Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 5th August 2020

Hello! Below is another set of songs suggested for you to enjoy at home at this month’s session – and for the time being this will continue to be the way we manage our monthly ‘meetings’.

The heightened risks of singing in the company of others have been well documented and are still being researched. The SDFS committee, group leads and some singers have shared thoughts and ideas about this, with general concern, frustration and sadness about the difficulties we face in wanting to sing together in person outside our household ‘bubbles’.  In conclusion, at this time, we can find no way sufficiently safe for us to resume our usual get togethers to sing. Sad as that is, the safety and health of us all remains the priority, so for the immediate future we will bide our time and continue to monitor the research and guidelines in the hope of safer times ahead. In the meantime we’ll keep in touch through our website at least, maintain our songs at home to keep them fresh, and keep our strong South Downs spirits up!

(There have been some inquiries about using ZOOM for our sessions. Although difficulties and frustrations with this approach have been reported, it is nonetheless a way to see each other which can add to the fun! So if there are any Zoom fans out there who want to host an ‘at home’ session for smallish clusters of singers, do have a go if you’d like to. Maybe you have already? Drop me a line (on the SDFS email) if you’re interested in taking this on or if you’re already doing so.)

Songs suggested for this August session – plus any others in addition or instead, as your mood and fancy take you! (Any requests for September please let me know...) The high summer months, the beauty of the Sussex landscape, fond memories of our visits to sing at Kipling’s home “Bateman’s”, and Mr. Belloc’s 150th birthday recently, have all influenced this selection....

Let’s start with an old favourite (!) – Twanky Dillo – from the smithhy’s workshop to mark the hottest day of the year so far last Friday.

Then Rudyard Kipling’s Oak, Ash and Thorn, celebrating the richness of our woodlands, and his The Bee-Boy’s Song to remind us of the ever-busy bees buzzing in the undergrowth and canopy.

Summer garden blooms and crops feature in Valiants All, and The Turnip Hoer.

Memories of Bateman’s bring memories of My Boy Jack in honour of Kipling’s son and others lost to us.

Home Lads Home is also sad in mood but soothed by images and evocation of the southern English landscape in late summer.

Sussex is vividly described in Song of the Sussex Downsman and The Run of the Downs, and although a month or two behind Rosebuds in June is never out of date for this season.

Mr. Belloc gives us his perspective on the joys of Sussex with the good old West Sussex Drinking Song and On Sussex Hills.

Last but not least, Sussex’s Copper family favourite, Thousands or More, to once again count our blessings and end on a positive note.

Gollier!
Henny