June 2014 Tunes & a FREE Workshop

Here are songs from June 7th workshop which we also sang out in the busy Black Buoy pub garden at the end of the session, in glorious sunshine. 

Chris says 'I didn't record Ladum iZulu, but I have put an authentic African version up so people can see how it should be sung! I thought everyone was on cracking form - learnt the songs quickly and sounded really, really good.'

 
We had some great feedback from the pub garden audience. Someone said 'it sounded really professional, a bit like Gracelands - Paul Simon, I'd like to hear you sing again.' Wow, not bad for a couple of hours learning songs from scratch!!

Don't miss the free workshop at the Midsummer Fete in Wiv on 21st June - a great chance for friends to try it out. Chris will run a 50 minute session starting at 2.30pm.

We're back at the Scout Hall on September 13th with Clive Barker and Chris is with us again from October.
Happy summer time \o/

May 2014 (has come around quickly!)

Here are May's songs, just two this month of which Chris says, 'Tedumela is a bit shaky but it sounded great when we first nailed it! [earlier in the sesssion]
Mravalzamier is seriously impressive.'

Next month on June 7th we're singing out the songs learned at the session at the Black Buoy at about 4.15pm, with the workshop starting at 2pm as usual at the Scout and Guide Hall.

And, just catching up, here are April's songs.  !!

April 2014

Spring has sprung!

We learnt just one new song this month, a Native American chant. The rest we'd done before because we did a little performance over the road in the library so wanted to do something we were familiar with.

The "Cherokee song" is not really a Cherokee song at all! It is based on a version by Rita Coolidge and Robbie Robertson from the album: Music for the Native Americans. It was sung by women only as part of the morning prayers, facing the rising sun, welcoming the new day.  It is not actually in Cherokee, but may have been brought to them by the Tihanama who often worked for them as seasonal farm labor. 

"Haere mai" is a New Zealand maori song arranged by the late Nick Prater. The dance moves are mine (!) cobbled together from various authentic Maori dance moves.

"Tedumela" was written by percussionist Brian Abraham in an African style. "We are one" was  added by Roxane Smith. You can hear the massed Sing for Water North choir singing it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKJmXMjK0gI

"Somagwaza" is a South African initiation ceremony song. It was often taught to the audience by Pete Seeger at his concerts. 

Sing Outs

SingWiv sessions in April and June will include a 'sing out' at the end.

New singers are welcome to join in the workshop beforehand, you don't need to have been before.

The May 10th session is from 2pm to 4.30 in the Scout Hall as usual


No sessions in July and August.

March 2014: Hal-an-tow

Have a listen to songs we learned at March's session, Hal-an-tow from Cornwall and Feuilles-o from Haiti. We like to gad about the world at SingWiv.

If you have been thinking about giving it a try do come along. Newcomers often remark how friendly people are - you'll soon feel part of the crowd.

Next session is 5th April when we'll finish the session at 4pm with a sing out at Wivenhoe Library, all welcome! 

Here's Simon and Garfunkel singing Feuilles-o

Fanfare for February 2014

Someone should spare me from my blog post titles... any SingWivvers wanting to do some writing on here please let me know!

So, here are a couple of recordings from this month's session. Due to some over enthusiastic button pressing on the recording equipment, Chris has given us the Gospel song we learned, but the recording is from the Shared Voices session that morning! I'm sure our recording would have been just as lovely ;-) The Scottish lullaby 'Dream Angus'  is pure SingWiv though. Enjoy!

I couldn't resist this reminder of more or less this time last year...
Maybe it'll be 'Freezing February' yet!

pic is of the Big Garden at High Woods Country Park where I work as a Community Gardener.

The March session is Saturday 8th, hope to see you there - as always, new singers are welcome to join in.

January 2014 Joyfulness

We kicked off the New Year with 40 people in the hall, including our teacher Chris Rowbury. That's the most singers yet!

I recently sent around a questionnaire for feedback, all of which has been really positive. A few suggestions for minor tweaks to process or content, but overall, people are loving it. And hurrah for the new chaps who turned up - what a great sound you added \o/

Here are some of this month's songs. You can click on each of them to listen to straight away or choose the download option near the top.  

Chris says: ' Lyrics and song info are in the comments [on the above link]. If people are interested, they can find a video here of a choir doing Indonga za Jeriko with all the moves!'

Just to remind anyone reading this for the first time that we learn new songs each month so it's easy to join in at any time.