A song from the Copper Family of Rottingdean, Sussex, UK. The Copper family have been Singing in this distinctive, English southern harmony style for over 200 years. The family has lived there since at least 16th C. Song is also known as "Sorrows away". T...  moreA song from the Copper Family of Rottingdean, Sussex, UK. The Copper family have been Singing in this distinctive, English southern harmony style for over 200 years. The family has lived there since at least 16th C. Song is also known as "Sorrows away". This version is based on an arrangement by The Poozies. This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the winter are performed at St. Peters by the Waterfront, Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

Dance song. 1. Hey people, people, Here is your liberty 2. Vibrant is the lilac tree, My beloved is a partisan 3. On the other side of the Morave (river in Croatia) a girl is reading the newspaper This outdoor performance was the culmination o...  moreDance song. 1. Hey people, people, Here is your liberty 2. Vibrant is the lilac tree, My beloved is a partisan 3. On the other side of the Morave (river in Croatia) a girl is reading the newspaper This outdoor performance was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the summer are performed outdoors near Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

In Swahili. Disputed authorship. Could be Kenyan. Probably Tanzanian folk song with added words written in 1940s with extra verses added in late 1950s. Made famous by Miriam Makeba in early 1960s. The young man sings: "Angel, I love you. What should I ...  moreIn Swahili. Disputed authorship. Could be Kenyan. Probably Tanzanian folk song with added words written in 1940s with extra verses added in late 1950s. Made famous by Miriam Makeba in early 1960s. The young man sings: "Angel, I love you. What should I do? I don't have any money. I would marry you if I did." This outdoor performance was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the summer are performed outdoors near Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

A popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis who, along with one Charlie Mitchell, bought the "rights" to th...  moreA popular song first recorded in 1939. It has been declared one of the state songs of Louisiana as a result of its association with former state governor and country music singer Jimmie Davis who, along with one Charlie Mitchell, bought the "rights" to the song from Paul Rice (of the Rice Brothers Gang who first recorded it) for $35 in late 1939; Jimmie Davis published it, with "words and music by Jimmie Davis and Charles Mitchell". There are still people alive, however, who remember hearing the song long before 1937 and what these people remember is the name of the musician with whom Paul Rice played in the early 1930's: Oliver Hood of LaGrange, Georgia. Contrary claims notwithstanding, Oliver Hood wrote "You Are My Sunshine." He wrote the words to the song on the back of a brown paper sack, which his children still possess, and he first performed the song at a VFW convention in LaGrange in 1933; he sang it through a megaphone out of a hotel window, and he sang no less than twenty verses, most of which...    less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   For the last eight years I’ve created a performance choir from scratch each year – a kind of Instant Choir, Just Add People – which I cal...

The earliest known version of Cockles and Mussels was published in London in 1884 by Francis Brothers and Day. The song is there described as "a comic song" written and composed by James Yorkston (of Scotland) and arranged by Edmund Forman. Because it is ...  moreThe earliest known version of Cockles and Mussels was published in London in 1884 by Francis Brothers and Day. The song is there described as "a comic song" written and composed by James Yorkston (of Scotland) and arranged by Edmund Forman. Because it is noted as printed with permission of an Edinburgh firm, there was clearly an earlier version. Although the song is the unofficial anthem of Dublin and generally regarded as Irish, it was, in fact, written by a Scotsman. This outdoor performance was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the summer are performed outdoors near Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Three years ago, for the first time in over 13 years, I started a choir from scratch. I put a call out to my readers for advice on how to recruit singers t...

Famous New Zealand love song. Pokarekare Ana was originally written in 1912 as a bid to win the heart of Paraire Henare Tomoana's beloved, Kuini Ripeka Ryland. Paraire had fallen in love with Kuini but her family refused to give their blessing to a marria...  moreFamous New Zealand love song. Pokarekare Ana was originally written in 1912 as a bid to win the heart of Paraire Henare Tomoana's beloved, Kuini Ripeka Ryland. Paraire had fallen in love with Kuini but her family refused to give their blessing to a marriage between the two. A lovelorn Paraire composed Pokarekare Ana in which he vowed his eternal love. He declared this passion by Singing Pokarekare Ana at Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae to Kuini in front of her Ngati Porou elders. The family was won over by his convincing performance and granted him their daughter's hand. How placid are the ripples of restless Waiapu, Dear they know of your returning, from far across the sea. Dear Heart of mine, I'll wait for thee, My love is thine alone, to eternity. This outdoor performance was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all s...    less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Singing together in a group is something special. It is a very different experience from Singing on your own. But what exactly is it that we get from Singing...

Sing from the Heart choir & group Singing workshop courses in the Limousin region of France (located in the Creuse 23460) Have fun, meet new people in a relaxed, welcoming, supportive environment & Sing from the Heart. ...  moreSing from the Heart choir & group Singing workshop courses in the Limousin region of France (located in the Creuse 23460) Have fun, meet new people in a relaxed, welcoming, supportive environment & Sing from the Heart. Learn good vocal technique & popular music repertoire (from pop & rock through to folk & show-tunes & everything in between!). ALL abilities welcome. In recent workshops we have sung songs by The Beatles, Pharrell Williams, Tracy Chapman, The Housemartins and Carole King - to name but a few... We run several courses throughout the year as well as group Singing workshop holidays and retreats in France. Details of our upcoming upcoming group Singing workshop below: Starting 25 April 2015: The 8 week course will include 2 informal performance nights at De Tout Coeur Limousin - in front of a supportive, friendly audience of invited friends and family where you can show off your newly ...    less