Hello singers in Lewes (and Worthing, Chichester or anywhere else
you may be reading this).
Hope you are surviving the current situation. Here are my
suggested songs for another month of virtual singing together, with some
basic recordings including starting notes, first verse and chorus, and
some low and high harmonies (download the recordings here). For the benefit of any new or returning singers,
full words are on the Lyrics and Recordings page and the New Songs page. While
singing these I have on my green outfit and straw hat with white
blossoms and I will imagine you all doing the same.
To warm up, a couple of old favourites – Constant Lovers
and Fathom the Bowl. As I always say at Lewes, this is raucous folk
singing at its best so leave aside any training or inhibitions and go
for it – think Poldark, not Songs of Praise.
Next, two quieter and more reflective songs so you can go back to
your best beautiful, refined singing for these – Ha’nacker Mill and All
Things are Quite Silent.
A trio of songs about farming come next – Brisk Young Ploughboy,
Ebernoe Horn Fair (an old faithful revisited) and Farmer’s Toast.
At this point in the evening we would normally top up glasses, so
refill whatever you are drinking and take a quick break (mine was a coffee and
a couple of Rich Teas while recording these songs in the middle of the day).
To open our second half, another trio of newer songs about nature
- Bee Boy’s Song, Hares on the Mountain and Lark in the
Morning (although the last one is only loosely to do with birds and more about
larks of a different kind involving Roger the ploughboy…).
To celebrate May we then have It is the First of May, May
Day Carol and Hal an Tow, not South Downs songs but appropriate to
the season.
We will end with our own East Sussex Drinking Song and Thousands
or More (both with added harmonies this month).
As a further bonus for the men, there are male harmonies attached
for Country Life, Life of a Man, On Sussex Hills and Rosebuds
in June, which I recorded in 2015 for a harmony workshop and found again the other day.
Stay safe, keep well and enjoy singing until we meet again. I
suspect the June session could be another virtual one so do let me know if you
have a favourite you want to be included.
Golier!
Tina
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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