Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday June 1st 2023

Quite a few event notices were given at the start of our evening, reflecting how busy we'll be in June with four public performances in a month.  Then, under Emily's guiding hand, we revisited some of what we'll be singing at the first of these events - Amberley Museum on June 3rd.  We began with what has become a good warm-up and fanfare, "Country Life", before moving on to "When Spring Comes In"; "One For the Rook" and "My Downland Remembered" (choosing this time not to repeat the last first verse at the end).  A change of scene had us singing a round in three parts "As Me I Walked ..." which we hope to engage our audience in on the day.  The first half of our evening was completed with "The Nightingale", the "Sussex Wedding Song" and the "Bee Boys Song" - before a break and more shared news of other local events, including the new Worthing Festival and some dates at Horsham Folk Club.  

Our singing resumed with "Turmut Hoers"; "Life of a Man" and "Oak and Ash and Thorn" before trying another round with summer words to the "Banberry Ale" tune, which some were familiar with, this time talking of "Ripening Strawberries Juicy and Bright".  (If not already on the Rounds Page of our Blog, the two sung this evening soon will be.) 

To finish the evening, by request, we sang two songs both with the shadow of warfare, and separation from home and loved ones, woven into them.  First "Ladies Go Dancing" with its wistful tone and gentle pace, and then by contrast "Sussex By the Sea" in its louder marching rhythm - on which note we marched home after another enjoyable evening of song.

We'll at the Barn for a sing with a difference at our next session on Thursday July 6th - 7.30pm

We hope that our South Downs folk singers from all three of our local groups will gather in this central location to join in an evening of songs by request, old and new, to celebrate the 10 years since the "South Downs Folk Singers" began.  

We considered having a summer picnic gathering somewhere on the Downs - but fearing the weather could fail us and rain stop play, we've opted instead to use the lovely Sussex Barn already available to us - and guaranteed dry!

We're asking singers to bring some sweet or savoury snacks (no more than easy to eat 'finger-food') to share, and drinks of their own choice, to have in the break and add to the evening's enjoyment. 

 

Events to Look Forward to in June

The South Downs Folk Singers will be busy during June with a number of summer events we have been invited to sing at - in a variety of locations across West Sussex.

Saturday June 3rd:  We'll be at the Amberley Chalk Pits Museum, taking part in their Environment Day.   

Sunday June 11th:  You can find us in a mixed programme of musical performances happening in the Warwick Street precinct at the centre of Worthing during the new Worthing Festival.  

Friday June 16th:  Sees us returning to rural surroundings at Parham House, for their Sussex Day event in their lovely grounds and gardens.  

Wednesday June 21st : Takes us further west, to sing and celebrate the Summer Solstice in an evening event in the grounds of Petworth House.  (NB. this is a National Trust ticketed event.)

(Our singing times (when confirmed) can be found on the "Diary Dates" page of the Blog - and more details of each occasion can be found by consulting the respective event organisers' own websites.) 

And after all that ..... we will have reached Midsummer - how time flies when having fun!  But there will be more to come - and we'll be looking ahead to what and where we'll be singing in July, August and September.  Watch this space and our "Diary Dates" page.

So come along and see us at any or all of these great events - and maybe even join us at one of our local group sessions too! (Just check the SDFS local group details on the "Welcome" page of this Blog, choose one to suit and drop us an email to let us know you when you plan to come along.)

 

Another Lovely Sing - Rustington Museum May 24th 2023

Thank you to Rustington Museum for inviting us to sing, and talk about, our South Downs Songs for you at one of your regular meetings yesterday.  

It was a lovely evening of song and good company and we all enjoyed it - and hope the audience did too.   

It was great when some extra voices joined with ours for a chorus or two - and, towards the close of of our programme, when we all came together in singing a "round" or "catch", which made for a loud and hearty sound! 

So thanks again to our hosts and to everyone there for listening and for joining in.

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday May 18th 2023

As Alan and Ann were way on a well-earned break, it was a small, but select, group that met in Chichester this May. We were very ably led by Dave and we managed, at pace, to work our way through most of the Rustington Museum event set-list Alan had supplied. Beginning with an ever vibrant rendition "Country Life" then moving swiftly on to "When Spring Comes in"; "Rosebuds in June"; "Lammas Carol"; "Field Lies Silent"; "Jim the Carter Lad"; and "Twanky Dillo".  

A refreshment break and well earned breather brought us to the second half - and completion of the list with: "Fathom the Bowl"; "Ale Glorious Ale"; "On Sussex Hills"; "The Smugglers Song"; "My Downland Remembered"; "Come Write Me Down (Sussex Wedding Song)"; "The Turtle Dove"; "Pleasant and Delightful" - and last bit very much not least, "Thousands or More". With time limited we only missed maybe one or two of the best known choices in the set - and even if we say so ourselves, and especially with so few of us there, we sounded pretty good!

Another enjoyable session, and we'll be back for more at the "Chichester Inn" on June 16th.

Lewes Local Group Report - Tuesday May 16th 2023

Ten of us gathered on a beautiful warm dry evening at the John Harvey Tavern, including a returning singer Steve, from Henfield.  As always Tina had prepared a list of possible songs to refresh and asked for favourites. We started the session with “Constant Lovers” and “Fathom the Bowl” before moving on to Alan’s beautiful tune for the poem “My Downland Remembered”.  Angela played a recording of the lovely harmony Amaryllis has written to it and we agreed it would be good to learn.

Enjoying the summer weather, we moved on with “Rosebuds in June”, “Hal an Tow” (not a South Downs Song but a popular addition at this time of year) and “May Day Carol”.  Next came “Our Captain Cried All Hands” (collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams) before we sang “Rolling in the Dew”!

After a break to re-fill our glasses we sang “It is the First of May” and “Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun” before returning to Alan’s setting of another poem,  “Love and the Ball” about the Sussex game of stoolball. “Old Adam” came next and the poignant “They Won’t Let Us Go to Sea Anymore”.

During the break Tina updated everyone about the potential move to a different venue. We also discussed singing at the Stanmer Fete (in October), Jan’s Mum’s care home in Henfield, and the idea of celebrating our 10^th anniversary with a picnic on Highdown Hill, which was greeted with enthusiasm. 

We finished a happy evening with “East Sussex Drinking Song”, “Farmer’s Toast” and “Parting Song”.  Another uplifting Tuesday sing.

Jan

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday May 4th 2023

Our Worthing session in May had the added interest of singing under the amazing ceiling of the church in Goring next to the old Sussex barn where we usually meet.  Election day meant the Barn was a poling station but our hosts at the Church very kindly offered us the church instead. After time to marvel at the paintings on the ceiling and the sunlit colours of the stained glass windows, and to appreciate other features in the church - we settled along the pews to hear a few notices and event reminders, before lifting our voices as well as our eyes (to that ceiling again!) as we warmed up with “Country Life”.

Emily then led us through a number of songs likely to be used at our next public event at  Rustington Museum on May 24th - “ The Brisk Young Plough Boy “; “Where Stormy Winds do Blow“; “Lammas Carol“; and “My Downland Remembered “.  Also some rounds - “Ah Poor Bird” and “Hey Ho Money Have I None”, which hopefully will be equally as much fun when sung with the audience at Rustington. 

After a well earned break and time to chat we resumed with some songs suggested by Emily or requested from the group. Whilst the month is still with us these began with “ It is the First of May”; “Hal anTow” and the “May Day Carol“ - before continuing with “Old Adam”; “The Song of the Sussex Downsman“ and by popular request “The Oak“, albeit only the chorus (but with high and low harmonies) since not everyone had the verse lyrics available.  For a rousing finish we ended with "Thousands or More", our enjoyment of which was all the more for the wonderful acoustics provided by our temporary home in the church.  It was a shame to end the evening and to leave these special surroundings - so many thanks again to our hosts for enabling us to sing there. 

Rest assured - for our next session we will be back in the familiar and equally welcoming surroundings of the old Barn next door, on Thursday June 1st - so we can look forward to more songs and good company there. 

Singing at Firle Garden Show – Sunday April 23rd 2023

Our session at the Firle Garden Show, in the beautiful grounds of Firle Place, coincided with a rather wet morning, and the photos taken clearly showed Tina to be the only brave soul out in the rain, conducting the rest of us sheltering in a gazebo! However our meagre audience was enthusiastic and appreciative and we enjoyed ourselves as always.

By the afternoon slot the weather was dry and almost bright, and our singing position immediately in front of a covered seating area serving refreshments was a great improvement. Spurred on by having a static, dry audience definitely improved our enthusiasm and we all enjoyed singing the lovely selection of local spring songs chosen by Tina. 

“Sussex by the Sea” was our final song and (as in the previous couple of years at this location) it received the loudest applause, possibly because this year we dedicated it to nearby Brighton and Hove Albion who were at Wembley, taking on Manchester United in the semifinals of the FA Cup. The result wasn’t the one we wanted but we hope they appreciated the sentiment.

Jan

Lewes Local Group Report – from Tuesday April 18th 2023 (delayed)

Apologies first. Jan was away so I said I would write this report, but then I disappeared into a silo for the local elections. It was a cracking evening so I’m even more sorry for this delay.

Fifteen singers gathered at the John Harvey Tavern. When I arrived, Geoff was in deep conversation with a couple of drinkers who were very knowledgeable about folk music and said they would try to return later. We didn’t see them again unfortunately, but two other women wandered through from the crowded main bar looking for a seat and then stayed for the whole session. We sang several of the songs from the upcoming sets at Firle Garden Show, and a mixture of other old and new songs, including the rest of the singers’ favourite songs as voted for last month.

We kicked off with “Ale Glorious Ale”; “Sussex by the Sea” (as the county song this always get a loud round of applause at Firle, and this year Brighton was playing Manchester United that day in the FA Cup semis so even more apt); “Run of the Downs” (to the new tune from Worthing singer Amaryllis Gunn); “Caburn Hill” (in two parts with one led by the songwriter Lewes singer Dave Turner - we decided that for Firle Dave would sing solo on the first two lines and we would then all join in two part harmony on the remaining two lines); “Bee Boy’s Song”; “Birds on the Spray” (which was less familiar to some present); and “Three Maidens” and “Shepherd of the Downs” (both golden oldies).

During the break we discussed items from the recent committee meeting, including the planned review of our repertoire, a possible CD and 10th anniversary celebrations, probably in July; an update on possible new venues for this session; and the sad decision to cancel singing at Oldland Mill on 7th May as there were not enough singers available.  

We restarted with “When Spring Comes In” and “Searching for Lambs”. Next, we tackled a completely new song, “Love and the Ball”, a courtly poem about the local game of stoolball set to a tune by Chichester singer Alan Wheeler, which everybody picked up very quickly. This was followed by the relatively well-known “Sussex Wedding Song” and “Turtle Dove” before spending some time revisiting “Birds on the Spray”. We rotate our closing songs, and this month it was “Thousands or More” which sounded, as ever, full of rich harmonies and heartfelt sentiment. Another great evening, a pleasure to sing with you all.

Tina

There is now a New Page on the SDFS Blog

 In case you haven't noticed .... we have just added a new page to our Blog.  You will find it under the tab "Miscellaneous (SDFS related)" - and the posts there will be a mixture of just that.  

Instead of adding such posts to the Blog's News Page, this new page will host items of interest to our singers and others, that we've noticed or have been sent.  They will be about things that closely relate to our own purpose and activities as the "South Downs Folk Singers. 

Hope you'll find the page both useful and enjoyable.  There isn't much there yet - but we're pretty sure it won't be empty for long!  

Reminder - Worthing Local Group session - Change of Venue for Thursday May 4th

Just a reminder to anyone planning to come and sing with us at this month's Worthing Local Group session - our usual setting in the old Barn is otherwise engaged, so we will be next door in the Church.  

Please DO NOT access the Church through the connecting door you might be familiar with from the Barn - instead please come to the main entrance of the Church itself.

We will be back in the old Barn as usual for our June session (Thursday June 1st).

See you there!