some of us in our original song workshops 10 years ago!  A gentle but rather sad song - for which Emily has created an extra more cheerful verse which was welcomed (and will probably get added to the "Other Songs to Try" page for general consideration).  We then sang Alan’s lovely song “My Downland Remembered” before returning to “The Oak” which Emily had introduced us to last month. We enjoyed the chorus again and ventured into learning the verses (these will also be added to the Other Songs to Try page soon).

After a break and some more notices of interest, we tackled “Lark in the Morning", using the Copper's version of the lyrics - after taking into account the SDFS edits here and there!  (This is already on the Other Songs to Try page and will probably be added to our Main Songs page soon, as an option alongside the original version we adopted.)  On this chilly March evening the seasons ahead were cited in the round “Summer’s Near” (also known as “Rambling Rolling Downs in Spring”), new to some so taught again by Emily, and Alan who created it.  It sounded lovely in two parts.  Last but not least we closed with the “Parting Song”.

We will be back at the Barn for our next open group session on Thursday April 6th - and before then for our SDFS private social event, our "Revels", later this month.  If you sing with any of our local groups and you would like to attend but haven't yet got a ticket, please let us know (by the SDFS email) and we’ll send you more details.

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday February 21st 2023

Our February session at the John Harvey Tavern found 10 of us gathered keen to sing. It was lovely to see both the regulars and welcome some folk we haven’t seen for a while. Tina had put thought into the session as always and we started with “Constant lovers” before embarking on an avian theme with “Magpie”, “One for the Rook”, “Birds on the Spray” and later, "Turtle Dove". Tina taught “Eileen Aroon” to those of us who hadn’t sung it before. (A lovely Irish air,  so not a South Downs song but one we enjoy singing from time to time as it was said to be Hilaire Belloc’s favourite song which he often sang in West Sussex). 

We went on to “Fathom the Bowl”, “On Sussex Hills”, “They Won’t Let Us Go to Sea Anymore”, and very appropriately, “Searching for Lambs”. “Smugglers” came in by popular request then we sang the very seasonal “When Spring Comes In” and “Seasons Turn”, before we finished with “The Parting Song” and our regular rousing finale of “Thousands”.

There was further discussion about the future venue for the Lewes sessions as a couple of the winter meetings were poorly attended meaning that the room hire cost was shared between just a handful of singers. The possibility of finding an alternative free pub room seems popular or if that’s not possible it may be necessary to find a fairer method of meeting the room cost, shared between those who enjoy the sessions whether or not they are always able to attend.

As usual it was great to gather and sing together.
Jan

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday February 16th 2023

Thirteen people gathered in the "Chichester Inn" at tables reserved especially for us. Thanks for arranging that Steve; but no flowers this time!! We sang a number of songs which included those to welcome the coming better seasons. 

"Country Life", to get our chords working, then: "When Spring Comes In", "The Nightingale", "Oh Good Ale", "One for the Rook", "Rosebuds in June", "Hal an' Tow", "Come Write me Down", and, before the break, "My Downland Remembered" (which has now been tried by all three local groups and will soon be moved to the main song list on our Blog).  Later we sang some other  favourites: "Jim the Carter Lad", "The Fields Lie Silent" and to conclude the evening, "Sussex by the Sea". 

We tried "The Cuckoo", but so many variations of this ensued that we gave up - with a request that if it's planned to do it again we should use the version on our Blog's songs page, and perhaps folk could have a browse of that in preparation. 

We also went onto slightly newer territory - when Dave G sang us a new song, "Summer is a-Coming in Again". Dave took us through the song several times. It was liked very much by those present. It will soon be added to 'Songs to Try' page on the Blog.

We had a few gos at  "Love and the Ball".  A new tune using a very early poem about stoolball, so very Sussexy.  It seemed to be liked. (It's already on the 'Songs to Try' page.) This song  prompted Steve Alberry to read a 17th Century poem about stoolball. Very funny, and he is being encouraged to read it at the SDFS "Revels" party in March, but close your ears for some parts if you are a bit prim!  (I would also like people to see and hear Gordon's juggling song and activity at the party - please Gordon!) 

We had a recording of Emily singing the chorus of a new song "The Oak Tree". We sang along with this repeatedly to learn it. The melody and words were much appreciated. Although we had the full lyrics from the internet, we decided not to sing the verses until Emily continues with the song at a Worthing session.  

Alan

A Song to Try

Here's a new song offered by Dave Garrard -  "Summer is a-Coming in Again".   It is written by the esteemed folk song writer and singer Mick Ryan.

You'll find the lyrics and tune using the links below.

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

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!