Back after the break...

SingWiv re-starts after the summer break with guest teacher Clive Barker who led a great session last year at the same time. Chris Rowbury is back in October.

The session on Saturday 13th September starts at 2.15pm (usually 2pm) until 4.30pm.

New singers always welcome, no experience needed!

Midsummer Melodies

Chris Rowbury ran a workshop at Wivenhoe's first Midsummer Fete, attended by around 25 people, some singing in a group for the first time - and loving it!
  After a break for July and August, we meet again on 13th September when guest teacher Clive Barker will lead the session at the Scout & Guide Hall, High St. from 2pm to 4.30pm. New songs every session so it's easy to join in any time. No need to book, just pay on the door £8/£6 conc.

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