Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday May 1st 2025

Emily opened this month's session with more information about the "Stork Festival" (to be held in Storrington on May 5th) where some of us would be singing. She outlined suggestions for what we might sing there, for us to try in the session and help decide on the set list.  For the most familiar songs on her proposed list she again encouraged us to set aside lyric sheets and sing from our memories and hearts.

We launched with "On Sussex Hills" and "Country Life" before the new season was celebrated in the "May Day Carol", "Hal an Tow"  and  "Summer is a'Coming In Again".   We revisited "The Oak Song" with all the harmony parts - and agreed we were a little rusty on these so maybe not ready for singing it out on the 5th.   The " West Sussex Drinking Song" took us back to firmer ground before we paused for a break.  The second half opened with the " Stork Song", (written by Eileen S for the Stork Festival) which raised the roof with its tune and its message.  "Farmers Toast"  followed - after some debate about how long or short to make it, and opting to sing the version shortened by fewer choruses but including all the verses.  At his request Alan W suggested we sing the "Rambling Comber" with reminders and support from him to ensure inclusion of the silent beats, not held notes, in some lines.  "One For the Rook" and "Magpie"  brought us to "Thousands or More" and then a couple of requests to finish, "It Is the First of May" and "Searching for Lambs".

And so we concluded, with Emily's song set tried and evaluated for our sing out in Storrington the next Monday, and all the songs sung in the session enjoyed in good company.  We'll be back for more singing at the Barn on June 5th - with no doubt "Rosebuds in June" at the top of our next seasonal list!

 

Another Event of Interest to look out for .....

There's a new post on our "Miscellaneous Page" for an event in August - tickets are available now.....

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday April 17th 2025

The evening was set aside as rehearsal and timing exercise for the June Chichester Fringe appearance and seventeen members of the “cast” duly came along to what turned out to be a busy evening.
 
Songs tackled for the first half of the performance were:  Country Life, Sugar Wassail (including the last verse), On Sussex Hills, Bee Boys Song, followed by Amaryllis re Wassailing the bee hives  One for the Rook, When Spring Comes In, Searching for Lambs (with men and women taking different verses), Rambling Comber (a great attempt with two harmonies – although it was noted that the timing still needed careful attention in parts), Summer is a Coming In Again (Dave to sing the opening “So” to start the chorus), Hal and Tow (Dave on drum with a sharp finish).  Ladies Go Dancing, and to finish, Rosebuds in June.  
 
These, with interspersed narration by Steve W, a poem, Sompting Shearer’s Beer by Steve A and great traditional saying on Wassailing by Dave after Sugar Wassail, made up a good first half lasting approximately 43 minutes which is about the right length for the first half.
 
After a well-earned break, and a practice at beer drinking, the second half started with a lovely duet by Julia and Nichola – The Holly King and the Oak King.  Then proceeded following the planned narrative intro with the following songs:  Lammas Carol, Farmer’s Toast (our version) (with a repeat of the last line in the chorus at the end), Turmut Hoer, Dark December (lead by Dave with guitar accompaniment), Fields Lie Silent, Thousands or More and finally a rousing Golia to end.
 
All agreed, the programme seemed to work pretty well with the second half being approximately 30 minutes.   There was some discussion at the end of the evening about whether to encourage “audience participation” – possibly resolved by Alan deciding he would pick and choose which songs might best work for this possibility!
Anne S

Spring Into Summer Update

Having just had a gloriously sunny spring day last weekend to sing at the National Trust's Spring Festival at Petworth House, West Sussex, (thank you again to our hosts) - we now look forward to singing at the "Garden Show at Firle House" in East Sussex on Easter Sunday, April 20th.  

We hope we will see you there - and also at any or all of our other events elsewhere at this time of year.   Details are on the Diary Dates page of this Blog but here's a summary….. 

"Stanmer Village Apple Blossom Day" on Sunday April 27th 

"Old Mill Open Day" in Keymer on Sunday May 4th -  and -  

"The Stork Fair" in Storrington on Monday May 5th.

Then on Sunday June 1st we'll be singing for the Chichester Fringe Festival - singing at the  Chichester Canal Basin Cafe at 7.00pm. 

 

(This a ticketed event payable to the Fringe - please refer to the Fringe's own website for details:  www.chichesterfringe.co.uk).

We have more dates and venues on our Diary Page calendar for the rest of the year - so plenty of chances to come and share in our South Downs Songs and Singing - and watch this page for regular news and posts.  

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday April 3rd 2025

28 singers gathered, with Emily returned to lead us, for our April session at the lovely Sussex Barn. We welcomed a new face to the fold - and hope that Sarah will enjoy more sessions with us in the future.  Sadly it was Jan's last session before her move, but we were glad she had found time from all her packing to come and sing with us.

After some introductions, and brief reminders from Henny about the next few public events on our calendar (Petworth House being the first of these on April 12th), we launched into "Country Life".  Emily urged those of us who have been singing this song for months if not years, to avoid referring to lyric sheets whilst we sang (with dispensation given to any newcomers to the songs)!  This 'rule' carried over for "Rosebuds in June", "Pleasant and Delightful", "The Nightingale" and "Green Grow the Laurels" - all of which were sung with increasing confidence and enthusiasm, perhaps boosted by finding how well we managed without the support (or distraction) of song books!

Some song books reappeared for the next few songs - starting with "Hares on the Mountain". There was discussion about the interpretation, pace and volume of this song, reaching some agreement on it being better if sung briskly and brightly but with the second line of each verse a little softer than the first.  "Lark in the Morning" also provoked discussion, again, about which version we should use, the variations in the words and how best to scan the timing of some lines. The 'Coppers' version' was the one selected to sing, albeit with some characteristic SDFS tweaks within it!  "Searching For Lambs" concluded the first half of our session - with little or no discussion but our usual enjoyment in singing it.   

The break included the some delicious chocolate cakes generously made and brought by Jan as her farewell - many thanks Jan and we wish you well in your new home! Thereafter we resumed singing with "Jim the Carter Lad", including whip-cracking hand claps to punctuate the chorus.  Then "The Cuckoo" - with more discussion, this time about the additional verse (now available on the SDFS Blog) and also about holding the note on some words and at the end of some lines.  Emily mentioned she has another verse to add, if liked, which she will bring for us to try at a future session.

We took a pause from singing together to hear Emily sing "The Stork Song", created by Eileen S, for use when a group led by Emily perform at the 'Stork Fair' event in Storrington on May 5th.  With Emily's guidance we sang it through and will do so again at next our Barn session on May Ist - May Day!  Alan then suggested and supported work on the "Rambling Comer" to include all three parts, which are gradually bedding in. To conclude the session we invited Jan to choose a song - and we sang "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun", it being one of her favourites..

Bon voyage Jan and thanks all.

H.

ALERT !

Lewes Local Group Session – Monday April 21st - temporary re-arrangement. 

Our usual venue is unavailable this month - so we will be singing earlier than usual - 7pm to 9pm - at the "Railway Land Nature Reserve" in Lewes.

Please meet at 6:45pm outside the Linklater Pavilion, Railway Lane BN7 2FG (just inside the reserve).  We will be singing at a spot a little further into the reserve, near what we have named the "Magpie Bush".

We will be back at our usual venue for our May session.

(For full details, please view our Diary Dates page.)

Chichester Local Group Report - Thursday March 20th 2025

15 singers came along to a corner of the Chichester Inn for the March SDFS get together.

 

The object of the evening was to continue to rehearse material that was going to be sung at the Chichester Fringe event this coming June.  Alan outlined that the start song was that old favourite that the group perform really well – "Country Life".  He also suggested to general agreement that the group could add emphasis to the chorus by punching the air in every chorus.  So, with that in mind the first song was launched, rowdily sung and given full actions!  "Sugar Wassail" followed in keeping with the seasonal progress of the planned Fringe programme with some tips on counting to ensure that the gaps in the song are clearly defined.  Dave G gave a splendid wassail recitation at the end and it was agreed that implements to make a noise as per the Wassailing tradition could be brought along.  

"On Sussex Hills" sung in the usual robust fashion was followed by "The Bee Boys Song", after which Amaryllis led her small “harmony” section into some lovely harmonies and completed the song with a great rendition of a traditional beehive wassail text from 19C Amberley.  A very competent "One for the Rook" came next followed by "When Spring Comes In".  The latter – appropriate as the first day of Spring was actually upon us, was partially tried again at a slightly faster pace which improved it, with a note to remember to keep up the pace at the start of each new verse.  Men and Women sang appropriate verses of the next song "Searching for Lambs" following the familiar discussions about varying words!  Alan recapped all parts to "Rambling Comber" which seemed to go pretty well as the first attempt at singing all three parts together.  A busy first half was rounded off with our version of "Summer Is A-Coming In" with agreement to leave out the chorus at the end and finish by repeating the last line slowly.

 

The second session of the evening, started out with a hearty rendition of "Hal and Tow" including all to clap once in the chorus which also formed the start of the song, rather than the verse.  "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" was sung by ladies with some accompaniment by the men, followed by the well known "Rosebuds in June" which was sung extremely competently and led on to the "Lammas Carol" which again went well with a small review of some of the notes in a couple of lines.  "Farmers Toast" – with a reminder that we were performing the “shortened” version came next which worked well.  A resounding performance of "Turmut Hoer" was next before Dave G’s lovely version with guitar accompaniment of "Dark December" to which the group joined in the chorus with harmonies beginning to be introduced.  

"The Fields Lie Silent was the penultimate offering before a rousing "Thousands or More" encore, brought to an end a very successful evening. The group having performed really well across the eighteen songs tried this evening.

 

Anne Sartain

"South Downs Folk Singers" at the Chichester Fringe - Sunday June 1st 2025

The "South Downs Folk Singers" are pleased to announce...... 

A group of us will be singing at the Chichester Canal Basin Cafe at 7.00pm on Sunday June 1st  - as part of the Chichester Fringe 2025!

The Chichester Fringe programme of events has just been launched and tickets are on sale NOW

For full details of our appearance - and to secure yourself a ticket - please go to the Fringe's own website:  www.chichesterfringe.co.uk 

Please share this exciting news with family and friends, and..... DON'T DELAY,  BOOK TODAY!! 

The Cuckoo

"The Cuckoo", a song first used by us during our early days in the 'South Downs Songs' project and already listed on our Songs and Recordings page, now has a fourth verse (author unknown). 

We have been in the habit of singing the first verse again to conclude the song - but now instead we have this end of season departure verse as a conclusion to compliment the herald of springtime in the first. 

Have a look - and enjoy a sing!

(You can find the updated lyrics on our Songs and Recordings page by clicking on this page link.)

Worthing Local Group Report - Thursday March 6th 2025

25 of us met at the Barn for this month's session.  Unfortunately Emily was needed at home so couldn't join us but sent good wishes to all in her absence.  Alan and Amaryllis kindly agreed to lead us through a goodly mix of songs and they took turns to introduce them and guide us.  Henny began the evening by giving Em's apologies and sharing some notices, including additional details and reminders about this year's programme of SDFS public events (already on our Blog Diary page), with an invitation to singers to volunteer to sing at them.  (The first of these will be singing at Petworth House again, on April 12th as part of their Spring Festival; Amaryllis will be leading and will soon prepare two sets of songs to sing at 12.00 noon then 2.00pm.) 

Our singing at this session began with Alan leading with "When Spring Comes In" - a suitable celebration of the recent up-turn in our weather and the joys of spring arriving at last!  Amaryllis took her first turn with "Life of a Man" reminding us in a different way of our life cycle and seasons' changing.  We headed for the hills after that, with Alan "Searching for Lambs" and Amaryllis with "Hares on the Mountain".  We sang the latter together, men and women, with the repeat line in each verse sung softly like an echo.  Continuing the spring theme we looked towards May with "Hal an Tow" - and Alan encouraged a united and positive single hand clap to punctuate the pause in the first line of the chorus (i.e. Hal an tow, (clap) jolly rumbalo) - which seemed to work well and added to the vibrancy of the song. 

Continuing with our tandem leads we sang "Lark in the Morning" - after a discussion about which lyrics to use. We ultimately chose the one based on the Coppers' version without chorus intervals. (This is on the 'Other Songs to Try' page of the SDFS Blog, but will soon to be added to the main 'Songs...' page).  Next came "Ladies Go Dancing at Whitsun" with a reminder to ensure use of the extra lift in the notes of 'go' in the last line when just women's voices end the song. 

We sang "The Cuckoo" with a light bright touch, led by Amaryllis, remembering to pace the timing to hold the note a little at the end of the third line in each verse, and also to give emphasis in the last line of each verse on 'summer', 'bring'  and 'maiden'.  We sang it with a repeat of the first verse to conclude the song on a more cheery note - but Angela S then shared with us some alternative lines she has which might serve better - "And when her time is come her voice we don't hear, and where she goes we do not know until another year'.  (These will soon be added to the song on the Blog.) 

After a break with various drinks and chats, we continued with a mix of songs suggested by Alan or Amaryllis or by general request.  Starting with "Summer is Acommin' In Again", and "My Downland Remembered", before Alan suggested "The Rambling Comber" including its low and high harmonies which are now beginning to bed in.  "One for the Rook", now a firm favourite, was prefaced by details shared by Steve and Henny of their recent contact with Paul (an associate and friend of the song's writer, Mike Barber), who has endorsed our use of the song saying that he and Mike's family are pleased to know his songs are being used, this being a fitting epitaph to Mike who died a few weeks ago.  With this in mind we sang the song with our usual pleasure and gusto.  

As the clock ticked on, two more requests followed to conclude the evening - "Rosebuds in June" and last but not least the "Parting Song".

Many thanks to Alan and Amaryllis for their generous efforts - and to all the singers who turned up in the face of winter colds and other bugs, multiple works or diversions on the roads just now, and all the other demands in their busy lives -  to support another jolly good sing at the Barn!    See you in April !