September is the month which marks the slowing down of the festival season and the settling down for the winter evening sessions. This is not to say that things are any quieter on the events front as you can see from the various events guides. But first a quick look back at the month just gone.
Sian and I made two trips to Kent. The first to buy an upgrade banjo and the second to hear our great niece sing with the Wallingford Choir during their week’s residency at Canterbury Cathedral. On both occasions Jane and I sang at the Faversham Folk Club’s singaround evenings (by invitation in the sense we invited ourselves: that is how it works), and it confirmed the value of the informal and tolerant approach. The second session was made up of totally different people to the first, but the talents were equally impressive with people travelling from various parts of the county to attend. On both occasions it was clear that a lot of original writing is going on as well as songs being passed on from one singer to another without any clear indication of where they have come from. There were no inhibitions about reading the words from a sheet on a music stand, (apparently some Folk Clubs can be quite snooty about this) or coming along with homemade instruments or exotic instruments. Jane and I did a number with the banjo and psaltery; another couple did several pieces with dulcimer and guitar while another couple sang beautiful harmonies and original songs to a homemade amplified electric lute!
Incidentally, some of us are beginning to take the ‘workshop’ idea a bit further. John is in the process of getting the things together to build a ‘dulcijo’ while another is tracking down plans for building a ‘cigar box’ guitar. However, don’t hold your breath as such things take a while!
We have had some encouraging feedback regarding our singing at the Songs and Poems Among the Flowers evening at St.Margarets and there are plans for other occasional events of this kind. Thank you again to all those who took part.
The other highlight of the summer was our caravan/stand at the Longtown Show (complete with the new @FolkWorkshops banner) which drew a lot of people, including a good few youngsters. It got a bit hectic at times but it was most rewarding and we made some new friends. One husband may well find that he will building a dulcimer for his wife as a Christmas present while one youngster is looking forward to a banjo in his Christmas stocking if Dad keeps his promise. Thanks to all those who turned up to help and sing and to all those visitors who made it worthwhile. We have been asked back for next year if we can make it.
Various plans are being made to resume our evenings at Newton Church Room and occasional evenings at the Crown in Longtown and elsewhere. Regular singers have already been given the new collection of songs for our winter programme. It is never too late to start so let us know if you want to be added to the list of those to be notified of rehearsal sessions.
EVENTS
The first events will of course be the Workshop with the Village Quire at St. John’s Newton on Wednesday 28th September at 7.30 and their concert in St. Margaret’s Church on Saturday 1st October at 7.30.If you want to take part in beautiful harmonising please come to the workshop. Tickets are £5 for the workshop and £10 for the concert. A combined ticket is £13. You can reserve your tickets by phoning John on either 01981510629 or 01981510388. We have attached a poster if you have room to display it somewhere such as in your car etc.
Our other fixture is a FolkWorkshops session with the Longtown WI on Tuesday 18th September at 7.30. The aim will be to get as many people singing as possible as incited by our regular singers and songs, aided and abetted by a glass of wine or two. In between songs there will be short explanations of the folk repertoire and instruments. We will take as many instruments with us as possible by way of display items as well as for accompaniment. Sadly, the ‘dulcijo’ is not expected to be ready by then.
Susie’s Song School the Song School again on Wednesday, October 5th, 7.30 - 9.30, and will run fortnightly. If there are any songs that you fancy doing, or any queries, please let Susie know. Details will be avaia;lable on the Viggae Quire Website.
John Kirkpatrick Workshop and Concert, 15th October: John Kirkpatrick
Vocal workshop and concert
The Victorian Farmer’s Year in Song
Gwernyfed High School, Three Cocks
LD3 0SG Contact: Dave or Cheryl on 01497 847676
Workshop 2 - 5 pm
Concert 7.30 pmTickets £7.50 concert only / £10 workshop only / £15 combined workshop and concert.This will be a brilliant event for those wanting to learn more about folk song and to have a pleasant evening out. For booking details visit http://www.villagequire.org.uk
So, at the beginning of our third year, let’s hope we continue to grow, get more people singing and playing, but most important of all, that we have an enjoyable time in the process. Perhaps you will be encouraged by the following quote from the latest English Folk Dance and Song Society Magazine in an article written by Sarah Morgan of Craig Morgan Robson regarding one aspect of our activities. I know it strikes a familiar note for some of us,
‘The community choir movement is one of the huge musical success stories of our time. Underpinned by egalitarian principles that singing is our birthright, and that everyone’s voice is of value...these open access choirs (which anyone can join without an audition or music reading skills) can be found the length and breadth of the country...many do not even use the term ‘choir’ lest it should be off-putting for those whose experience of singing in schools was to be told ‘stand at the back and mime’.
Keep on singing and strumming!
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