Bateman’s, Burwash, Sunday 7th August 2016

Battle of the Somme Commemoration Weekend

This year’s event is centred around this particular prolonged battle.

We will be singing two sets at 12.00 midday and 2.30pm in probably the same location as last year, between the restaurant and the event field.

We are the only musical performers on the day, except for a lady amongst the re-enactors on the field, and the rest of the elements of the event have been arranged around our performances. A separate short performance of three of Kipling’s poems in the form of songs will be performed at the House by Amaryllis, Emily & Libby, probably between our main sets. We are hoping to video elements of the day, so if you have any objection to your visage appearing on it please warn me in advance, so that I can let you know when it is taking place.

Please arrive by 11.00am as this will ensure that you have a good parking space. John C will be at the admissions entrance from 10.30am to identify you to the staff for free entry. If you are a NT member please bring your membership card, as the level of the next year’s funding for each property is determined by HQ at Swindon based on annual visitor numbers. Please car share if you can personally arrange this.

Dress theme is the usual green, blue or cream/yellow if you have such an item you want to wear. If you have a Poppy left over from last November then that would be even better.

Fingers crossed that we have as good weather as last year.

John C.

First set:

1. Country Life
2. Pleasant and Delightful
3. A Smuggler’s Song
4. Oak, Ash and Thorn
5. The Turnip Hoer
6. All Things Are Quite Silent
7. The Magpie
8. Follow Me ’Ome?
9. West Sussex Drinking Song
10. Rosebuds in June
11. Sussex by the Sea

Second set:

1. Run of the Downs?
2. On Sussex Hills
3. Ladies Go Dancing At Whitsun
4. Life of a Man
5. Oak, Ash and Thorn
6. A Smuggler’s Song
7. Home Lads, Home
8. Thousands or More
9. Rosebuds in June
10. West Sussex Drinking Song
11. Sussex by the Sea

Local Group Report – Easebourne Thursday 21st July 2016

Twelve of us met at The Three Moles in Selham near Midhurst on Thursday 21st July to enjoy a few drinks and have another really jolly sing. We were especially pleased to be joined by a new member – Jean – and to welcome back four new members – Robin and Sue, and Gordon and Debbie – who had come to our session in May. We practised a dozen or so songs from the SDFS repertoire, sometimes repeating a song just to make sure we were singing it correctly! Old favourites like Fathom the Bowl and Hard Times of Old England were sung alongside newer songs such as the Smuggler’s Song and The Magpie and songs that we felt we needed to revisit like All Things Are Quite Silent and Home Lads Home. We finished up with a hearty renderings of songs like The Turnip Hoer, the Ebernoe Horn Fair Song, Sussex By the Sea and Rolling Home.  It’s not just the singing though that makes us go home with a warm feeling of satisfaction – it’s the realisation that we’ve just spent a couple of hours together with friends in a spirit of happy conviviality! The next Three Moles sing will be on Thursday 18th August.

Singing at The Star

(Apologies for the very late posting of this item – Adrian F)

The South Downs Folk Singers were welcome guests in April at The Star in Alfriston under the guidance of Tina, with introductions to the songs by Adrian F. This was the second time that we had performed at The Star and the unaccompanied harmonies of a small group really go down well, complementing  hosts Andy & Mac’s varied repertoire and the contributions of other guests, some planned and others turning up on the night to offer a song or two.

The Folk Club at The Star, which is an old pub, restaurant and hotel, on Alfriston High Street, and located perfectly for South Downs Way walkers to break their journey, has now been running for a year and has rapidly built up a following amongst new and established – principally acoustic – singers and musicians from around the Brighton-Lewes-Eastbourne triangle.

We will continue to guest at The Star from time to time, with our next scheduled performance in October. SDFS singers who feel like giving it a go with a song or two sometime should contact me (an SDFS member, e-mail: macpoulton@gmail.com) or Tina.

Mac

Local Group Report – Beechwood, Wednesday 6th July 2016

After warming up with Thousands or More, our minds turned to Kipling and our Bateman’s event in August. We enjoyed working on A Smuggler’s Song, with ladies and gents taking turns to sing the verses, then Oak, Ash and Thorn, with Emily guiding those interested in adding a low harmony line to this. It was suggested by one of our singers that we do The Turnip Hoer with the verses sung by the chaps and the ladies joining in the fun on the choruses. This worked well, as did The Magpie when the verses were this time carried by the ladies in contrast to the deeper tone of the choruses when the men joined in. The Woodcutter’s Song and Poor Froze-Out Gardeners followed, before Oak, Ash and Thorn was reprised, with Emily leading us through a two- and then a four-part round on the last chorus. A productive and fun evening indeed, thank you all!