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Thursday, 24 December 2020

Three Short Stories

Thanks to Amaryllis for giving us these three short stories to keep us amused.

TEA TIME TALES


Terry, the terribly tuneless trombonist, tried tromboning, ‘Twankydillo’, troubling the touchy twosome, twenty–three, The Towers. Tremendous thuds, throwing things, taunting threats… Terrible!

Thus Terry tried the triangle. Terry’s tame thrush, tunefully trilled. Together they tried the ‘Titanic’ theme. Terry tested the tuba, then the trumpet, trumpeting the telling tune to ‘Thousands…’ The thrush twittering to time.

Terry turned to the tambourine – taking time to train the talented thrush to trill the theme to ‘The Terminator’.

Then there’s the time Terry taught toucans. The trouble though, Terry’s truculent toucans took things. Tasty tomatoey toast, tinned tuna, tantalising tiramisu…

Together the two toucans tormented Tulip, Terry’s touchy tortoise, tenaciously taking Tulip’s ‘Turmits’.

Terry, tired to the teeth, tricked the toucans to try the treacle tart. Then they tried to take Tulip’s third turnip. ‘Tough,’ thought Terry. They trickled the thickening treacle. ‘Those thieving toucans, the treacle’s turned to toffee. They’re thwarted. Teehee!’

Then they thought to tease Terry. These two took Terry’s thyroid tablets, thereafter, the troubled toucans took to the trees towards the town. The trials, the tribulations…!

Terry telephoned the taxi that took Terry to the tip. There, taking the trombone, Terry transformed the tender tune, “Tiptoe through the Tulips” to terrifying thunderous trumpeting toots! Thus the tip took Terry’s tuneless trombone.

This tale terminates thus: Terry turned totally to the triangle, the tambourine, thrilling the trilling thrush, tempering Tulip the tortoise.




EPISODE E


Eventually elderly eccentric, Enrique Espinoza’s exhibition entitled: ‘Elgin’s Equivocal Experiences’, ended.

Enrique’s encore: ‘Empires Exposed’, excited Erica Ebernoe, (Endurance Electrics, ex-employee).



Every evening Ernest Edmundson, Erica’s escort, explored each enlightened exposé, expounding elicit escapades. Enrique Espinoza’s enterprising experiments, examined ersatz explanations.

Erica enthusiastically emailed Ernest. “Espinoza’s exposed empirical executives exploiting every émigré entirely, even enslavement ensued! Eventually every emigrant employee expelled! Evidently, egotistical employers engaged, exclusively, experienced experts! ‘Extremists!”



Enrique’s egregious, embarrassing exposure, electrified everyone, especially every evil, execrable establishment! Everyone’s expecting expiation. Even Erica’s Ernest’s extremely excited. “Enrique Espinoza’s extraordinary exposures, emboldened everyone! Enrique’s efforts evoke exultation everywhere!”

Excitedly exhausted, Erica exuberantly echoed Ernest’s enthusiasm. “Enrique’s exceeded everyone’s expectations! Enrique’s enabled everyone’s emancipation!”



Everybody extols Enrique Espinoza’s exceptional epithet: ‘Earth’s Emblem Epitomised’.

“Excellent ending!” exclaims Erica Ebernoe.




MY MATES


Memorable Movie moments move me. ‘Mad Max’, ‘Marathon Man’, ‘Mash’, ‘Memento’ …

Mum’s mania’s – magical melodies. ‘Magic Moments’, ‘Macarena’, ‘Moonshadow’, ‘Magpie’. ‘Magpie?’

My mum Mary, makes me marvellous mouthwatering meals. Mainly meaty mince mixes. My mum’s my mentor.

My main mate, Max, mimics making movies. Maxie – ‘Mighty Mouse’; me – moth-eaten ‘Maid Marian’! Meanie!

Moreover Max’s mental! Mischief-maker! Makes moronic masks – me, Martian monkey, mumbling: ‘Munchy, Munchy, Monster Munchy’. Max – Martian Master! Manhandling my magical Meccano, monopolising my model Maserati, mangling my microscope. Mum’ll murder me! Max makes me miserable…

Mum mentioned Maisie. “Maisie’s much more mild-mannered.”

Mmmm… Mmmm! Maisie – ‘Maid Marian’, me – ‘Martian Master’!

Marvellously, Max moved!

Maisie’s ‘Maid Marian’s’ magnificent!

Mum’s making Maisie magical minced muffins. Maisie’s mum’s making me massive minty mousses!

Maisie’s my main mate! Maisie makes me marvellously merry.

Mmmmm!


Four Songs From Alan

Here we have four songs from Alan. They were sent to me quite some time ago, so they are not specifically winter songs. Apologies for the delay and I hope next year we will all be together and singing these songs.

Buttercup Joe

Alan has introduced this song at Chichester and Worthing.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3



England For Me

Alan writes: Patriotic, but about the nicer things of England, so not nationalistic.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3



Love And The Ball

Alan writes: I thought this is an interesting song as it is the earliest such thing I can find re. stoolball, the local game that predated cricket but with similar rules. I used to play it at the Youth Club up in Surrey 'when I were a lad'.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3



Off We Go A hunting

Alan writes: Just for fun. I don't which know set of words came first, Donkey or Fox. I added a verse to make it a bit Sus-sexy. Note that nobody caught Mr Reynard. Horses Neck is a cocktail.

Download lyrics pdf file

Download mp3


An Invitation...

We won't be having our usual “Winter Revels” party this year, but you – our singers – can still show us your party pieces!

You are invited to send in (by email to southdownsfolksingers@gmail.com) any contributions with a theme relevant to the time of year (Christmas, New Year, Wassailing, winter), and anything else you might have performed at the party, that you would like to share here on this website. Contributions may be text (poems, short stories, seasonal recipes, what you’ve been up to,...), images and audio recordings (readings and recitals of poems, stories, songs and other music). You can have your videos shown here too if you first upload them to YouTube and then send me a link, but please don't send video files directly to me as the large files involved always seem to cause problems.

So get writing, record a song or two on your mobile phone, take some photos over Christmas and the New Year and send it all in!

Sunday, 13 December 2020

Lewes Virtual Session – Tuesday 15th December 2020

Hello again singers in Lewes or wherever you are. Early hopes of it “all being over by Christmas” having faded, here we are again, singing 2020 out virtually but still just as heartily. Here are my December suggestions with old, new, starting notes, first verse, chorus, harmonies HERE. Recordings done in previous months are marked *. Words for new songs included, let me know if you need others.

Singers in all three areas should have received the email with the links for three Zoom sessions – the usual Lewes evening slot Tuesday 15th 7:30pm and two afternoon sessions on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th both at 3pm. If you haven’t had these and want to join in let me know and I will send them.

  • Let’s warm up with two songs about hills – from West Sussex an old favourite On Sussex Hills* by Hilaire Belloc and from East Sussex the newer Caburn Hill* written by Lewes singer Dave T. I hope you get some fresh air on a hill near you at some point over the festive season.
  • Next a quartet of familiar songs from our existing Christmas repertoire – The Holly bears a Berry, Masters in this Hall, The Moon Shone Bright and The Sussex Carol.
  • A short comfort and refreshment break then back to introduce two new carols which are known to those of us who usually sing with Brighton Pub Carols (which is taking place via some shared sets on Facebook this year). The Sinners’ Redemption originated in a broadside newspaper from the 1600s and is another of those unusual minor key morality carols where the “mirth” referred to is religious joy. In contrast Now Christmas is Come is a light and cheerful carol which was collected by Lucy Broadwood from the “Singing Baker of Cuckfield”.
  • Looking ahead to the wassailing season we have Wassail all your Apple Trees, a new simple round which was introduced by Alan from the Chichester group, and our old friend Sugar (Sussex) Wassail.
  • To finish our evening, and the year’s singing, West Sussex Drinking Song* and Thousands or More* to remind us of the things which really matter in life but cost little – companionship; drinking together, which doesn’t have to be alcohol, could be a hot chocolate; sunshine, which may be a bit hazy in winter but is still worth seeking out and sharing with your special people; and of course, singing a song which has a rousing chorus.

If I don’t see you at one of the meetings, I send greetings for Christmas, Hannukah, Winter Solstice or any holiday which you and yours may celebrate in the cold season and I hope to see you in 2021 which surely must be brighter than this year has been.

Best wishes, solidarity, golier etc!

Tina

Monday, 30 November 2020

Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 2nd December 2020

My greetings to all SDFS singers and friends as we approach the Yuletide season. It’s a time to sing songs of winter in a mood of celebration and also reflection, and to cheer ourselves as we look towards the turn of another year. Perhaps this year more than ever we wish for better times in the year ahead. It seems a very long time since our cheery meeting at “Ye Olde House at Home” last December – and I hope it won’t be too far into 2021 before we can all be of good cheer and singing together again. Meanwhile, for this month’s session at home let’s fill the air with a predictably seasonal selection from our SDFS collection. I’ve picked some of the songs requested as favourites by the gathered throng last year, but please add any extra or other choices you fancy. Happy Singing from now until New Year – and beyond!

  • Warm up with The Holly and the Ivy before the winter moods of the Coppers Christmas Song and Fields Lie Silent. Whilst in this quiet pre-Christmas mood The Angel Gabriel is another lovely one.
  • Then pick up the pace with Wassail Wassail All Over the Town (the Gloucestershire Wassail) followed by Masters in this Hall.
  • The Moon Shone Bright and the Sussex Mummers Carol also take us back to ‘pre-tinsel’ times, and in a similar but rather more austere mood Christmas is Drawing Near at Hand (a song sung by the Coppers but which has proved to be is a bit of a ‘marmite’ song in the Worthing sessions!).
  • The rounds Child of Light, Hey Ho Winter Snow and I Heard a Bird Sing are each pleasing even as solos, and add to this list Alan’s Stir-up Sunday round in anticipation of the season’s special puds and cakes.
  • The Woodcutters Song and Deck the Halls bring the winter woodlands into our thoughts and homes.
  • Then a trio of favourites, Pentonville, the Falmer Carol and, returning to our hardworking shepherds still watching their flocks, Sweet Chiming Bells.
  • Finally, knowing this difficult year will finish soon and our hope and resilience must carry over into the new year, let’s get in the mood with that good old perennial Country Life!

With my very best seasonal wishes,
Henny

Sunday, 15 November 2020

Lewes Virtual Session – Tuesday 17th November 2020

Hello again singers in Lewes or wherever you are. More uncertainty with the current second lockdown, but what is certain is that we will continue singing our Sussex and Hampshire songs one way or another. Here are my suggestions for this month. As always, a mix of old, new, recordings of starting notes, first verse and chorus, and some harmonies HERE. Recordings done in previous months are marked *. Words for new songs included, let me know if you are missing any others.

Two more Zoom sessions this month – the usual Lewes slot Tuesday 17th at 7:30pm and Sunday 22nd at 3pm. Lewes singers have received an email with the links. If anyone else wants to take part let me know and I will send them.

  • Kicking off the evening we have the seasonal Where Stormy Winds do Blow *. Hopefully, we are all singing this somewhere safe and warm while appreciating the hard work of those who work outdoors in all weathers.
  • Next the old familiar The Run of the Downs but now set to a new tune by Amaryllis from the Worthing group so we can discard the very Cornish Floral Dance! I’ve added some harmonies for the chorus.
  • A new song Bold Reynard the Fox was mooted a while back and its graphic description of hunting was thought probably not suitable for our main repertoire at family events (as well as having an uncertain link to the Downs, although it is listed as a traveller song from the South East so probably found its way around many locations). It does, however, give a very honest account of the fox’s fate in this traditional country pursuit often seen in full pomp on Boxing Day and it is set to a very jaunty tune so some singers might want to include it.
  • Turning to the Christmas season, a pair of our existing numbers – the unusual minor key morality carol Christmas Now is Drawing Near at Hand and the cheerier The Falmer Carol. These are followed by Stir Up, a new song to be sung as a round. This was introduced by Alan from the Chichester group and was traditionally sung on Stir Up Sunday when puddings were made and left to mature (this year it’s 22nd November which coincides nicely with one of the Zoom sessions).
  • That takes us to our refreshment and comfort break. I have my usual coffee and rich tea biscuits while recording these songs, but I may have something stronger on hand at the Zoom sessions. One day we’ll be back at the John Harvey Tavern together…
  • Settle back in for another couple of old favourites, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and The Holly and the Ivy, both sung to the more unusual folk tunes.
  • Then two very different songs about local lads putting on uniform and travelling far from home. The Young Recruit went unwillingly after being plied with drink and press-ganged into the army, while The Saucy Sailor does appear to have chosen his lot on the briny ocean. We hope they both returned home safely. Both are new to Lewes singers and were originally introduced by Stephen from the Chichester group. They were collected by Clive Carey from his 1911-1912 visits to Dorothy Marshall of Chithurst House near Midhurst.
  • The last new song of the evening (you have all worked incredibly hard, well done) is Shepherds Arise. This will be well known to those of us who sing with Brighton Pub Carols where we would normally have started rehearsals by now. It is from the singing of the Copper Family and was taken up by the "Hope in the Valley" group started by Vic Gammon in the 1970s folk revival. A more recent group of singers and instrumentalists have given Christmas performances under the name "Shepherds Arise" since 2013 in the Lewes area.
  • To close proceedings, two that we know and love at any time of the year – Pleasant and Delightful * and West Sussex Drinking Song *

Stay safe, keep well and happy singing until we can meet again in person. Golier!

Tina

Monday, 2 November 2020

Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 4th November 2020

We greet November with disheartening news but remember, we are of “the stout south country stuff” so I hope you are well and ready to find some cheer in singing a few more of our songs. Even if just to yourselves, accompanied by SDFS recordings, or with others in a ‘bubble’ (or with Tina and fellow Zoomers at the sessions she facilitates – see her posts on this site for details) – singing our songs helps to keep us in touch until we can gather again in the ‘real’ world. So what follows is a mix of seasonal songs to stretch your lungs and fill your hearts at home on Wednesday evening... or any time!

The autumnal mood and lingering memories of summer are fading to be replaced by remembrance, shortening days and thoughts of winter festivals to come. The songs below reflect this and a few may remind you of our past performances at the Weald and Downland Museum Christmas Market – roll on a happier new year and joining them again in 2021.

Let’s start with a familiar and reassuringly positive one, Thousands or More to warm our spirits.

Moving then to Ladies go Dancing for its gentle remembrance of lives lost. Thinking also of those who promised to return and did come home, The Turtle Dove.

The poignant images of sunsets after harvest in Home Lads Home leads us to the peaceful images of winter in The Fields Lie Silent and the comforting thought of spring returning.

The Copper's Christmas Song paints a more lively picture of winter with rural life and work continuing, and Christmas heralding the turn towards a new year.

The Holly and Ivy and The Holly Bears a Berry celebrate these ever-greens that endure in our landscape throughout the winter chill.

Child of Light and Hey Ho Winter Snow (as rounds if you can against a recording or within your ‘bubble’) – the first evokes the peace and mystery of winter and the second the reward of returning home to a warm fire, both enhanced by the presence of singing!

For a more upbeat finale, how about giving the not particularly seasonal Twankydillo a turn (everyone’s ‘favourite’!) – simply for its positive energy and the heat from the forge!

Stay safe and warm yourselves, enjoy the songs and if feeling any winter blues try singing them away!
Henny

Sunday, 25 October 2020

Michael Morpurgo's Folk Journeys on BBC Radio 4

Thanks to Angela S for bringing attention to this series of four programmes being broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Full details here.

Here’s a direct link to the first episode which you can listen to at any time on BBC Sounds. This should be available until at least October 2021.

Tuesday, 20 October 2020

Lewes Virtual Session – Tuesday 20th October 2020

Hello again singers in Lewes and elsewhere. Hope you’re still well and surviving everything. Here are my suggested songs for this month. As ever some old, some new, with recordings of starting notes, first verse and chorus, and some harmonies and lyrics HERE. Recordings which were made in previous months are marked*. I’ve included words for the new songs. If you’re missing any other words let me know and I can send them to you.

In addition I’ve set up two Zoom sessions this month – in the usual Lewes slot Tuesday 20th 7:30pm and on Sunday 25th 3pm. Lewes singers should have received an email with the links for these. If anyone else would like to come along contact me and I will send them. Whoever is there can decide how we spend the time. All welcome at one or both sessions. If you just want to say hello and listen then that’s fine too.

  • Let’s get warmed up with Ale Glorious Ale* and The Brisk Young Ploughboy*.
  • Next a couple of moodier songs. Hollingbury is a new composition from our own Lewes singer Dave Turner about the ancient hill fort in the north of Brighton; while Poor Froze-Out Gardeners is a 19th century broadside regarding jobless gardeners in winter.
  • Taking us to our comfort and refreshments break, a trio of light and pretty love songs. The traditional Hares on the Mountain* then The Turtle Dove* which was collected by Lucy Broadwood from the landlord of the Plough Inn in Rusper. The last one Valiants All is a new song for Lewes singers which was introduced by Stephen Alberry of the Chichester Group and was collected from Stephen Spooner at the Midhurst Union Workhouse. I've added some low and high harmonies.
  • We’ll get started again with some singing about… whisper it… Christmas, well it is nearly November now!! As we have plenty of time available at the moment, in the coming few months as well as covering all our usual seasonal songs I will be introducing some new Sussex carols. These will be familiar to those who usually sing with Brighton Pub Carols which it seems we will also sadly be missing this year. But for now let’s start easing gently into the spirit of the season with three familiar songs from our existing repertoire – The Angel Gabriel, the rounds Child of Light / Hey Ho Winter Snow and The Coppers’ Christmas Song to which I've added a new bass harmony.
  • Finally, to round off the evening our old favourites East Sussex Drinking Song* and Pleasant and Delightful*.

Stay safe, keep well and happy singing until we can meet again in person. Golier!

Tina

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Worthing Local Group “At Home” Session – Wednesday 7th October 2020

October has arrived and usually this month our Worthing session would be hosting the SDFS Annual General Meeting at “Ye Olde House at Home”. This year that cannot be and the AGM will have to wait. The Committee will continue in the interim, and upon request the accounts, meeting minutes and SDFS constitution can all be emailed to any singers wishing to read these. To obtain these, and also if you have any SDFS related questions or issues to raise, please contact us via the SDFS email.

Sadly we must also warn that our annual social, the “Winter Revels”, will probably have to wait too, circumstances being too uncertain to take this forward yet. We hope instead for maybe a Spring or Summer Revels in 2021, which will also serve as a celebration of our grand reunion! In similar positive spirit, our Events Organiser John has outlined a possible programme of performances for next year (see below and on our Diary Dates Page). Thank you John for all your work.

Singers across the land are beginning to venture out into the 'live’ world again and the SDFS is watching developments (albeit against a still very uncertain background of Covid-19 cases on the rise again) – so keep watching this space. For now though, in the absence yet of other plans, below are some ideas for your Sing at Home this month.

Looking back at October 2019, we'd begun to use some of our winter and Christmas songs already – but I’ll avoid too many of them yet and instead hang on to the autumnal mood and lingering memories of summer.

Let’s start with Pleasant and Delightful as we did to get the singing going on 2nd Oct last year, before doing the lovely Fields Lie Silent to quieten the mood.

Then The Woodcutter's Song and Oak, Ash and Thorn for obvious woodland and fireside reasons at this time of year.

Getting chillier by the minute, how about Poor Froze-Out Gardeners, Hard Times of Old England and Ha’nacker Mill.

Cheering things up Jim the Carter Lad and the energetic Brisk Young Ploughboy, both no doubt given to the occasional Lark in the Morning.

Rosebuds in June never goes amiss and Hares on the Mountain hasn’t been in these set lists for a while.

And for the finale, good old Country Life for its positive gallop through all the seasons with a sense of joy, before (even though at home) Rolling Home.

Happy Singing!

Henny


The Message from John:

Provisional SDFS Event Participation Update For 2021


Dear All,

Here is the list of 2021 dates that organisers have confirmed with me, or will probably be on similar weekends next year. Circumstances may affect events depending on the next 6 months' developments.

Any Wassails and New Year events are problematic, as is the Worthing Seed Swap in February which will be at the height of the annual Flu pressure on the NHS.

The W&DLMuseum has nothing definitely planned at the moment, whereas normally by now the staff would have formed the outline plan for the whole of the following year.

16-18 April: Garden Show Firle Place. The two remaining shows in 2020 have been rescheduled and to date are still on, subject to being pulled if the local authority deems it wise. So assuming no hiccups, all three shows will be on next year.

11-13 June: Stansted Garden Show.

27 June: NT Saddlescombe Open Day.

July-August: One date at NT Standen.

23-25 July: Loseley Park Garden Show.

16-29 August: Arundel Festival with SSS; a virtual festival was arranged this year with individual or bubble performances on line.

12 September: Fernhurst Forge Weekend.

18 September: Southdowns Folk Festival with SSS.

19 September: Brighton Apple Day, Falmer.

October: Possible event at Saddlescombe.

20 November: W&DLM Christmas Market.

John

Please note that all events above are subject to confirmation. As plans change, the list above will not be updated. For an up-to-date event list see the Diary Dates page.