March 2017

What beautiful weather we've been having lately! We still managed to persuade some singers to come indoors though and learn some great songs.

This month was a real mix: Chris's arrangement of Melanie Safka's song "What have they done to my song, ma?", a Christian song from Malawi, and a Hawaiian song in praise of the fire god Pele.

Here is the link to March's recordings.

February 2017

There's a definite feel of spring in the air at last!

We had a great time singing this month and managed to get through three songs, none of which were straightforward.

"Wangari" was written by Polly Bolton to celebrate Wangari Maathai (1940-2011), the inspirational environmental campaigner and Nobel prize winner from Kenya.

"Yo, yo, yo" is a Nigerian lullaby which works as a round. Rough translation: "No matter how much I rock you No matter how much I kiss you You still will not sleep."

"Yonana" was written by Chrys Blanchard for her singing group in Abergavenny.

Here is the link to February's recordings.

January 2017

... and welcome back to SingWiv for 2017. We hope you all had a great Christmas.

For those of you who braved the cold this month we managed three fun songs.

A "Hallelujah" written by Natural Voice choir leader Pauline Down; a beautiful song by Ali Burns "Love that you were here with me" and Chris's arrangement of an REM song "It's the end of the world as we know it" (in honour of the Trump!).

Here is the link to January's recordings.

December 2016

Brrrr ... chilly innit? Time to sit indoors, decorate the tree and light the candles. But first you have to brave the winter chill and come to SingWiv!

This month we managed to squeeze in two festive songs and one upbeat song (and dance!) from Nigeria.

"Nu är det jul igen" (Now it is Yule again) is a traditional Swedish dancing song.

Now it's Yule again 
And now it's Yule again 
And Yule will last until it's Easter 

That's not true of course 
No, that's not true of course 
For in between comes Lent 
And fasting

"A szelekenek" is a beautiful song from Transylvania, Hungary.

On the lively wings of the winds, 
Flying bravely over the land 
Let’s sing for you, beautiful star! 

"Aye mojinumba" is an ancient song from Nigeria that has been passed down through the ages. Don't know what language it's in. It is a celebration of Earth as our home and a reminder that we ARE the Earth.

Chris has included a version of "Nu är det jul igen" by the US group Revels, and a version of "A szelekenek" by a women's group he used to run Vox Mondiale.

Here is the link to December's recordings.

Have a great Christmas!

November 2016

We've had some beautiful weather this month. Hard to believe that winter is on its way!

This month at SingWiv we learnt three songs: a gospel song from the Georgia Sea Islands off the US coast; a gorgeous Russian orthodox chant; and a children's nonsense song from Ghana.

"Johanna the row-di" is from the singing of Bessie Jones. She was a founding member of the Georgia Sea Island Singers. Here she is singing Johanna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9bauagVqd4

“They would go out and row the boats at nights, days and nights, sometimes in the day, but most had to row at night and try to get some fish, you know, to have meat for their children. They called it meat, like the Bible. And sometimes they would row boat all night and not have fish enough the next morning and that’s the song they would be singing for Johanna to go and get the boat. She go out and row you see, and try to get a mess of fish ’cause sometime the fish swim at a certain time and perhaps she could get a mess ’cause he done rowed all night he’s tired, you see, and then he got to try to get a little bit of rest, you know, and then go to work.”

"Mnogaya leta" was composed by Dmitry Bortnianski (1752-1825). It means (Lord grant us) "Many years."

Here it is being sung in St Petersburg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V1oph-Z1Ps

"Senwa dedende" is a children's nonsense song from Ghana. It is an Akan or Twi song. This is just the chorus, adapted so it works as a round

"Vulture, vulture Your mother is calling you 

What does she want me to do? 

She wants you to come and eat. 

What kind of food is it? Fufu and abenkwan (Fufu is a doughy dish served with soup. Abenkwan is a palm nut soup)

Let the children share it."  

Here is the link to November's recordings.

October 2016

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness has arrived!

Meanwhile, at SingWiv, we were tackling some contemporary opera along with a song from Hawaii and one from Jamaica.

"Einstein on the Beach" is an opera composed by Philip Glass. We did a short section consisting of just number as lyrics!

You can hear the original of the Einstein on the Beach section that Chris has based his version on here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIDuZq7RVAM
 
"Heke hau" is a beautiful Hawaiian song using a proverb as its lyrics. This is an arrangement by Nickomo.

Love is like a healing dew, washing away all hurt.

"Janie mama" is a Jamaican song, from an island called Santiago and colonised by Spain till 1655, when the British took it over. Ya tu sabes in Spanish means “Ya know,” “You already know,” “You know what I mean,” or similar. Turnmina, Suzika and Yavana are all girls’ names. Ya tu ..., I ya... and Hey... are all “Hi there! I see you!..” types of greetings. So basically, the song is greeting these girls, and Janie Mama as well. The origin is Spanish.

Here is the link to October's recordings.

September 2016

Yes SingWiv is back!

Here's the link to the  September songs

 After a good warm up (including a quick Phillip Glass number) we sang one in latin,  music by Helen Chadwick and  two from South Africa. Despite some people still being on holiday,  the numbers were good and we even had six men. So, looking good for the new season!

NEXT one is 15th October, 2.00pm as usual, in the Scout and Guide hut.