Thirteen singers gathered in The John Harvey Tavern despite so many regulars being on holiday, but we were joined by Guy and Zoe and her Spaniel “Genie”, who was absolute magic and had no objection to us barking out 17 songs.
As usual, Tina had prepared well and led us through a mixture of songs starting with one of our oldest, Rosebuds in June, then The Nightingale, Ale, Glorious Ale and Oh, Good Ale, three newish ones Searching for Lambs, The Turtle Dove and The Lark in the Morning. We introduced Zoe and Guy to Hilaire Belloc with one of his more sombre songs – Ha’nacker Mill. It is a long time since we aired Old Adam and Three Maidens and Tina didn’t want us to forget our WW1 repertoire so chose Home Lads Home and Ladies go Dancing. At the Bognor Southdowns Folk Festival we shall be joining other choirs for The Big Sing, so we had a go at the Ole leloila Yoik of the Reindeer herders and the Elizabethan round, Sing You After Me. That just left us to practice the two parts to Caburn Hill and The East Sussex Drinking Song, both penned by our members Dave T and Adrian F. We finished the evening with Thousands Or More and are looking forward to the Apple Day in Stanmer Park and singing the Bee Boy’s Song and The Hares on the Mountain especially for Cat’s nearly three year old son, Rhion!
Welcome to our website for singers who want to learn and sing traditional and new South Downs folk songs, sung in the traditional way. "Put another barrel on, landlord, and pull a pint for me! The ale here in Sussex is the best we all agree!"
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