Village Quire Launch New CD: Good Old Way

Having spent a very pleasant evening at Stretford Church yesterday evening being entertained by the Village Quire we can report that The Good Old Way is now available in the form of their debut CD. This morning has been spent listening to this excellent collection of songs and readings which among other things documents the demise of the West Gallery Choir as well as the coming of the enclosures. For full details of this CD go to http://www.villagequire.org.uk/GoodOldWay So, as the song says, ‘don’t delay’ get your copy of The Good Old Way CD before they sell out, as we suspect that is not far off judging by the way they were going last night.

Congratulations to all the Village Quire for a great recording and a great concert. Keep it up. Here are details of how to buy and what you get:

On sale from 14 April 2012, the entire Good Old Way show is now available on CD from the Genuine Folk label www.genuinefolk.com

Track listing – Click on the titles to see the lyrics.

Reading 1: Mellstock Gallery from Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

Psalm 100 Joseph Watts of Fenny Compton (1749) © Shelwin Music, Oxford 2005

Reading 2: Dick in Love from Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

Deryn Du Trad. arr. Paul Guppy (2009)

Reading 3: The New Pa'son from Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

Giberalter Words: Isaac Watts Psalm 72; Music W. J. White of St. Albans (ca. 1830)

Reading 4: Gallery vs Nave from Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

Psalm 40 Joseph Watts of Fenny Compton (1749) © Shelwin Music, Oxford 2005

Reading 5: Fancy Makes Her Debut from Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy

The Good Old Way Oral transmission (from the singing of The Watersons) Arr. Dave Newell

Reading 6: Enclosure is Mooted from Hawthorn Hedge Country by Fred Archer

Psalm 9 – Thorpe Tune William Knapp from William East's The Voice Of Melody (1748)

Reading 7: The Effects of Enclosure from Hawthorn Hedge Country by Fred Archer

Jordan Trad. arr. Dave Newell Reading 8: Bredon Hill by A E Housman

Psalm 15th – Bishop's Castle Funeral Hymn John Symons (ca. 1816) Transcribed by Gordon Ashman (1990)

Reading 9: Richard Surman Ties a Knot from Hawthorn Hedge Country by Fred Archer

Psalm 128 - Burton Bradstock Anon, transcribed by Rollo Woods (1981)

Reading 10: From the Diary of Parson James Woodforde 1740 – 1803

Spanking Roger James Nuttall (1745–1806) Transcribed/edited by Jean Seymour (1991)

Reading 11: From the Diary of Parson James Woodforde 1740 –1803

Old Sye Thomas Healey (ca. 1830) Transcribed/edited by Jean Seymour (1994)

Reading 12: Saturday 7th May 1870 from The Diary of Francis Kilvert

One May Morning Early Oral transmission (from the singing of the Copper family) Arr. Dave Newell

Reading 13: Sunday from Cider with Rosie by Laurie Lee

Hail Shining Morn Reginald Spofforth (1810)


We were also entertained by the Eardisland Village Band with a selection of period pieces most fitting for the occasion. We were both heartened to see two English System Concertina’s playing away. Even better, one was a Baritone. Yes, we know, it’s sad isn’t it, but that’s the way music gets us sometimes.

The concert was a sell out fundraiser for this interesting ‘farm yard church’ which is now in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It is dedicated to St. Cosmas and St. Damian, the patron saints of doctors. We shall say no more for fear of spoiling your visit.

FolkWorkshops: How to get to our Venues

FolkWorkshops currently operates in the hills above the Golden Valley, just below the Cats Back and Black Hill which form the border between England and Wales on the eastern edge of the Black Mountains. We are comparatively remote, in unspoilt countryside but we are very welcoming to all those who make the journey.You will see that many of our villages and parishes have Welsh names although the pronunciation will no doubt prove amusing or irritating to the Welsh speaker.

We hold all sorts of events including workshops and folk evening but if our supporters want to put something on then that is encouraged. We have no membership requirements, no committee but lots of enthusiasm to see our objective of getting more folk music into our part of the borders achieved.

We have a Folk Music Evening every 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Crown Inn Longtown from about 8 pm onwards. This is a very informal sing around and a useful session for musicians wanting to join in when appropriate ie, when a performer has no problem with an accompaniment.

Finding The Crown in Longtown is easy by either finding your way there from the Hereford to Abergavenny Road from either Pandy or Pontrilas. You can also get to Longtown from the B4348 at Vowchurch via Michalchurch. In all cases Sat Nav ( not always available) or an OS Map is advisable.

We also meet at two church rooms as a way of supporting hard pressed local facilities. The Nat. Grid Ref of the two church rooms is as follows

Newton Church Room SO 348329

Upper Maes Coed Chapel SO 326351

Best Map is O.S.1/50,OOO Abergavenny and Black Mountains

Please bring a donation towards costs and refreshments. Again this is an informal evening and we try to make the rooms feel more like a folk club than most institutional building.

You will be made welcome at all events and you should not feel uncomfortable if you use printed words and/or music in order to perform but it is worth buying a cheap music stand if you do not have one.

If you need any more help with directions ring 01981 510629 in advance iof the evening. Also please let us have your e.mail contact should you want regular updates. You can use the comments section for this but your details will be deleted once added to our e-mailing list and will not be published.

Folk Evening at Newtom Church Room this Tuesday 10th

Folk Singing Evening: Tuesday April 24th Upper Maes Coed Chapel Room. We are being visited by the singing group, RAPSQUILLION from Clun. It is very good of these guys to agree to making such a long journey for an evenings singing with us, so we need a good turnout of our supporters to welcome them.

Tuesday May 1st, MAY DAY 8.00 p.m. Upper Maes Coed Chapel Room. One of the big days in the Folk Music calendar happens to fall conveniently on a Tuesday, so we need to make the most of it with as many singers and musicians as possible.