October 2019

Leaves are falling, the season is turning, and we are singing!

It was a great session in Wivenhoe this month. We only got through two songs, but they were both gorgeous and worth the effort.

Here is the link to October's recordings.

The first was essentially a country and western song, The thing that makes you beautiful, by Jane Voss. It has lovely lyrics. We only did the first verse, but here's the last:

So if ever there’s a question,
If you’re feeling dull and old,
Won’t you let me be your mirror
Where the truth is always told.
In the eye of this beholder
You’re a bright and shining star,
The thing that makes you beautiful
is the way you are.

Click the link to hear Jane Voss with her original version of The thing that makes you beautiful.

 

The second song was a healing song from Georgia, Batonebo. Healing songs are usually sung by women. It's sung to children when they are ill, and takes the form of an address to the spirits who supposedly cause the illness. They are addressed very politely as "the Sirs", and an interesting sequence takes place: first flower petals are strewn to entice them out of the child’s body, then a religious ritual, but they only leave finally after animals have been sacrificed according to the ancient pagan tradition (implied).

You can hear the women of the London choir Maspindzeli sing Batonebo at 30 seconds into this video.

We'll be back on 16 November with brand new songs.

Our last session of 2019 will be on 14 December. Do please spread the word.


Click here to find all the dates for 2019 and on into 2020.  

September 2019

Some of us are still hanging onto summer!

It was a beautiful day in Wivenhoe, which is perhaps why numbers were down a bit this month (only one man!). But that didn't stop us making a great sound. It's quality, not quantity that counts (although it would be nice to see a few more of you next month).

Here is the link to September's recordings.

Despite having the summer off, everyone was in fine voice. We started with a round which likens the turning of the waterwheel to the turning of the seasons. Chris didn't have time to record this, so the recording is from another workshop.

Next was a great song in six parts by Roxane Smith: Ain't gonna study war. Words drawn from the old spiritual "Down by the riverside".


We finished with a cracking gospel song from South Africa: Vuma. This was only in five parts, but it still sounds great!


For those of you who came this month, you'll be pleased to know (or maybe not!) that Chris found his "blowy thing" in the car after the session!


We'll be back on 12 October with loads of brand new songs (and hopefully some more men). Do please spread the word.


Click here to find all the dates for 2019.  

June 2019

We've had a bit of a heatwave recently so it was rather hot in the Scout Hall (for a change!).

This month was well-attended, but it was women-only for a change. Where are all the men? 

Here is the link to June's recordings.

We started with a chant from the Taize community in France: Laudate dominum, praise the Lord.

Next we tackled a pop classic, All I have to do is dream, by the Everly Brothers. It turned out to be a bit harder than people expected, as not everybody remembered the song in the same way!

Finally, we ended with a song from Namibia, Kana kameme, where a young bride advises her sister to take care of their parents when she moves away.

Remember, we don't meet in the summer months of July and August (time to catch up with some gardening!).

We'll be back on 14 September with loads of brand new songs (and hopefully some men). Do please spread the word.

Have a great summer break.



Click here to find all the dates for 2019. 

May 2019

Although we were competing with the Wivenhoe Open Gardens weekend, we mustered a goodly number of singers and had a fine time of it.

Here is the link to May's recordings.

We started with Chris's arrangement of the hymn Morning has broken. Since we only had one man this month (well done Peter!), the bass part was sung by women which confused those singing the tune from time to time! It did sound lovely though.

Next up was a gentle healing song from Georgia, Iavnana.

Finally a rousing South African gospel song Ipharadisi about wanting to join the living in paradise.

All in all, a fabulous way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Do join us on Saturday 22 June for our last session before our summer break (we'll be back in September).



Click here to find all the dates for 2019.

April 2019

Spring has sprung!

What's great about SingWiv is that, no matter how many people come each month, there are always new faces! So a big welcome to those who came in April for the first time.

Here is the link to April's recordings.

We started with a children's song, Yalla awlehd from Syria which is used to call the family down to the orchard for the traditional picnic after Friday prayers.

Next up was the month's big song, We got all the love, by Helen Yeomans. A lovely sentiment, plus some great crunch harmonies AND we nailed it! Included in this month's recordings is a studio version to hear how tricky the harmonies really are.

Then we did a fun song from the Faroe Islands (apparently). It's called Djingala djingala and is supposed to be about the sea, although it's origins are unclear. You can hear the full song here.

Finally, we managed to squeeze in a quick song from the Baka pygmies: Boomalena.



We're back in Wivenhoe on Saturday 18 May. We hope to see you there.




Click here to find all the dates for 2019.

March 2019

And the March winds did blow! But we were warm and snug inside the Scout Hall (and the Orwell Bridge didn't close until later that night).

Lots of new faces this month, and a goodly number of men (although we could always do with more).

Here is the link to March's recordings.

We kicked off with a fun arrangement of the well-known American folk song Shortnin' bread. Then we spent a long time on a gorgeous Ave Maria written by Mexican Tasnim Fernandez. It was worth all the hard work as it's such a lovely song.

To round off, we did a quick joik called Nieda with clapping. It wasn't recorded on the day, but there's a version included with this month's recordings.


We're back in Wivenhoe on Saturday 13 April (not a third Saturday due to Easter) whatever the weather. We hope to see you there.




Click here to find all the dates for 2019.

February 2019

The catkins are out already. Spring is definitely on its way!

We managed a goodly number of singers this month with lots of new faces.

Here is the link to February's recordings.

We started with a deceptively simple, but gorgeous piece by Juliet Prager using a quote from Julian of Norwich: All will be well. The recordings include a full version by Juliet Prager and friends.

That was followed by a lovely Russian orthodox chant Slava v vychnih Bogou by Mikhail Strokine. The short section we did means "Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth to all people of goodwill."

Click here to listen to a full version of the song.

We also learnt Chris's warm-up arrangement of Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon, but it wasn't recorded.

We're back in Wivenhoe on Saturday 16 March come rain or snow. We hope to see you there.




Click here to find all the dates for 2019.