This page is a record of the songs we have sung each session. To access the website of our Song Leader, Penny Stone, and find her teaching videos (many posted to support everyone during the Covid pandemic) see our About page. To sing these great songs in good company join us at the Eric Liddell Centre, Thursdays 6.30-8.30pm.
New term starts 15th January 2026
11th December (last this year)
I Heard a Bird Sing (poem by Oliver Herford, music by Penny Stone, video youtube.com/watch?v=j3CpdI8EIDI starts 14:53 mins. in)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant, youtube.com/watch?v=SQadcm_dwEM)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song for happier days, facebook.com/100057268786589/videos/djingala-part-1/400103530591286/ you don’t need to sign up)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018, youtube.com/watch?v=LUVonhA91HE)
New Year Alilo (Georgian Christmas and New Year, youtube.com/watch?v=IXr04bjOwFc&t=18s)
What Am I Rushing to? (Wendy Luella Perkins, youtube.com/watch?v=Pr_aBUzI_wE 2mins:16 in)
Christmas Round – Bless Us All
4th December (Robyn Stapleton session)
I Believe that One Fine Day (Ali Burns, listen here aliburns.co.uk/shop/song/downloads/i-believe-that-one-fine-day)
The Holly and the Ivy (new tune)
Hollin Green Hollin (ballad by Emily Portman emilyportman.bandcamp.com/track/hollin)
Oh Watch the Stars (trad. Amer youtube.com/watch?v=pPSrGdugoxs)
Var det du eller, var det jag (Traditional Scandi folk tune, youtube.com/watch?v=thicJsWf0nE)
River River (A song by Kavisha Mazzella, a Melbourne based singer-songwriter with Italian, Scottish and Burmese roots) https://www.omniglot.com/songs/bcc/riverriver.htm
27th November
Zoomba jazzy warm-up
Cold and Bright (Penny Stone)
New Year Alilo (Georgian Christmas and New Year, youtube.com/watch?v=IXr04bjOwFc&t=18s)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI)
The Geese Fly (Penny Stone, youtube.com/watch?v=ijex6c_4tOQ&list=RDijex6c_4tOQ&start_radio=1 and teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=e5CTqV8uM4Q)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, video with percussion accompaniment youtube.com/watch?v=_L_pwSd92P4)
20th November
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan) http://youtube.com/watch?v=NZi-gumSnzI
Sobremesa (Spanish)
Pokarecare Ana – (most well known New Zealand love song) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pHF25KIvEk8?feature=share
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Asho Chela (Georgian https://youtu.be/i7cJhUC-6WA?list=RDi7cJhUC-6WA)
Baka Lullaby – Amabele (from Baka people)
13th November
One For A Butterfly (Penny Stone)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Yote Tawezekana Translation – All is possible if only you believe. Traditional Kenyan Gospel song, sung widely during movement for democracy in 80s /90s.
Plovi Barco (Croatian love song -about boats, youtube.com/watch?v=J6xkj3DORcM)
6th November
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Hibernates (Penny Stone)
Pa Ta Ke (Light a Candle, round to celebrate Diwali) Shivani Rattan
Oleyo (Ghanian women’s work song)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965, http://youtube.com/watch?v=KOok1WzZbOY)
30th October Half-Term Break
23rd October
Er Godt At Vaere Her (Danish, trs It’s good to be here)
Let the Circle Be Wide (Tommy Sands, Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=RpOzcOqeVy0)
Canten Señores Cantores (Argentinian folk song, trs Sing, singing gentlemen, info and video bethsnotesplus.com/2024/07/canten-senores-cantores)
Olele Moliba Makasi Congolese paddling song, youtube.com/watch?v=wIeM4PM7aZw
Pūt, Vējiņi (trd Latvian, the song became an anthem for freedom and independence during the “Singing Revolution” 1987-91, trs Blow Ye Wind, youtube.com/watch?v=ivAvaONsUWc)
16th October
We all love to sing -Warm up song (Penny Stone)
When the leaves turn gold and yellow and red (Penny Stone)
Sizinyoni Thina (Zulu nursery song – about birds) https://youtu.be/innONTd4854
Am a wee bee (Baka game song, Cameroon)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Go to sleep you little baby (from ‘Oh Brother where art thou) https://youtu.be/i1wZVVMKojw
9th October 2025
Thula Mama (Zulu lullaby, slightly different tune from what we have learned before)
Be Kind (Hayward)
Be de L’Amore (trs. Beautiful is Love, Italian song from Puglia)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Amabele (from Baka people of Cameroon)
Everybody is Welcome (new from Penny Stone)
2nd October 2025
We Believe – Solidarity Round (Penny Stone)
Kalyna Moja (Ukranian, my guelder-rose, my raspberry bush, chorus from Carpathian Rap by DakhaBrakhav, watch here youtube.com/watch?v=fTrSsIY7Oww )
Butterflies Rest in the Rain (Penny Stone)
Kuzophela (Zulu, about love succeeding, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=FAwGaFIPpC4)
Be de L’Amore (Italian song from Puglia)
25th September 2025
Mbula Bula (Polynesian welcome song)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
Samba Lele (Chorus, Portuguese, version here youtube.com/watch?v=NdJ8sHPIyAs)
Lala, Lala Tulip Flower Lullaby (Farsi, lala trs “sleep”; the tulip flower, Edithcolea grandis, is essentially the Persian carpet rug flower as the rugs use a pattern similar to the flower’s form in the rug design)
Butterflies Rest in the Rain (Penny Stone)
Kuzophela (Zulu, about love succeeding, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=FAwGaFIPpC4)
18th September 2025
Chanda Mama (Hindi children’s song)
I Believe that One Fine Day (Ali Burns), listen here aliburns.co.uk/shop/song/downloads/i-believe-that-one-fine-day/
Kuzophela (Zulu, about love succeeding, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=FAwGaFIPpC4)
Scone but never forgotten (Penny Stone)
Seal lullaby (Penny Sone), listen here soundcloud.com/user-666747961/seal-lullaby
Mbula Bula (Polynesian welcome song)
11th September 2025
One For A Butterfly (Penny Stone)
Mbula Bula (Polynesian/Fijian greeting and farewell song)
Lai Lai Lai Lai (more next week)
Pog o Leannan an Fhidleir (Gaelic trad., a Strathspey from N.Uist, trs. a kiss for the fiddler’s sweetheart, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhq111TAa-s)
Hamba Wena (S.African women’s football team sang this Zulu chant at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, video youtube.com/watch?v=9HeVcLaD8yI)
One World, One Voice, One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick, youtube.com/watch?v=WZD_4CpC8jE)
Plovi Barco (Croatian love song)
4 September 2025
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
Stodala Pumpa (Czech folk song chorus, trs. Barn pump!, video youtube.com/watch?v=0gDbdsRtLMQ)
A Force of Love (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, set to music by Penny Stone)
Kuzophela (Zulu, about love succeeding, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=FAwGaFIPpC4)
Hamba Wena (S.African women’s football team sang this Zulu chant at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, video youtube.com/watch?v=9HeVcLaD8yI)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
July and August – Summer Break
3 July 2025
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet) https://youtu.be/97WDKsph2nI?t=1
Nero’s Expedition (Moondog)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH4NYjPjhtU
Tina singu Southern African children’s song
https://youtu.be/9RI3-2hORYs
Miniyamba (traditional Bambara song, sung by West African voices across the world as a song of exile.
https://youtu.be/6uk6P5Tbrig?feature=shared
26 June 2025
Popacatepetl is a big Volcano – warm up song
Zidele Amathambo (Folk Song from South Africa. “Throw yourself away, bones and all” https://youtu.be/slisbf3fEvU
Plovi Barko Traditional Croation folk song – means ‘Sail your Boat ’https://youtu.be/AobRd6kX1go
Slow Slow Slow (Peggy Seeger)
Sma Grodorna Swedish Midsummer Song
https://youtu.be/on9PLzlY0Ww?t=12
Cuando me Vaya – Chile
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
19th June 2025
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
Miniyamba (traditional Bambara song, sung by West African voices across the world as a song of exile.
https://youtu.be/6uk6P5Tbrig?feature=shared
We are the Cholita Climbers (Penny Stone, in tribute to a group of cholita climbers who embarked on an adventure to climb eight Bolivian mountains. Many worked as porters and cooks with their tour-guide husbands, but now they’re doing it on their own. Once discriminated against, cholas, or cholitas, are making a resurgence in modern Bolivian culture. Video here by one of the cholitas, youtube.com/watch?v=hGxxvefRk9A)
One day at a Time (Penny Stone inspired by Lemn Sissay poem)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Slow Slow Slow (Peggy Seeger)
12th June 2025
123454321 Warm up song
Don’t You Worry About Fomo (Fomo = Fear of Missing out, Penny Stone)
Thula Sizwe (Anti-apartheid song from Zimbabwe, “Be comforted my people” – several youtube videos available)
Beautiful Land (Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel)
https://youtu.be/VRsGWqVBavU
Miniyamba (traditional Bambara song, sung by West African voices across the world as a song of exile. https://youtu.be/6uk6P5Tbrig?feature=shared
Naked in the Garden Seamas Carey, Cornish round as an ode to William Blake, youtube.com/watch?v=6KuwW9PEVBM
5th June 2025
Brocolli – opera warm up song
Be de lamore Italian song – from Puglia
Naked in the Garden (Seamas Carey, Cornish round as an ode to William Blake, video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KuwW9PEVBM
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
Turn your chocolate digestive upside down -Penny Stone
Plovi Barko Old Croatian folk song https://youtu.be/rsx0MBnOwhg- Croatia
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
Fambe Naye (Zimbabwe -Stay well, go well) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms73wcam9MU
29th May 2025
Be de lamore Italian song – from Puglia
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone, inspired by Singing the Lost Words into Life workshop, 2018) https://youtu.be/VinL8cStWqo?si=58cf-xdOrOVCj4WZ
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad. approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds) https://youtu.be/2Qs7Sid30rs
Plovi barko- Old Croation folk song https://youtu.be/rsx0MBnOwhg
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Underneath the Tallest Tree (Penny Stone)
https://youtu.be/gZK5BMFA-bM
22nd May 2025
Chocolate Digestive (warm up song)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Slow Slow Slow (Peggy Seeger)
Inzozi Nziza (trs. Sweet Dreams, Penny Stone in celebration of the Rwandan Women’s Cooperative formed by a 60-strong band of performing drummers who make and sell ice-cream; documentary film available on line about the project, see sweetdreamsrwanda.com)
Also on Youtube youtube.com/watch?v=KNI_yEO2_aA
youtube.com/watch?v=ynsTPYWacDE
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad. approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep) www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARkbtIgk37g
Fambe Naye (Zimbabwe -Stay well, go well) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms73wcam9MU
15th May 2025
Georgian session with Francesco who taught us different ways to use our voices for an authentic Georgian sound. We learned to sing:
Batonebis simghera “tsqaloblebo” – traditional healing song – as an offering to the Batonibis – “Lords or spirit of the sky”.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCGzHudr7Yg
8th May 2025
Somewhere Over the Rainbow – (warm up song)
Tuba – (a dove) South African Tsonga language
Hal-an Tow – traditional Cornish from Village of Helston, sung on Flora Day – 8th May https://youtu.be/LX1XEd0itFU
Nightingales are Here (traditional round)
Kartluri Mravalzhamier Georgian – ‘May you live many years’
https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/relatedvideo?q=Kartluri%20Mravalzhamier%20&mid=5233FC70B0918E8A
1st May 2025
Nightingales are Here (traditional round)
Famba Naye – Traditional Farewell song from Zimbabwe by Saba Magacha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ms73wcam9MU
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, body percussion by Evie Ladin) body percussion teaching video can be found here: youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0
On the Moor I saw a Plover (Linton Adie Warm-up) Icelandic version. Sá ég Spóa https://youtu.be/ZSY9cXpgiFY
Tshosholaza, Traditional South African miner’s song. https://youtu.be/2aFlQS4k3wo
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
3rd April 2025
Two tickets to Troon – warm-up song
Breathe Softly (Penny Stone) https://youtu.be/Uu-TXxa3pH8
Mbube (Wimoweh) Solomon Linda. South African. In Zulu
Underneath the Tallest Tree (Penny Stone)
https://youtu.be/gZK5BMFA-bM
Haam Honge Kaamyaab (We Shall Overcome – Hindi version)
https://youtu.be/93hHkF_2UsA
On the Moor I saw a Plover (Linton Adie Warm-up) Icelandic version to come.
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song, watch youtube.com/watch?v=oudgTk4zbyg)
27th March 2025
Diggy dog dog – warm up song
Ni Ni Ya Moumou (Moroccan lullaby, trd. and rendition here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1249)
Mosquito Song (Words: Dalai Lama, Music Penny Stone)
Inanay Gupa Wana (Torrres Straits, youtube.com/watch?v=7QJq9dN4_Do and mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5086)
I Love the Rain (Penny Stone, inspired by The April Rain Song poem by Langston Hughes)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
https://youtu.be/b9RGtFomp8o?list=PLRtmymiZ52CoVHMLxARkNOjP7McOGjDSx
20th March 2025
Ni Ni Ya Moumou (Moroccan lullaby, trs. and rendition here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1249)
Inzozi Nziza (trs. Sweet Dreams, Penny Stone in celebration of the Rwandan Women’s Cooperative formed by a 60-strong band of performing drummers who make and sell ice-cream; documentary film available on line about the project, see sweetdreamsrwanda.com)
Also on Youtube youtube.com/watch?v=KNI_yEO2_aA
youtube.com/watch?v=ynsTPYWacDE
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
https://youtu.be/b9RGtFomp8o?list=PLRtmymiZ52CoVHMLxARkNOjP7McOGjDSx
Beautiful Land (Many Times have I walked up the Hill – Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel) youtu.be/VRsGWqVBavU?si=03bieUh5FGQgaCdy
13th March 2025
12345 Warm up song
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Ho Ho Ho Taru Koi (Come Firefly, Japanese Folk Song) https://youtu.be/xTFl5PeZoaY
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, body percussion by Evie Ladin) body percussion teaching video can be found here:
youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary) https://youtu.be/b9RGtFomp8o?list=PLRtmymiZ52CoVHMLxARkNOjP7McOGjDSx
6th March 2025
Bravo Bravissimo – warm up song
Ho Ho Ho Taru Koi (Come Firefly, Japanese Folk Song)
https://youtu.be/xTFl5PeZoaY
You Don’t Have To Carry It All (Penny Stone – a new song)
When the Sun Rises (Penny Stone, Zulu and Cuban verses) Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu: Often shortened to ‘Ubuntu’ this Zulu phrase means “I am because we are.” Desmond Tutu describes this African philosophy as “the essence of being human”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozvw7sUocFk
Feel the Waves Rolling In (Penny Stone)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
https://youtu.be/b9RGtFomp8o?list=PLRtmymiZ52CoVHMLxARkNOjP7McOGjDSx
27th February 2025
Inzozi Nziza (trs. Sweet Dreams, Penny Stone in celebration of the Rwandan Women’s Cooperative formed by a 60-strong band of performing drummers who make and sell ice-cream; documentary film available on line about the project, see sweetdreamsrwanda.com) Also on Youtube youtube.com/watch?v=KNI_yEO2_aA
And When I Rise (Seth Martin based on a Wendell Berry poem, folk processed) Arranged by Penny Stonewww.protestinharmony.org.uk/songs/and-when-i-rise/
Bumalena (Sue Hart, Baka song from Cameroon, ‘my heart is happy’)
Miniyamba (traditional Bambara song, sung by West African voices across the world as a song of exile. https://youtu.be/6uk6P5Tbrig?feature=shared
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, video with percussion accompaniment youtube.com/watch?v=_L_pwSd92P4)
You Don’t Have To Carry It All (Penny Stone – a new song)
20th February 2025
Baka Lullaby – Amabele (from Baka people)
Two More Minutes of Sunlight Every Day (Penny Stone, teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=shKMv0Z0GpQ)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, video with percussion accompaniment youtube.com/watch?v=_L_pwSd92P4)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan, video youtube.com/watch?v=NZi-gumSnzI)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH4NYjPjhtU
13th February 2025
Freedom (American Civil Rights song)
Ni Ni Ya Moumou (Moroccan lullaby, trs. and rendition here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1249)
Bambelela (trans. Hang on in there, Capetown, South Africa, inspired by original HIV crisis)
Miniyamba (traditional Bambara song, sung by West African voices across the world as a song of exile.
https://youtu.be/6uk6P5Tbrig?feature=shared
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary, video youtube.com/watch?v=yLnum431Kcw)
6th February 2025
The Light Will Return (Imbolc Song, also known as Saint Brigid’s Day, is a Gaelic traditional festival).
youtu.be/D0mWWCVwT-8?si=EbHerkQm4S92xzuI
Bambelela (trans. Hang on in there, Capetown, South Africa, inspired by original HIV crisis)
Sing a New Song, (Penny Stone, after “The Tree of Liberty” by Robert Burns)
youtu.be/Oj_hxYFruOU?si=HGO5IcrU4lzJDHgE
Baka Lullaby – Amabele (from Baka people)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song for happier days),
soundcloud.com/helene-bohman-blomqvist/djingala-djingala)
Moon Light. Penny Stone
youtu.be/TmhOAP1zFiM?si=AGSkiIbRrlQcwFXm
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Beautiful Land (Many Times have I walked up the Hill – Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel) youtu.be/VRsGWqVBavU?si=03bieUh5FGQgaCdy
30th January 2025
Hion do (Gaelic seal song from Uist, also known as The Sealwoman’s Joy)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song, watch youtube.com/watch?v=oudgTk4zbyg)
Gong Xi (Mandarin, Chinese New Year song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=INKsLDB4-EQ)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
Kling Klang (Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells)
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
New Year Alilo (Georgian Christmas and New Year, watch youtube.com/watch?v=IXr04bjOwFc&t=18s)
23rd January 2025
Mosquito Song (Words by Dalai Lama, Music Penny Stone)
Cheers to the New Year (Kirsty Logan)
New Year Alilo (Georgian Christmas and New Year, watch youtube.com/watch?v=IXr04bjOwFc&t=18s)
Wassail the Trees (Open Community Singing Group original wassail)
Kind and Strong (Penny Stone, inspired by the words of Jacinda Ardern)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song for happier days, soundcloud.com/helene-bohman-blomqvist/djingala-djingala)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song, watch youtube.com/watch?v=oudgTk4zbyg)
16th January 2025 – Cancelled due to illness
Christmas Break returning to our original venue at the Eric Liddell Centre on 16th January 2025
12th December 2024 and our last at Reid Memorial Church
Throw and Catch (Sotho, video youtube.com/watch?v=hpOoWZ_WbMs)
Otsda Khutsa (Georgian, video facebook.com/Kassandrakuoro/videos/375349311377172?locale=en_GB)
Thank You for Being So Wonderful (Penny Stone, a thank-you to Christine, Helen and Jane)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant, video youtube.com/watch?v=SQadcm_dwEM)
Amabele (from Baka people)
5th December 2024
Tamini Mamini (Mali)
Otsda Khutsa (Georgian, video facebook.com/Kassandrakuoro/videos/375349311377172?locale=en_GB)
Deep Down in My Soul (Gospel)
Jingle Bell Boogie
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
28th November 2024
Rhythm & Syncopation (video youtube.com/watch?v=JBTflf7MnbI)
Kunnes Taas Tapaamme / Until We Meet Again (Faith Watson) Ziwele Zuelle Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Be The Light (Lea Morris, inspired by Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb” recited at Inauguration of US President 2021, video youtube.com/watch?v=TQCrE2As1Xw)
Mzabalo Mzabalo Zo (anti-apartheid song)
Amabele (from Baka people)
21st November 2024
We n’ de ya ho (Cherokee morning song, I am of the Great Spirit, video youtube.com/watch?v=gp1Z0quWMXk)
Lulla Lulla (Estonian Lullaby, sing with your little tongue, little bird)
Yeah Yeah Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song, Arabic Vocables(used to learn tunes)
Music is a Rock (orig. Jesus, gospel)
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
Be The Light (Lea Morris, inspired by Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb” recited at Inauguration of US President 2021, video youtube.com/watch?v=TQCrE2As1Xw)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, body percussion by Evie Ladin) body percussion teaching video can be found here:
youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0 we just did Panny’s hand percussion
Zu Arende (about sunset, Zimbabwe)
14th November 2024
Overtone practice
We n’ de ya ho (Cherokee morning song, I am of the Great Spirit, video youtube.com/watch?v=gp1Z0quWMXk)
Mzabalo Mzabalo Zo (antiapartheid song)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
A Brighter Morning (Penny Stone, inspired by an Oprah Winfrey speech at the Golden Globes)
Under the Full Moonlight (written by a bunch of women somewhere! – Penny learnt it from Greenham Women’s Peace Camp)
Da Bressay Lullaby (trad. Shetland, video with full verses scottishbooktrust.com/songs-and-rhymes/da-bressay-lullaby, and archive recordings tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/73521?l=en)
One Foot/Lead with Love (Melanie deMore, written the day after Trump’s first election – video youtube.com/watch?v=jJEFXpS_xPs)
Pa Ta Ke (Light a Candle, round to celebrate Diwali)
Zu Arende (about sunset, Zimbabwe)
7th November 2024
I Believe That One Fine Day (Ali Burns, video facebook.com/watch/?v=771824763999361)
A Brighter Morning (Penny Stone, inspired by an Oprah Winfrey speech at the Golden Globes)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Da Bressay Lullaby (trad. Shetland, archive recordings tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/73521?l=en)
Wusuli Boat Song with Rachels’ pipes (Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s “Water is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song album – performance youtube.com/watch?v=U5Di8NQGkmI)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
31st October
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
I know that you know that I love you – warm-up round
And When I Rise (Seth Martin based on a Wendell Berry poem, folk processed)
Heh La Le Le La (trad. West Indian)
Wusuli Boat Song (Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s “Water is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song album – performance youtube.com/watch?v=U5Di8NQGkmI)
Pa Ta Ke (Light a Candle, round to celebrate Diwali)
Witches Reel (nice recording with musical accompaniment youtube.com/watch?v=G6_9uqw359Q, background here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geillis_Duncan)
24th October 2024
It Keeps My Heart Warm (autumn round, Penny stone, youtube.com/watch?v=S4DSjhGG11s)
Zu Arende (about sunset, Zimbabwe)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Wusuli Boat Song with rachel’s pipes (Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s “Water is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song album – performance youtube.com/watch?v=U5Di8NQGkmI)
Scone song (Penny Stone)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Bumalena (Sue Hart, Baka song from Cameroon, ‘my heart is happy’)
Zu Arende (about sunset, Zimbabwe)
October 2024
Tue Tue (Ghanaian harvest song, with clapping game)
Batonebo (Georgian healing song, watch youtube.com/watch?v=VloKXBvS3cg)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Witches Reel (nice recording with musical accompaniment youtube.com/watch?v=G6_9uqw359Q, background here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geillis_Duncan)
Woyaya or We Are Going (Osibisa, 1970’s Afro-pop band)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
10th October 2024
Zuruni (Arabic farewell song about remembering to visit)
It Keeps My Heart Warm (autumn round, Penny stone, watch youtube.com/watch?v=S4DSjhGG11s)
Mama Bakudala (South African, Xhosa, sung by women at the beginning of gatherings or celebrations as an invocation to the spirits of the matriarchal ancestors, trs. “Our mothers and grandmothers used to pray.”)
Music is a Rock (orig. Jesus, gospel)
Bzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Wusuli Boat Song (Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s “Water is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song album – performance youtube.com/watch?v=U5Di8NQGkmI)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
3rd October 2024
Gravity (Jan Holstaff, listen singplicity.co.uk/blog/sing-a-round-songs/gravity-2/)
Nya-ro Nya-ro Ka-pong (Akawaio [Guyana] Welcome Song, trs. “Hello, person be one of us now”)
Wusuli Boat Song (gentle introduction to Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s “Water is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song album – see performance youtube.com/watch?v=U5Di8NQGkmI)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Shana Tova u’Metukah (Jewish trs, “May you have a good and sweet year” said at Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year celebrations and referring to the tradition of eating apple slices dipped in honey)
Underneath the Tallest Tree (Penny Stone)
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenianring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
Kunnes Taas Tapaamme / Until We Meet Again (Faith Watson)
26th September 2024
Red Leather Tongue Twister(warm-up)
Nya-ro Nya-ro Ka-pong (Akawaio [Guyana] Welcome Song, trs. “Hello, person be one of now”)
Feel The Waves Rollin In (Penny Stone)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Sunshine in Your Soul (Penny Stone)
Pick Them Now (refers to blackberries, Emily Marshall)
Kunnes Taas Tapaamme / Until We Meet Again (Faith Watson)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
19th September 2024
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Sunshine in Your Soul (Penny Stone)
Asho Ch’ela (ox-cart driver’s song from the Samegrelo region in the west of Georgia near the Black Sea, video youtube.com/watch?v=xM1MAQJi8HM)
Stodala Pumpa (Czech folk song chorus, trs. Barn pump!, video youtube.com/watch?v=0gDbdsRtLMQ)
Wild Geese Go Flying Along (traditional round)
They’ll tell You You’re Too Loud, Do It Anyway (A tweet by Alexandria-Ocasio Cortez, 2018, music penny Stone)
Bzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
12th September 2024
Brrlak! As warm up (Zap Mama based on Baka people vocalisations, video youtube.com/watch?v=VxkbipVwZv4)
Noyana (S.Africa, Zulu)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Wangari (Polly Bolton, celebrates Wangari Maathi Day, 3rd March) echos this time to give 6 parts and do watch her video about the Hummingbird and doing the best we can, youtube.com/watch?v=nOPiJTBAr1Y!)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
Asho Ch’ela (ox-cart driver’s song from the Samegrelo region in the west of Georgia near the Black Sea, video youtube.com/watch?v=xM1MAQJi8HM)
5th September 2024
Mongolian Overtoning
White Sand and Grey Sand (Eng. tr. Pedlar song, mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4925)
Inanay Gupa Wana (Torrres Straits, youtube.com/watch?v=7QJq9dN4_Do and mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5086)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Music is a Rock (orig. Jesus, gospel)
Gin and Tonic is So Nice (trad. Round, youtube.com/watch?v=PyUYjNvbnVQ)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI)
Am a wee bee (Baka game song, Camaroon)
Summer Break
25th July 2024 In Private Garden
Your Dog Loves My Dog (Civil Rights song, listen youtube.com/watch?v=QQ6FmG1w5ek)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, video youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI)
Underneath the Tallest Tree (Penny Stone)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Let the Circle Be Wide (Tommy Sands)
Hamabe no Uta (Japanese, words Kokei Hayashi, tune Narita Tamezou)
Naked in the Garden (Seamas Carey, Cornish round as an ode to William Blake, video youtube.com/watch?v=6KuwW9PEVBM)
18th July 2024
Brrlak! (Zap Mama based on Baka people vocalisations, video youtube.com/watch?v=VxkbipVwZv4)
Sunshine in Your Soul (Penny Stone)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Hamabe no Uta (Japanese, words Kokei Hayashi, tune Narita Tamezou)
Hamba Wena (S.African women’s football team sang this Zulu chant at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, video youtube.com/watch?v=9HeVcLaD8yI)
11th July 2024
Ping Pong Ball warm-up
What Am I Rushing to? (Wendy Luella Perkins, listen youtube.com/watch?v=Pr_aBUzI_wE)
Brrlak! (Zap Mama based on Baka people vocalisations, video youtube.com/watch?v=VxkbipVwZv4 and if you want to see the Baka people water drumming see youtube.com/watch?v=C7ba1CNOLiI)
Hamabe no Uta (Japanese, words Kokei Hayashi, tune Narita Tamezou)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
4th July 2024
Chiro Cacho (trad. Shona wedding song from Zimbabwe, listen wonderlandsingers.com/track/3197621/chiro-chacho-traditional-song-from-zimbabwe)
Sunshine in Your Soul (Penny Stone)
Hamabe no Uta (Japanese, words Kokei Hayashi, tune Narita Tamezou)
I Believe That One Fine Day (Ali Burns, video facebook.com/watch/?v=771824763999361)
Zinga Zee! (Trad. Ghanaian, “we’re on our way” or “we’re making a noise” or “let’s do it”)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
27th June 2024 Cancelled due to illness
20th June 2024 Guest Song-Leader Robyn Stapleton
Ezatale (trad. Senegalese)
This Love Will Carry (Dougie MacLean, arr. Helen Yeomans, videos youtube.com/watch?v=3S9fG1FCHY0 and youtube.com/watch?v=dpeR3mvw3-A)
Trouble So Hard (Am. Negro Spiritual, as sung by Vera Hall, arr. Helen Yeomans, video facebook.com/watch/?v=472698231034618)
Great Day (trad., arr. Francesca Christmas, video youtube.com/watch?v=ZFUScp5xFuI)
Travel These Ways (Karine Polwart, videos singing.luminatescotland.org/songs-to-sing-at-home/travel-these-ways/)
13th June 2024
Zidele a Makembo (“Take a Chance” or “Give Yourself Up, Bones and All”, trad. African, music by Bruce Knight)
Naked in the Garden (Seamas Carey, Cornish round as an ode to William Blake, video youtube.com/watch?v=6KuwW9PEVBM)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Rhythm & Syncopation (video youtube.com/watch?v=JBTflf7MnbI)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, video with percussion accompaniment youtube.com/watch?v=_L_pwSd92P4)
6th June 2024
Two Tickets to Troon ( video youtube.com/watch?v=8Qtk3r4VS5U)
Senwa Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
Mary Molony La Belle (Penny Stone, inspired by MM, an Irish suffragette who followed Churchill around for a week ringing a bell in Dundee 1908 by-election whenever he tried to speak, video youtube.com/watch?v=v66ddKBVu60)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, video with percussion accompaniment youtube.com/watch?v=_L_pwSd92P4)
Right and Left challenge
Put Vejini (trd Latvian, the song became an anthem for freedom and independence during the “Singing Revolution” 1987-91, video youtube.com/watch?v=Fcyjnrmn5GM)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, video youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI)
30th June Cancelled due to illness
24th May 2024
Croeso (Welsh forWelcome, Pauline Down)
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
Kothbiro (trs, rain is coming, by Ayub Ogada for the film The Constant Gardener, we mimic the sound of his instrument, the Luo niyatiti, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=b0Jwf-Y1uww)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Rousay Lullaby (Orkney dandling song)
Here Comes the Sun (George Harrison, The Beatles)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=g-juEV_elRo)
16th May 2024
Oh How Lovely is the Evening (in German and English, trad. Round orig. Germany)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
Gazapkhuli (Spring, Trad. Georgian, as sung by Anschiskhati Choir, video youtube.com/watch?v=ou8TfiRQAFU)
O le le, Congolese rowing song
Naked in the Garden (Seamas Carey, Cornish round as an ode to William Blake, video youtube.com/watch?v=6KuwW9PEVBM)
9th May 2024
Oh How Lovely is the Evening (trad. Round)
O le le, Congolese rowing song
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad. approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Gazapkhuli (Spring, Trad. Georgian, as sung by Anschiskhati Choir, first verse in part, video youtube.com/watch?v=ou8TfiRQAFU)
3 rounds based on words of Virgil 37BC,William Byrd 1578 and from Peter Pan, 1904 (set to music by Penny Stone)
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
2nd May 2024 Guest Song-Leader Robyn Stapleton
Mary Mack (trad. Scottish patter song, video youtube.com/watch?v=nbQ8uWRWjYw)
Far am bi mi Fhin (trad. Scottish Gaelic about hope, video learngaelic.scot/littlebylittle/songs/farambi/index.jsp)
Gille beag o (Words and video mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1210)
Sandy is a Sailor (video youtube.com/watch?v=19lyDukzUVc)
Some Say the Devil is Dead (trad. Irish)
River, River
25th April 2024 O le le, Congolese rowing song
Gazapkhuli (Spring, Trad. Georgian, as sung by Anschiskhati Choir, first verse in part, video youtube.com/watch?v=ou8TfiRQAFU)
Freedom is Coming (Anders Nyberg)
Wangari (Polly Bolton, celebrates Wangari Maathi Day, 3rd March)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter, video here youtube.com/watch?v=egX9N8yOgaU)
Easter Break
21st March 2024
Pau (trs. Bread, Brazilian Portugues clapping song)
Equinox (Liz Martin)
Freedom is Coming (Anders Nyberg)
Kalyna Moja (Ukranian, my guelder-rose, my raspberry bush, chorus from Carpathian Rap by DakhaBrakhav, youtube.com/watch?v=fTrSsIY7Oww)
Nightingales are here (traditional round)
Bassez Down (Caribbean Calypso, information and recording mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4983)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter, youtube.com/watch?v=egX9N8yOgaU)
14th March 2024
Hush Lullaby (4 languages, Penny Stone with Joyous Choir)
I Love the Rain (Penny Stone, inspired by The April Rain Song poem by Langston Hughes)
Mamabaku Dala (Xhosa language S.A., trs. We are here because of our ancestors)
Sá Ég Spóa (Icelandic round about a curlew and its lover, Penny teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=ZSY9cXpgiFY)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Earth’s Child (Emily Roslyn, teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=rVK4nrmA0lY)
Two More Minutes of Sunlight Every Day (Penny Stone)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
7th March 2024
Shona Wedding Song (in Bantu language of the Shona people of Zimbabwe)
Sow Seeds of Hope (Penny Stone)
Tiri Vamwe (We are together, Penny Stone with Joyous Choir, 4 languages, video youtube.com/watch?v=i0neIrrsZPU)
Tumba Tumba (Circle Dance)
Peace is the Way (Penny Stone inspired by Ghandi saying “There is no path to peace. Peace is the path”)
29th February 2024
Dumela Tsala (Setswana language, Botswana, trs. Hello friend)
Gong Xi (Mandarin, Chinese New Year song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=INKsLDB4-EQ)
Forest Yodelling Lullaby (Baka People of S. Cameroon)
Mamabaku Dala (Xhosa language S.A., trs. We are here because of our ancestors)
Leap Year Rhythmic Improvisation
Te Aroha (New Zealand Foreign Minister sang at UN General Assembly, video youtube.com/watch?v=t4lheQ30WP8, translation here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4869)
Da Bressay Lullaby (trad. Shetland, video with full verses scottishbooktrust.com/songs-and-rhymes/da-bressay-lullaby, and archive recordings tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/73521?l=en and archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/scotland-1951-1958/glasgow-1951/bressay-lullaby)
22nd February 2024
Da Bressay Lullaby (trad. Shetland, video with full verses words scottishbooktrust.com/songs-and-rhymes/da-bressay-lullaby, and archive recordings tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/73521?l=en and archive.culturalequity.org/field-work/scotland-1951-1958/glasgow-1951/bressay-lullaby)
Samba Lele (Chorus, Portuguese, video youtube.com/watch?v=NdJ8sHPIyAs)
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone, inspired by Singing the Lost Words into Life workshop, 2018, teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=VinL8cStWqo)
Three Little Birds chorus (Bob Marley)
Two More Minutes of Sunlight Every Day (Penny Stone)
Earth’s Child (Emily Roslyn, teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=rVK4nrmA0lY) taught by Ryan O’Riordan, guest song leader
Hamba Wena (S.African women’s football team sang this Zulu chant at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, video youtube.com/watch?v=9HeVcLaD8yI)
Padstow (Farewell) Shanty (trad. video youtube.com/watch?v=NW9sGgBhO8I)
15th February 2024 – half-term break
8th February 2024
Yalele (Arabic vocable used to learn tunes)
Mosquito Song (Words: Dalai Lama, Music Penny Stone)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=g-juEV_elRo)
The Little Things (Penny Stone)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
Rhythm Exercise
Forest Yodelling Lullaby (Baka People of S. Cameroon)
1st February 2024
Hey, Jude! Na-Na-Na warm-up
Two More Minutes of Sunlight Every Day (Penny Stone)
Bassez Down (Caribbean Calypso, information and recording here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4983)
Breathing Exercise
Alilo (Georgian Christmas and New Year, watch here youtube.com/watch?v=IXr04bjOwFc&t=18s)
Zinga Zee! (Trad. Ghanaian, “we’re on our way” or “we’re making a noise” or “let’s do it”)
Peace is the Way (Penny Stone inspired by Ghandi saying “There is no path to peace. Peace is the path”)
25th January 2024
Fantastical, Fantabulous, Phenomenal warm-up
Peace is the Way (Penny Stone inspired by Ghandi saying “There is no path to peace. Peace is the path”)
Zinga Zee! (Trad. Ghanaian, “we’re on our way” or “we’re making a noise” or “let’s doit”)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, body percussion by Evie Ladin) body percussion teaching video can be found here youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0)
Cheers to the New Year (Kirsty Logan)
Bassez Down (Caribbean Calypso, information and recording here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4983)
Nobody Knows (about the waves, Penny Stone)
18th January 2024
Sing Out the Dark Night (Dave Camlin)
Zinga Zee! (Trad. Ghanaian, “we’re on our way” or “we’re making a noise” or “let’s do it”)
Cheers to the New Year (Kirsty Logan)
Wassail the Tree
Alilo (Georgian Christmas and New Year, watch here youtube.com/watch?v=IXr04bjOwFc&t=18s)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song for happier days)
7th December 2023 with Birthday Cake for Penny
Pachelbel’s Canon to Yum
Kling Klang (Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells)
Hey The Bannock (Trad. Text collected from John MacDermaid, Isle of Scalpay & from Roderick MacBell, Isle of Mingulay)
Breathe Softly (Penny Stone)
Sing My People (Puerto Rico)
Sail Downriver (Penny Stone, 2011)
30th November 2023
Yeah Yeah Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
Yalele (Arabic vocable used to learn tunes)
Keep Your Fires Burning (Louise Blackburn, video youtube.com/watch?v=Z5TLeh0KpYE)
Kelgusõit (Sleigh Ride, Estonian Christmas song, words and video here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=6924)
Caminante, No Hay Camino, 2nd part (based on a poem by Antonia Machado about not needing to follow anyone’s footsteps – not everyone has to follow the same path, create your own story, poem here scalar.fas.harvard.edu/resources-for-loss/caminante-no-hay-camino-by-antonio-machado-contributed-by-jerry-sevillano-2021)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary, video youtube.com/watch?v=yLnum431Kcw)
23rd November 2023
My Dog He Can Do the Can-can warm-up
Tula Mama (Zulu lullaby)
Experimental vocalisation
Vem Kan Segla (Swedish trad. about friendship, background and videos mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4669 and Agnetha from ABBA rendition youtube.com/watch?v=FioVZlpLDzE)
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
The Waters of the World (Penny Stone)
Caminante, No Hay Camino (based on a poem by Antonia Machado about not needing to follow anyone’s footsteps – not everyone has to follow the same path, create your own story, poem here scalar.fas.harvard.edu/resources-for-loss/caminante-no-hay-camino-by-antonio-machado-contributed-by-jerry-sevillano-2021)
16th November 2023
One Foot/Lead with Love (Melanie deMore, written the day after Trump’s election – video youtube.com/watch?v=jJEFXpS_xPs)
Patake (Shurani Rattan, 5th part this time)
Gulahallat Eatnamiin Yoik (trs. We Speak Earth, Sara Marielle Gaup Beaska composed for COP21 in 2015, listen here soundcloud.com/max-mackh/gulahallat-eatnamiin-we-speak-earth-sara-marielle-gaup-beaska)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=g-juEV_elRo)
Despite All of the Darkness (based on a saying of Desmond Tutu “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness”, music Penny Stone)
Ya Basta (trs. Enough is Enough, Val Regan, listen here soundcloud.com/oupacademic/ya-basta-val-regan-choral-tracks)
A Force of Love (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, set to music by Penny Stone)
9th November 2023
Ta Ka Di Mi (in celebration of Dewali, tutorial drum percussion rhythms based on S India, video youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=LLIh–Rdhq0)
Autumn Round (watch the green leaves turn to yellow)
Experimental vocalisation
Patake (Shurani Rattan)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Kling Klang (Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells)
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, video youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
2nd November 2023
Try To Keep It Simple (Penny Stone)
Samba Lele (Chorus, Portuguese, video youtube.com/watch?v=NdJ8sHPIyAs)
Witches Reel (background here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geillis_Duncan)
Keep Your Fires Burning (Louise Blackburn, video youtube.com/watch?v=Z5TLeh0KpYE)
Naka Naka Hoi (Japanese, inside/outside)
I have a Million Nightingales (Linda Hirschorn, words inspired by Mahmoud Darwish, video youtube.com/watch?v=s_S1aAURhm0)
Te Aroha (Maori, New Zealand Foreign Minister sang at UN General Assembly, video youtube.com/watch?v=t4lheQ30WP8, translation here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4869)
26th October 2023
That’s How the Light Gets In (from Leonard Cohen Anthem)
Ghost of Tom (trad. Hallowe’en)
Yote Yawezekana (trs. all is possible, Kenyan trad. used during democracy movement)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
Coventry Wassail (watch a video, also with some traditional wassail dancing and silliness here, youtube.com/watch?v=KniDEjGQH7c)
Te Aroha (Maori, translation and listen here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=4869)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter, video here youtube.com/watch?v=egX9N8yOgaU)
I Love the Rain (Penny Stone, inspired by The April Rain Song poem by Langston Hughes)
19th October 2023
Tamini Mamini (Mali)
Kling Klang (Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells)
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
Freedom Highway
Tula Mama (Zulu lullaby, different tune from previous)
Rhythm & Syncopation
Es Regnet (tr. German about the rain, more at mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3733)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
12th October 2023
Mbula Mbula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
I have a Million Nightingales (Linda Hirschorn, words inspired by Mahmoud Darwish, video here)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, video here)
Wusuli Boat Song (from Wu Fei & Abigail Wasburn’s “Water is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song album – watch a performance here)
Stodala Pumpa (Czech folk song chorus, trs. Barn pump!, video here)
5th October 2023
It Keeps My Heart Warm (Penny Stone eaching video youtube.com/watch?v=S4DSjhGG11s)
Hamba Wena (S.African women’s football team sang this Zulu chant at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, watch here)
Wusuli Boat Song (from Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s “Water Is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song ” album – watch a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=U5Di8NQGkmI)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
Yeah Yeah Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
Amazing Grace (sung with individual timings)
28th September 2023
I’m Not Giving Up (Penny Stone)
It Keeps My Heart Warm (Penny Stone, teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=S4DSjhGG11s)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, video youtube.com/watch?v=g-juEV_elRo)
Equinox (Liz Martin)
Ma Bella Bimba (Italian, watch a rendition by the young Dean Martin, video youtube.com/watch?v=M3XABDNuqZQ)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary, video youtube.com/watch?v=yLnum431Kcw)
Reindeer Yoik (Oh ley ley loyla, video youtube.com/watch?v=XY4viAbIVaE)
21st September 2023
One day at a Time (Penny Stone inspired by Lemn Sissay poem)
Hamba Wena (S.African women’s football team sang this Zulu chant at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, watch here)
Pick Them Now (refers to Blackberries, Emily Marshall)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
Samba Lele (Chorus, Portuguese, video here)
Leaning into the Wind (Penny Stone)
14th September 2023
Nightingales are here (traditional round)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-juEV_elRo)
Solid Ground (Penny Stone)
Say, Yes (Melanie DeMore)
Samba Lele (Chorus, Portuguese, video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdJ8sHPIyAs)
Beautiful Land (Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
7th September 2023 – so nice to be back
Let the Circle Be Wide (Tommy Sands)
Stodola Pumpa (Czech folk song chorus, trs. Barn pump!, listen here)
In the Moment (Penny Stone, lovely teaching video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJPOSFFt1UI)
Kwangena Thina Bo (Xhosa folk song, listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-juEV_elRo
I walked to the End of the Road (Keith Morris, video here)
Samba Lele (Chorus, Portuguese, video here)
Deep Down in My Soul (Gospel)
August – Summer Break
27th July 2023 A Summer Session in a Private Garden
Your Dog Loves My Dog (Civil Rights song, listen here)
I Love the Rain (Penny Stone, inspired by The April Rain Song poem by Langston Hughes)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, video here)
Every Grain of Sand (Penny Stone inspired by a quote from Rachel Carson, Zoologist and Environmentalist, Penny teaches it here)
Let the Circle Be Wide (Tommy Sands)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here)
Deep Down In My Soul (Gospel)
Nightingales are Here (traditional round)
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
29th June 2023
I Walked to the End of the Road (Keith Morris, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=LVo_q70btfo)
La Dumi Zulu (trs. voice like thunder, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=NB42AZG_U-M)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=X_H3w7_yOxc)
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
22nd June 2023
Old Oak Tree (Penny Stone)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Blue Sky Lullaby (Penny Stone)
Mary Anning Rocks (Janet Wood)
Ni Ni Ya Moumou (Moroccan lullaby, trs. and rendition here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1249)
La Dumi Zulu (trs. voice like thunder, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=NB42AZG_U-M)
8th and 15th June cancelled due to sickness
1st June 2023
What Am I Rushing to? (Wendy Luella Perkins)
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
Kuzophela (Zulu, about love succeeding, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=FAwGaFIPpC4)
Sunshine (Penny Stone)
Roses and Bread (Penny Stone)
Todos Quieren La Banana (Nicaraguan, trs All the Nations Like Bananas, video here of Nick Page arr. youtube.com/watch?v=YHSXWWph2Tc)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Kunnes Taas Tapaamme / Until We Meet Again (Faith Watson)
24th May 2023
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
The Wisdom of Trees (Frances Bernstein, inspired by the poem Advice From A Tree by Ilan Shamir, poem here spiritoftrees.org/poetry/advice-from-a-tree and listen to the song here youtube.com/watch?v=GXyH5JawVVo)
Ni ni ya moumou (Moroccan lullaby, trs. and rendition here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1249)
Acitrón De Un Fandago (Mexican/Spanish children’s song about candied cactus, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=jxjC-7odgDY, it involves passing objects between participants in a circle – we used bean bags – and fell over with laughter, translation and explanation of the activity here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3392, scroll down for video)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
23rd May 2023
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
The Wisdom of Trees (Frances Bernstein, inspired by the poem Advice From A Tree by Ilan Shamir, poem here spiritoftrees.org/poetry/advice-from-a-tree and listen to the song here youtube.com/watch?v=GXyH5JawVVo)
Ni ni ya moumou (Moroccan lullaby, trs. and rendition here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=1249)
Acitrón De Un Fandago (Mexican/Spanish children’s song about candied cactus, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=jxjC-7odgDY, it involves passing objects between participants in a circle – we used bean bags – and fell over with laughter, translation and explanation of the activity here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3392, scroll down for video)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
18th May 2023
Ori Ori Inchamaya (Nepalese harvest song)
Todos Quieren La Banana (Nicaraguan, trs All the Nations Like Bananas, video here of Nick Page arr. youtube.com/watch?v=YHSXWWph2Tc)
Drømte Mig En Drøme I Nat (tr. Dreamed a Dream Last Night, Danish, 14th century, listen to a version here youtube.com/watch?v=geBU_KmeAbE)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song, watch here youtube.com/watch?v=oudgTk4zbyg)
Deep Down In My Soul (Gospel)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
Halala Syanibongela (Zululu celebration song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=RERdKY1kBLc)
11th May 2023
Apples and Bananas warm up
Rousay Lullaby (a dandling song)
Zouruni (Arabic farewell song about remembering to visit)
Be The Light (Lea Morris, inspired by Amanda Gorman’s poem “The Hill We Climb” recited at Inauguration of US President 2021, video here of the song youtube.com/watch?v=TQCrE2As1Xw)
Nightingales are Here (traditional round)
Wusuli Boat Song (from Wu Fei & Abigail Washburn’s “Water Is Wide/Wusuli Boat Song ” album – watch a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=U5Di8NQGkmI)
Deep Down In My Soul (Gospel)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song, watch here youtube.com/watch?v=oudgTk4zbyg)
4th May 2023
Sing Song Singing warm up
Kalyna Moja (Ukranian, my guelder-rose, my raspberry bush, chorus from Carpathian Rap by DakhaBrakhav, watch here youtube.com/watch?v=fTrSsIY7Oww)
Garden Song (David Mallett, watch performance here youtube.com/watch?v=2m0LewjkO4s)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song, watch here http://youtube.com/watch?v=oudgTk4zby)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad. approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Wangari (Polly Bolton, celebrates Wangari Maathi Day, 3rd March)
Roses and Bread (Penny Stone)
27th April 2023
Nightingales are Here (traditional round)
Zouruni (Arabic farewell song about remembering to visit; melody plus rhythm only)
Wangari (Polly Bolton, celebrates Wangari Maathi Day, 3rd March)
I Love the Rain (Penny Stone, inspired by The April Rain Song poem by Langston Hughes)
Am a wee be (Baka game song, Camaroon, with rainforest hand sounds)
Bambelela (trans. Hang on in there, Capetown, South Africa, inspired by original HIV crisis)
A Miner’s Lullaby chorus (aka Corrie Doon, Matt McGinn)
Easter Break
30th March 2023
Zee Zo Zee Zo Zee warm-up song
Rousay Lullaby (a dandling song)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, see youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI, with slightly different words for one of the sections) sung in the Peace Garden
Zuruni (Arabic farewell song about remembering to visit; melody and rhythm plus circle dance) sung in the Peace Garden
Wa Wa Wa Wa (trd, Congo Lullaby in the Kikonga language, listen to the full song here youtube.com/watch?v=MGc8rSr7Zz4)
Put Vejini (trd Latvian, the song became an anthem for freedom and independence during the “Singing Revolution” 1987-91, watch a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=Fcyjnrmn5GM)
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
23rd March 2023
Wa Wa Wa Wa (trd, Congo Lullaby in the Kikonga language, listen to the full song here youtube.com/watch?v=MGc8rSr7Zz4)
Sing Song Scooby Doo
Put Vejini (trd Latvian, the song became an anthem for freedom and independence during the “Singing Revolution” 1987-91, watch a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=Fcyjnrmn5GM)
Equinox (Liz Martin)
We Are The Cholita Climbers (Penny Stone, in tribute to a group of Cholita Climbers who embarked on an adventure to climb eight Bolivian mountains. Many worked as porters and cooks with their tour-guide husbands, but now they’re doing it on their own. Once discriminated against, cholas, or cholitas, are making a resurgence in modern Bolivian culture. Video here by one of the cholitas, youtube.com/watch?v=hGxxvefRk9A)
16th March 2023
Mosquito Song (Words: Dalai Lama, Music Penny Stone)
Umumtu ngumuntu ngabangtu (African philosophy “I am because we are”)
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
Olélé Moliba Makasi (trd. Congo boat song, listen to a version of it here soundcloud.com/thomas-cantin-1/ole-le-moliba-makasi)
Cuando el Sol se Levanta (trs. When the sun rises it rises for everyone)
This is Home(Sofia Efthimiou for a TEDx talk on the power of singing, watch a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=3RMFmqcjR2k), harmonies this time
Umumtu and Cuando songs overlayed
Mnogaya lita (Ukrainian celebratory song, trs. “Many years to you”)
9th March 2023
Ya Nee Nah (vocal warm-up, Meredith Monk)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou for a TEDx talk on the power of singing, watch a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=3RMFmqcjR2k) and this time we also sang a French translation
Umumtu ngumuntu ngabangtu (African philosophy “I am because we are”)
Lemon Drizzle Song (Penny Stone)
Plentyn Bach (Welsh lullaby)
Snowflake Song (Penny Stone)
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu, how wonderful are mothers – in celebration of International Women’s Day)
2nd March 2023 with guest Song Leader Chandra Mather
Kumala Vista (nonsense warm-up song, listen to a version here youtube.com/watch?v=BbxhR2E8TNQ)
Bayesa Kusasa, (trad. Zulu, section from a healing song and also sung by Pete Seeger, listen to a version here youtube.com/watch?v=pQ1YR4KxoYU)
Come Away In (Karine Polwart) You can watch a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=bfCDTCqaAb0)
Worship chant (a work in progress) composed by Chandra and inspired by a visit to the Dominican Republic and about the Taino, an indigenous people of the Bahamas and Caribbean Islands. They believed in two main gods, Yucahu, who was the god of cassava (the main food crop of the Taino) and Atabey, the mother of Yucahu and the goddess of fertility. The chant features the three emboldened words.
23rd February 2023
Popocatapetl (Anon.)
O re mi je ka jo (Trad. Nigerian about coming and joining the party)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Scone song (Penny Stone)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter, video here youtube.com/watch?v=egX9N8yOgaU)
16th February 2023
Mr Sandman warm-up (Pat Ballard)
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (trad. round)
Mother Apple Tree (Penny Stone about the 1898 Grenadier Apple tree in the Granton Community Garden)
O Re Mi Je Ka Jo (Trad. Nigerian song about coming and joining the party}
Tunnocks Caramel Wafer & Tunnocks Log & Tunnocks Teacake songs (Penny Stone)
People Take Time in Life (Liberian)
9th February 2023
Archiminiá ki Archichroniá (Greek New Year Song, just dandling still, in preparation for learning the words, watch the first part of Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=T-fiiDX0pPo for the tune, we also covered the high and the low harmonies)
And When I Rise (Seth Martin based on a Wendell Berry poem, folk processed)
Bear Yoik, Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Kind and Strong (Penny Stone, inspired by the words of Jacinda Ardern)
Sua Amaitzeoa (Basque round about fire and the warmth of night, listen to all three parts being played here youtube.com/watch?v=nMPKeSIcmto)
Wassail the Silver Apple (watch youtube.com/watch?v=IO7eqQXYPSU)
2nd February 2023
Tomato Salad warm-up
Let the Circle Be Wide (Tommy Sands)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, video here youtube.com/watch?v=fFIOsMS7DEU)
Gong Xi (Mandarin, Chinese New Year song, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=INKsLDB4-EQ)
Hey Mr Miller (watch a video here youtube.com/watch?v=MKmj3VUkuUY)
Coventry Wassail (watch a video, also with some traditional wassail dancing and silliness here, youtube.com/watch?v=KniDEjGQH7c)
Alilo (Georgian Christmas/New Year Song, watch full rendition here youtube.com/watch?v=tbeW-_OSiPU)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
26th January – one week break
19th January 2023
My Dog He Can Do the Can-can warm-up
Sing Out the Dark Night (Dave Camlin)
Archiminiá ki Archichroniá (Greek New Year Song, just dandling this time, in preparation for learning the words, watch the first part of Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=T-fiiDX0pPo)
First Light (Penny Stone, you can see her teaching video at youtube.com/watch?v=6bMsZyl18RU&t=200s)
Alilo (Georgian Christmas/New Year Song, watch full rendition here youtube.com/watch?v=tbeW-_OSiPU)
Say, Say, Yes (Melanie DeMore)
Christmas and New Year Break
15th December 2022 Cancelled due to church heating system breakdown
8th December 2022
Snowflake Song (Penny Stone)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song, all verses this time)
Todos Quieren La Banana (Nicaraguan, trs All the Nations Like Bananas, video here of Nick Page arr. youtube.com/watch?v=YHSXWWph2Tc)
Music in the Air (Penny Stone)
Kelgusõit (Sleigh Ride, Estonian Christmas song, words and video here https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=6924)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
1st December 2022
Kalina Moya (Ukranian, about a guelder rose and a raspberry bush)
Sail Downriver (Penny Stone, 2011)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
To Change Everything (Penny Stone, inspired by the words of Greta Thunberg)
Kelgusõit (Sleigh Ride, Estonian Christmas song, words and video here https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=6924)
Todos Quieren La Banana (Nicaraguan, trs All the Nations Like Bananas, video here of Nick Page arr. youtube.com/watch?v=YHSXWWph2Tc)
24th November 2022
Tomorrow is Another Day (Anon)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song)
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone, inspired by Singing the Lost Words into Life workshop, 2018)
Reindeer Yoik (Oh ley ley loyla)
Bear Yoik Normu Jovnna (from Finland, listen here youtube.com/watch?v=kkgRANqb0mw)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter)
Veluma Masina e (from Madagascar, a farewell blessing, Lala Simpson, listen to a recording here https://www.lalasimpson.co.nz/, scroll down the page)
17th November 2022
Tony Chestnut (Toes, knees and chest) warm-up (you can watch a video of a performance here youtube.com/watch?v=9tD68-MC5ZI)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
Kling Klang (Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells)
Ah Poor Bird (Medieval English round) then overlayed on All Shall be Well
Veluma Masina e (from Madagascar, a farewell blessing, Lala Simpson, listen to a recording here lalasimpson.co.nz/, scroll down the page)
10th November 2022
Joy of Missing Out (Penny Stone)
Kothbiro (trs, rain is coming, by Ayub Ogada for the film The Constant Gardener, we mimic the sound of his instrument, the niyatiti, listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0Jwf-Y1uww)
A song in the tradition of Merengue (a type of music and dance originating in the Dominican Republic)
Lala, Lala Tulip Flower Lullaby (Farsi, lala trs “sleep”; the tulip flower, Edithcolea grandis, is essentially the Persian carpet rug flower as the rugs use a pattern similar to the flower’s form in the rug design)
Leaning into the Wind (Penny Stone)
Veluma Masina e (from Madagascar, a farewell blessing, Lala Simpson, listen to a recording here https://www.lalasimpson.co.nz/, scroll down the page)
3rd November 2022
Adams Family Theme Song (Vic Mizzy)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
California Dreaming first part (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Lala, Lala Tulip Flower Lullaby (Farsi, lala trs “sleep”; the tulip flower, Edithcolea grandis, is essentially the Persian carpet rug flower as the rugs use a pattern similar to the flower’s form in the rug design)
Witches Reel (words here sangstories.webs.com/witchesreel.htm, background here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geillis_Duncan)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
20th and 27th October half-term break
13th October 2022
Breathe Softly (Penny Stone)
Lala, Lala Tulip Flower Lullaby (Farsi, lala trs “sleep”; the tulip flower, Edithcolea grandis, is essentially the Persian carpet rug flower as the rugs use a pattern similar to the flower’s form in the rug design)
Thula Sizwe (Anti-apartheid song from Zimbabwe, “Be comforted my people” – several youtube videos available)
Oleyo (Ghanian women’s work song)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Kling Klang (Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells)
One Child, One Teacher (Malala Yousafzai words, 5 part-harmony Penny Stone)
6th October 2022
Woyaya or We Are Going (Osibisa, 1970’s Afro-pop band)
It Keeps My Heart Warm (Penny Stone)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Midsummer Lullaby (Gaelic, Penny Stone)
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, music by Penny Stone)
29th September 2022
Shana Tova u’Metukah (Jewish trs, “May you have a good and sweet year” said at Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year celebrations and referring to the tradition of eating apple slices dipped in honey)
September Sunshine (Penny Stone)
We Are The Cholita Climbers (Penny Stone, in tribute to a group of cholita climbers who embarked on an adventure to climb eight Bolivian mountains. Many worked as porters and cooks with their tour-guide husbands, but now they’re doing it on their own. Once discriminated against, cholas, or cholitas, are making a resurgence in modern Bolivian culture. You can watch this youtube video by one of the cholitas youtube.com/watch?v=hGxxvefRk9A)
Forest Yodelling Lullaby (Baka People of S. Cameroon)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, see youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI, with slightly different words for one of the sections)
22nd September 2022
This Old Freedom Train (trad. Gospel)
I Wanna Sing (Dee Jarlett)
Mamabaku Dala (Xhosa language S.A., We are here because of our ancestors)
Hooligo-loo-loo (song about baby owls in the nest, Penny Stone, watch video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=solV3Y5h1aU which also explains the words)
El Doctorado (trad. Spanish, tr. A PhD is no cure for stupidity, music Penny Stone)
Plentyn Bach (Welsh lullaby)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter)
Yeah Yeah Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
15th September 2022
Ma Bella Bimba (Italian, watch a rendition by the young Dean Martin here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3XABDNuqZQ)
Tiri Vamwe (We are together, Penny Stone with Joyous Choir)
Tree of Liberty (four parts overlaid)
Mamabaku Dala (Xhosa language S.A., We are here because of our ancestors)
Sunflower So Tall (Penny Stone)
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s flapjacks)
Despite All of the Darkness (based on a saying of Desmond Tutu “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness”, music Penny Stone)
Yemaya Ya (song to Yoruba (Nigerian) Spirit of the Sea, also exported to Cuba)
8th September 2022 – so good to be back
Yemaya Ya (song to Yoruba (Nigerian) Spirit of the Sea, also exported to Cuba)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
A Force of Love (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, set to music by Penny Stone)
Hooligo-loo-loo (song about baby owls in the nest, Penny Stone, watch video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=solV3Y5h1aU which also explains the words)
Rhythm & Syncopation Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s flapjacks)
Mamabaku Dala (Xhosa language S.A., We are here because of our ancestors)
I Love the Rain (Penny Stone, inspired by The April Rain Song poem by Langston Hughes)
Summer Break
28th July 2022
Hion do (Gaelic seal song from Uist, also known as The Sealwoman’s Joy)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
A Force of Love (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, set to music by Penny Stone)
El Doctorado (trad. Spanish, tr. A PhD is no cure for stupidity)
Sunflower So Tall
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
Kothbiro (trs, rain is coming, by Ayub Ogada for the film The Constant Gardener, we mimic the sound of his instrument, the Luo niyatiti)
21st July 2022
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, see youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI, with slightly different words for one of the sections)
Sinisiä Punasia Ruusunkukkia (trad. Finland, trs. “Blue and Red Roses”, see mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=6566 for the words and a performance video)
As-Salāmu ‘Alaikum (trad. Arabic greeting song, trans. “peace be upon you”)
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone, inspired by Singing the Lost Words into Life workshop, 2018)
Yeah Yeah Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)Go Slowly (Penny Stone)
Go Slowly (Penny Stone)
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, full text set to music by Penny Stone)
Ah Poor Bird (Medieval English round) second verse this time
14th July 2022
Circle Song Seven or Si le le (Bobby McFerrin, see youtube.com/watch?v=JdAmQSY6b6g and do look at other of McFerrin videos especially re the Power of the Pentatonic Scale and re Improvisation here youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk&t=19s, makes it all look so easy)
Ma Bella Bimba (Italian, watch a rendition by the young Dean Martin here youtube.com/watch?v=M3XABDNuqZQ
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
O re mi je ka jo (Trad. Nigerian round about coming and joining the party)
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone, inspired by Singing the Lost Words into Life workshop, 2018)
30th June and 7th July 2022 Planned Break
16th and 23rd June 2022 cancelled due to illness
9th June 2022
Ma Bella Bimba (Italian, watch a rendition by the young Dean Martin here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3XABDNuqZQ)
A Force of Love (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, set to music by PennyStone)
Zuruni (Arabic farewell song about remembering to visit; melody and rhythm only this week again)
Veluma Masina e (from Madagascar, a farewell blessing, Lala Simpson, listen to a recording here https://www.lalasimpson.co.nz/, scroll down the page)
Go Slowly (Penny Stone)
Beautiful Land (Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel)
Despite All of the Darkness (based on a saying of Desmond Tutu “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness”, music Penny Stone)
2nd June 2022
Leonard Cohen’s Anthem – Chorus (Watch and listen to the full anthem by Cohen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDTph7mer3I)
Zuruni (Arabic farewell song about remembering to visit; melody and rhythm only this week)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Senwa Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
Despite All of the Darkness (based on a saying of Desmond Tutu “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness”, music Penny Stone)
Remember the Little Things (Esyllt Harker)
Ma Bella Bimba (Italian, watch a rendition by the young Dean Martin here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3XABDNuqZQ)
Forest Yodelling Lullaby (Baka People of S. Cameroon)
26th May 2022
Yiminy Yomeno warm-up song
Peace, Salaam, Shalom (Pat Humphries)
Beautiful Land (Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel)
Tiri Vamwe (We are together, Penny Stone with Joyous Choir)
Pobelelo Pole Z Ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
Yalla Awlehd (Trad. Syria)
Yote Yawezekana (trs. all is possible, Kenyan trad. used during democracy movement)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter)
19th May 2022
Yalla Awlehd (Trad. Syria)
Nightingales are Here (traditional round)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, see youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI, with slightly different words for one of the sections)
Far Am Bi Mi Fhin (Gaelic, see youtube.com/watch?v=hnysfFRkJdA which displays the words of the chorus we sang plus more)
Forest Yodelling Lullaby (Baka People of S. Cameroon)
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
First Light (A blessing, Penny Stone, watch Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=6bMsZyl18RU)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter)
12th May 2022
I’m Alive, Awake , Alert, Enthusiastic warm-up (Penny Stone)
Nightingales are Here (traditional round)
Don’t You Worry About Fomo (Fomo = Fear of Missing out, Penny Stone)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
First Light (A blessing, Penny Stone, watch Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=6bMsZyl18RU)
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
Sing a New Song O (Penny Stone, after the Tree of Liberty by Robert Burns)
5th May 2022
I’m Not Giving Up warm-up (Penny Stone)
Breathe Softly (Penny Stone)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, body percussion by Evie Ladin) body percussion teaching video can be found here: youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0
Bring a Folding Chair (Penny Stone, based on saying by Shirley Anita Chisholm, 1924 – 2005, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress)
Funky Birthday Song (Penny Stone)
I Love the Rain (Penny Stone, inspired by The April Rain Song poem by Langston Hughes)
Yote Yawezekana (trs. all is possible, Kenyan trad. used during democracy movement)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad. approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Zu Arende (about sunset, Zimbabwe)
28th April 2022
Ya Nee Nah (vocal warm-up, Meredith Monk)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
Two More Minutes of Sunlight Every Day (Penny Stone)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
Oleyo (Ghanian women’s work song)
Zu Arende (about sunset, Zimbabwe)
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
Senua Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
Easter break
31st March 2022 Reid Memorial Church
Two More Minutes of Sunlight Every Day (Penny Stone)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
Blue Skies Lullaby (Penny Stone)
Senua Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, full text set to music by Penny Stone)
Ah Poor Bird (Medieval English round) incl. second verse this time
24th March 2022 Reid Memorial Church
Circle Song Seven or Si le le (Bobby McFerrin, see youtube.com/watch?v=JdAmQSY6b6g and do look at other of McFerrin videos especially re the Power of the Pentatonic Scale and re Improvisation here youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk&t=19s, makes it all look so easy)
The Price you for the Rhythm (Warm-up song, Penny Stone)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
O Khodyt’ Son, Kolo Vikon (see 10th March entry for more info)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, full text set to music by Penny Stone)
17th March 2022 Reid Memorial Church
The Price you for the Rhythm (Warm-up song, Penny Stone)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
V’là l’ Bon Vent (French Canadian, originally Acadian Folk Song, more details and words here mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3177 and a wonderful performance of the song with its multiple verses accompanied by Québécois foot percussion (podorhythmie) here youtube.com/watch?v=aOYG5ugi-0A and if you want to try and learn Québécois foot percussion, see here youtube.com/watch?v=CDXSgRR8aCw and youtube.com/watch?v=yRKUgY4H9o8)
Despite All of the Darkness (based on a saying of Desmond Tutu “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness”, music Penny Stone)
Cuil Fin An Ane (Irish Gaelic)
O Khodyt’ Son, Kolo Vikon melody only (see 10th March entry for more info)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
10th March 2022 Reid Memorial Church
The Lights Will Return (Penny Stone)
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu, how wonderful are mothers – in celebration of International Women’s Day)
You are the Result of the Love of Thousands (from poem by Linda Hogan, artist in residence for the Chickasaw Nation; melody Penny Stone)
O Khodyt’ Son, Kolo Vikon (trs. The Dream Passes by the Windows; trad. Ukranian Lullaby; hear a rendition of the arrangement we are learning here youtube.com/watch?v=kMG9K9YDGFA and another beautiful recording here youtube.com/watch?v=4wwak2cbLII)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
24th February and 3rd March 2022 Cancelled due to Illness
17th February 2022 Reid Memorial Church
Alfred the Alligator (unknown, warm-up song) taught by Christine and Helen
A Miner’s Lullaby (aka Corrie Doon, Matt McGinn)
Mr Miller, round
Alilo (Georgian Christmas/New Year Song, watch youtube.com/watch?v=tbeW-_OSiPU)
Somos Todes (written online by a collective of artist-singers in Chile, Scotland, USA, England and Canada, see youtube.com/watch?v=pKyCGWAXWIU for the resultant video and Penny’s teaching video here youtube.com/watch?v=eryQEB677e4)
Oleyo (Ghanian women’s work song)
Senwa Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
10th February 2022 Reid Memorial Church
Snowflake Song (Penny Stone)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, full text set to music by Penny Stone)
3rd February 2022 Reid Memorial Church
Sing Out the Dark Night (Dave Camlin)
Djingala (Armenian shepherd’s song)
Alilo (Georgian Christmas/New Year Song, watch youtube.com/watch?v=tbeW-_OSiPU)
Snowdrop (Polly Bolton)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
9th December 2021 Reid Memorial Church
Penny’s Golf Warm-up Song
Jambo Bwana (Swahili Greeting Song from Kenya by Teddy Kalanda Harrison, watch youtube.com/watch?v=WogvJEfCKpM where you will also find some percussion instructions)
Alilo (Georgian Christmas Song, watch youtube.com/watch?v=tbeW-_OSiPU)
Senwa Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant)
2nd December 2021 Reid Memorial Church
The Penguin Song to warm up (Jack Hartmann, watch youtube.com/watch?v=uf0uKmKwnKs)
“How do you do it?” said Night? (poem by Lemn Sissay)
Sizinyone (trs. We are the Birds, Zulu nursery song, watch Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=innONTd4854)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing (which we simulated on the spot!)
First Light (A blessing, Penny Stone, watch Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=6bMsZyl18RU)
We Are The Cholita Climbers (Penny Stone, in tribute to a group of cholita climbers who embarked on an adventure to climb eight Bolivian mountains. Many worked as porters and cooks with their tour-guide husbands, but now they’re doing it on their own. Once discriminated against, cholas, or cholitas, are making a resurgence in modern Bolivian culture, watch Penny’s teaching video whwhich also has photographs of the women youtube.com/watch?v=HcIIn41SAiM)
25th November 2021 Reid Memorial Church
Moon Light (round, Penny Stone, watch youtube.com/watch?v=TmhOAP1zFiM)
Hody (Going Home, Lala Simpson, Malagasay language of Madagascar, see youtube.com/watch?v=2ckXcJgJg7U)
First Light (A blessing, Penny Stone, watch Penny’s teaching video youtube.com/watch?v=6bMsZyl18RU)
Walk a mile in my shoes (Joyous Choir, Maryhill Integration Network)
The Only Thing Better than Singing is More Singing (Quote from Ella Fitzgerald)
18th November 2021 Reid Memorial Church
Let’s Dance and Sing Warm-up song
Ch’ela (Ox-cart driver’s song from Samegrelo, in the western part of Georgia near the Black Sea. Although sung to the oxen, the sorrow of exhaustion and hard work includes human emotion as well, so the attitude of the song is really a lament. See youtube.com/watch?v=xM1MAQJi8HM for a version)
Better Times (Janice Ian, see youtube.com/watch?v=Mr7rXgQwggk&t=14s)
Senwa Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
Hody (Going Home, Lala Simpson, Malagasay language of Madagascar, youtu.be/LIa1bvTuRb0?t=3938)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden, see youtube.com/watch?v=JS80QoJOjNI, with slightly different words for one of the sections)
11th November 2021 Reid Memorial Church
Silly Cat, Dog and Hamster Sounds Warm-up
Moon Light (round, Penny Stone, watch youtube.com/watch?v=TmhOAP1zFiM)
Somos Todes (written online by a collective of artist-singers in Chile, Scotland, USA, England and Canada, see youtube.com/watch?v=pKyCGWAXWIU for the resultant video and Penny’s teaching video here youtube.com/watch?v=eryQEB677e4)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Gin and Tonic is So Nice (trad. Round, watch youtube.com/watch?v=PyUYjNvbnVQ)
Senwa Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
4th November 2021 Reid Memorial Church
Silly Cat, Dog and Hamster Sounds Warm-up
Spreading the Light (English, Shona and Gujurati song written by Penny and women of Joyous Choir at Maryhill Integration Network to celebrate Diwali 2020, watch youtube.com/watch?v=8AqJK2nuXYo)
California Dreaming complete song (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Senwa Dadende (trad. Ghanaian)
28th October 2021 Reid Memorial Church
Bim Bam Hand Clapping Song – first part (see youtube.com/watch?v=hz0dSnaTs2g)
Doux Soir (French, trs. Sweet Evening, trad. lullaby round about the nightingale, le rossingnol, see youtube.com/watch?v=PWMZm7wCiss&feature=youtu.be about 18.45 mins. in for Penny’s teaching of the song)
Inzozi Nziza (trs. Sweet Dreams, Penny Stone in celebration of the Rwandan Women’s Cooperative formed by a 60-strong band of performing drummers who make and sell ice-cream; documentary film available on line about the project, see sweetdreamsrwanda.com)
California Dreaming first part (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Somos Todes (written online by a collective of artist-singers in Chile, Scotland, USA, England and Canada, see youtube.com/watch?v=pKyCGWAXWIU for the resultant video and Penny’s teaching video here youtube.com/watch?v=eryQEB677e4)
Ah Poor Bird to the vowel sound Oo (Medieval English round)
21st October 2021 Reid Memorial Church Trial Session
I’m Not Giving Up (trad. warm-up song)
Funky Birthday Song (celebrating Group Member, Simone’s, birthday, Penny Stone)
Fly, Fly, Fly (lyrics Peter Erdrel, music Lajor Berossi, based on trad. Hungarian folksong, see facebook.com/watch/?v=699547583586083)
Chela (lament of a ploughman trudging behind his two bulls, Asho and Buska, from Samegrelo Region, Georgia, see youtube.com/watch?v=JQ_1Dr22Tow)
Jambo Bwana (Swahili Greeting Song from Kenya, see youtube.com/watch?v=WogvJEfCKpM where you will also find some percussion instructions)
Somos Todes (written online by a collective of artist-singers in Chile, Scotland, USA, England and Canada, see youtube.com/watch?v=pKyCGWAXWIU for the resultant video and Penny’s teaching video here youtube.com/watch?v=eryQEB677e4)
14th October 2021 Garden Session cancelled
7th October 2021 Garden Session
Circle Song Seven or Si le le (Bobby McFerrin, see youtube.com/watch?v=JdAmQSY6b6g and do look at other McFerrin videos, especially re the Power of the Pentatonic Scale and re Improvisation – he makes it all look so easy)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
V’là l’ Bon Vent (French Canadian, originally Acadian Folk Song, more details and words at mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=3177)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Let the Circle Be Wide (Tommy Sands)
Jambo Bwana (Swahili Greeting Song from Kenya, see youtube.com/watch?v=WogvJEfCKpM where you will also find some percussion instructions)
30th September 2021 Garden Session cancelled
23rd September 2021 Garden Session
Jambo Bwana (Swahili Greeting Song from Kenya by Teddy Kalanda Harrison, see youtube.com/watch?v=WogvJEfCKpM where you will also find some percussion instructions)
One Day at a Time (Penny Stone)
Yeah Yeah Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
Wild Geese Go Flying Along (traditional round)
Circle Song Seven or Si le le (Bobby McFerrin, see youtube.com/watch?v=JdAmQSY6b6g and do look at other of McFerrin videos especially re the Power of the Pentatonic Scale and re Improvisation – makes it all look so easy)
Heavy Rain (Cliff Hall from Liverpool song group The Spinners, based on Jamaican traditional song)
16th September 2021 Garden Session
Oh How Blue the Sky (Penny Stone, based on Oh How Lovely is the Evening traditional round)
Marvellous Things (Penny Stone)
Duck Yoik (Berit Alette Mienna, Sami, about long-tailed duck, listen to its call here npolar.no/en/species/long-tailed-duck/)
Nightingales Are Here (traditional round)
Jambo Bwana (Swahili Greeting Song from Kenya by Teddy Kalanda Harrison, see youtube.com/watch?v=WogvJEfCKpM where you will also find some percussion instructions)
9th September 2021 Garden Session
Circle Song Seven or Si le le (Bobby McFerrin, see youtube.com/watch?v=JdAmQSY6b6g and do look at other of McFerrin videos especially re the Power of the Pentatonic Scale and re Improvisation – makes it all look so easy)
April Rain Song (Brendan Taffe, music, Langston Hughes poem)
Marvellous Things (Penny Stone)
Shana Tova u’Metukah (Jewish trs, “May you have a good and sweet year” said at Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year celebrations and referring to the tradition of eating apple slices dipped in honey)
Shosholoza, (South African/Zimbabwean train song)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter)
5th November 2020 via Zoom – two new songs we learned:
Granny D (Penny Stone, a developing tribute to Doris Haddock, otherwise known as Granny D who walked across the US from Los Angeles to Washington DC in her 90th year to raise awareness of campaign-finance reform and documented in her 2001 book) – learn the song here – youtube.com/watch?v=STEXvyH3TaQ&feature=youtu.be
Hold On (Bobby McFerrin) – here is a wonderful rendition – youtube.com/watch?v=i17UAqleIH8&feature=youtu.be
12th March 2020 with Guest Songleader Chandra Mather
Kumala Vista (nonsense warm-up song)
Kye Kye Kule (trad. Ghanian play song with actions)
Kaki Lambe (Sengalese song arr. Brian Tate inspired by an African ritual dance and drum rhythm in celebration of the growth of crops, life and the birth of children) Vocal performance can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HYqNoxfNRI
Come Away In (Karine Polwart) You can watch a colourful performance recently uploaded at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfCDTCqaAb0
In Freenship’s Name (from the repertoire of the Borders shepherd Willie Scott, 1897-1989)
5th March 2020
This Old Freedom Train (trad. Gospel)
Alilo (Georgian, New Year celebration)
Rock with the Numbers (a tribute to aerospace technologist Dr Katherine G Johnson, 1918-2020, trailblazing African-American Women)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
In the Dark Times (Melanie Goldberg)
Sami yoik (joik) honouring the bear
27th February 2020
Nanume Shone (trad. Ghana, meaning you’ve done enough)
Walk that Freedom Way (American gospel adapted by Penny Stone)
A Miner’s Lullaby (aka Corrie Doon, Matt McGinn)
Heh Sango (Cong, trs re joy)
Here Comes the Sun (The Beatles)
Thula Sizwe (Anti-apartheid song from Zimbabwe, “Be comforted my people” – several youtube videos available)
20th February 2020
Be Kind
Throw and Catch (Sotho) video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpOoWZ_WbMs
And When I Rise (Seth Martin from Wendell Berry, folk processed)
Bambelela (trans. Hang on in there, South Africa)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
In the Dark Times (Melanie Goldberg)
13th February 2020 Half-term Break
6th February 2020
Rhythmic warm-up
Thula Sizwe (Anti-apartheid song from Zimbabwe, “Be comforted my people” – several youtube videos available)
That’s How the Light Gets In
Sail Downriver (Penny Stone, 2011)
Sami yoik (joik) honouring the bear
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
30th January 2020
Apples and Bananas Warm-up
Pigeon holes are only comfortable for pigeons (music Penny Stone, quote from Jessye Norman who purportedly once responded to a German reporter who asked her at age 23 to define her vocal style)
This is my Song (Music – Finlandia by Jean Sibelius, lyrics by Lloyd Stone [1932] and George Harkness [1964] and secularised by Lily Greenan [2014])
Sami yoik (joik) honouring the bear
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
Be Whatcha Gonna Be (Sarah Nutting)
23rd January 2020
Leonard Cohen’s Anthem – Chorus
Tuli Tuli (Namibian play-song using nonsense syllables, in the spirit of we’re doing alright, listen to The Kenyan Boys Choir performance here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxnTSxd_oPQ)
Be Whatcha Gonna Be (Sarah Nutting)
If I Can Help Somebody (Alma Bazel Androzzo)
Robin’s Call (Wassail) (Rosa Rebecka, Sweden/Devon)
Mother Apple Tree (Penny Stone)
16th January 2020
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Amawole (Congo, I am Amawole, I like to see the hen, I like to see the Cockerel)
Rillaton Wassail (Mike O’Connor, Devon)
Lala, Lala Tulip Flower Lullaby (Farsi, lala trs “sleep”; the tulip flower, Edithcolea grandis, is essentially the Persian carpet rug flower as the rugs use a pattern similar to the flower’s form in the rug design)
Lappish Chant (a yoik from Finland)
9th January 2020
The Only Thing Better than Singing is More Singing (Quote from Ella Fitzgerald)
Alilo (Georgian, New Year celebration)
Dancing in the Rain (Kate Thomas)
Scone song
Sing Out the Dark Light (Dave Camlin)
Amawole (Congo, I am Amawole, I like to see the hen, I like to see the Cockerel)
FESTIVE SEASON BREAK
12th December 2019
My Dog He Can Do the Can-can warm-up
One Foot/Lead with Love (Melanie deMore, written the day after Trump’s election – do look her up on YouTube)
Otsdakhutsa Dekembersa Qriste Ishva Betlemsao (Georgian Christmas Carol, trs. ”on 25th December Christ was born in Bethlehem”)
Once You Have Tasted the Taste of the Sky (Penny Stone, based on quote from Leonardo da Vinci)
Under the Full Moonlight (written by a bunch of women somewhere! – Penny learnt it from Greenham Women’s Peace Camp)
Break ’em on Down (Harmony Grisman)
Hlonolofatsa (Sotho, trs Bless in the name of the world/earth)
5th December 2019
Sinisiä Punasia Ruusunkukkia (trad. Finland, trs. “Blue and Red Roses”)
Daisies White (Trad. Appalachian) 3 parts and you can listen to a recording alongside a moving crankie here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFj6pKS5COo&fbclid=IwAR1kVZlEs7ldjam0JxsFyn44yuksOMiMIe0DTyogCrF_cKapLXzASkRhJxY
Hlonolofatsa (Sotho, trs Bless in the name of the world/earth)
The Only Thing Better than Singing is More Singing (Quote from Ella Fitzgerald)
Otsdakhutsa Dekembersa Qriste Ishva Betlemsao (Georgian Christmas Carol, trs. ”on 25th December Christ was born in Bethlehem”)
28th November 2019
Christmas Round (trad., Bless us all)
Mama Bakudala (South African, Xhosa, sung by women at the beginning of gatherings or celebrations as an invocation to the spirits of the matriarchal ancestors, trs. “Our mothers and grandmothers used to pray.”)
Solstice Patapan (Mary McCann lyrics, trad. Burgundian Carol)
Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, lyrics by Joseph Mohr)
Once You Have Tasted the Taste of the Sky (Penny Stone, based on quote from Leonardo da Vinci)
Sing Noel to tune of Banuwa
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant) In the Bleak Midwinter (based on a poem by Christina Rossetti to a melody of Gustav Holst) two harmonies
O Tannenbaum (trad. German, lyrics: Ernst Anschütz, 1824)
In the Bleak Midwinter (based on a poem by Christina Rossetti to a melody of Gustav Holst) two harmonies
21st November 2019
Ping Pong Ball warm-up
Banuwa (Liberian folk love song or lullaby, trs “Don’t Cry pretty little girl, don’t cry”)
Gatatumba (Trad. Spanish carol)
We Are The Cholita Climbers (Penny Stone, in tribute to a group of cholita climbers who embarked on an adventure to climb eight Bolivian mountains. Many worked as porters and cooks with their tour-guide husbands, but now they’re doing it on their own. Once discriminated against, cholas, or cholitas, are making a resurgence in modern Bolivian culture)
Sayilim’ Ingqolowa (trs We Are Ploughing Wheat, Xhosa – our first attempt at a Click song! – see a performance here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmIOT7d9tCQ)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant) In the Bleak Midwinter (based on a poem by Christina Rossetti to a melody of Gustav Holst)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, lyrics by Joseph Mohr)
O Tannenbaum (trad. German, lyrics: Ernst Anschütz, 1824)
Solstice Patapan (Mary McCann lyrics, trad. Burgundian Carol)
14th November 2019
Freedom, round
Hlonolofatsa (Sotho, trs “Bless in the name of the world/earth”)
In the Bleak Midwinter (based on a poem by Christina Rossetti to a melody of Gustav Holst) two harmonies
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Banuwa (Liberian folk love song or lullaby, trs “Don’t Cry pretty little girl, don’t cry”)
7th November 2019
Pigeon holes are only comfortable for pigeons (music Penny Stone, quote from Jessye Norman who purportedly once responded to a German reporter who asked her at age 23 to define her vocal style)
Sayilim’ Ingqolowa (trs We Are Ploughing Wheat, Xhosa – our first attempt at a Click song! – see a performance here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmIOT7d9tCQ)
Citizen Shanty (Boff Whalley, sung to the tune of sea shanty Roll the Old Chariot Along, words and background can be found here https://www.protestinharmony.org.uk/songs/citizen-shanty/)
Hlonolofatsa (Sotho, trs Bless in the name of the world/earth)
Soul Train (Val Regan)
Stand Where I Stand
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant) – just la la at the moment
One Foot/Lead with Love (Melanie deMore, written the day after Trump’s election – do look her up on YouTube)
Beautiful Land (Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel)
31st October 2019 Hallowe’en adorned with a wonderful pumpkin sculpted with a musical bent by Christine
Throw and Catch song (Sotho)
Umupo po kayo (Welcome song from Philippines, trs “Please sit down”)
The Only Thing Better than Singing is More Singing (Quote from Ella Fitzgerald)
And When I Rise (Seth Martin from Wendell Berry, folk processed)
One Foot/Lead with Love (Melanie deMore, written the day after Trump’s election – do look her up on YouTube) with improvisations
Witches Reel (Some Scottish women, 1591)
Ghost of Bobby (instead of Tom)
24th October 2019
Goose Gaggle warm-up
Amawole (Congo, I am Amawole, I like to see the hen, I like to see the Cockerel)
Wester Caputh (Brendan Taaffe, chorus adapted from Psalm 121 by Ali Burns, To the Hills)
People take time in life (Liberian)
Honey and Salt (lyrics from poem “Between Mountain and Sea” by Norman MacCaig, melody Jane Schonveld)
Samba de Brazil (trad.)
Walk that Freedom Way (American gospel adapted by Penny Stone)
10th October 2019
Come and Sing (Tuli Führe, Netherlands)
Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots, Chinese proverb (Maggie O’Connor)Mama Bakudala Bambelela (trans. Hang on in there, South Africa)
Beautiful Land (Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel)
Friendship Song, Cape Verde Islands
Soul Train (Val Regan)
Kling Klang, Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells
People take time in life (Liberian)
3rd October 2019
Shana Tova u’Metukah (Jewish trs, “May you have a good and sweet year” said at Rosh Hashanah, Jewish New Year celebrations and referring to the tradition of eating apple slices dipped in honey)
Great Day! (Penny Stone)
Mama Bakudala (South African, Xhosa, sung by women at the beginning of gatherings or celebrations as an invocation to the spirits of the matriarchal ancestors, trs. “Our mothers and grandmothers used to pray.”)
Bella Mama (Torres Strait Islands, celebration of the earth)
Beautiful Land (Polly Bolton, refers to hill near Arundel)
Kling Klang, Swedish herding song reflecting the sound of the cow bells
Daisies White (Trad. Appalachian)
26th September 2019
Sasquatch and other folklore beings warm-up (Sasquatch is a large hairy bipedal humanoid in American folklore)
El Doctorado (trad. Spanish, tr. “A PhD is no cure for stupidity”)
Shiny Conkers (Penny Stone)
La Berceuse du Petit Zebu (Jacques Ibert, lullaby to a teddy bear called Zebu)
Seal Woman/Yundah (Mary McLaughlin)
Walk that Freedom Way (American gospel adapted by Penny Stone)
Friendship Song, Cape Verde Islands
Fambe Nesu (Botswana trad, farewell)
19th September 2019
Dumela Tsala (Setswana language, Botswana, trs. Hello friend)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, full text set to music by Penny Stone)
Open Sesame (Arabic version of Sesame Street theme tune)
La Berceuse du Petit Zebu (Jacques Ibert, lullaby to a teddy bear called Zebu)
Friendship Song, Cape Verde Islands
Wake Up (to Climate Change, Penny Stone)
Samba de Brazil (trad.)
One song, one dance, South African tune “Mayenziwe”, new words by Cynthia Cockburn
12th September 2019
Dumela Tsala (Setswana language, Botswana, trs. Hello friend)
Wester Caputh (Brendan Taaffe, chorus adapted from Psalm 121 by Ali Burns)
Nanume Shone (trad. African, meaning you’ve done enough)
Walk that Freedom Way (American gospel adapted by Penny Stone)
Samba de Brazil (trad.)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416, full text set to music by Penny Stone)
Soul Train (Val Regan)
Fambe Nesu (Botswana trad, farewell)
5th September 2019
Nanume Shone (trad. African, meaning you’ve done enough)
Come and Sing (Tuli Führe, Netherlands)
And When I Rise (Seth Martin from Wendell Berry, folk processed)
Soul Train (Val Regan)
Samba de Brazil (trad.)
Fambe Nesu (Botswana trad, farewell)
25th July 2019
My Dog He Can Do The Can-Can warm up
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Zangi, Alex, Swahili)
And When I Rise (Seth Martin, from poet Wendell Berry (folk processed)
Walk that Freedom Way (American gospel adapted by Penny Stone)
Noyana (S.Africa, Zulu)
Chocolate Things (Penny Stone in celebration of Christine’s break-time goodies)
Great Day! (Penny Stone) 5 harmonies
18th July 2019
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch warm up to tune of Frère Jacques
Sing for the Summer (Heather Murray)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou) and in Arabic (courtesy of Penny)
Walk that Freedom Way (American gospel adapted by Penny Stone)
All Will Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Zangi, Alex, Swahili)
11th July 2019
Brassy Sassy warm-up
Great Day! (Penny Stone) 5 harmonies this time!
Mravalzhamier (Georgian table/toasting song, transl. many years/long life)
Ode to Joy (Ludwig van Beethoven) with lyrics by Pete Seeger
Helele Mama (trs Hail to the Mother i.e. Earth, Zulu) with improvisations
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, body percussion by Evie Ladin) teaching video can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0
4th July 2019
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
Khutso (Sotho trs “Peace” sung to 1827 Scottish hymn melody, “Martyrdom” or “Avon” or “Sacred Throne by Hugh Wilson of Fenwick in Ayrshire, a shoemaker, music teacher and maker of sundials)
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
Helele Mama (trs “Hail to the Mother” i.e. Earth, Zulu)
Strip the Willow (Penny Stone, inspired by The Lost Words Exhibition, RBGE, 2018)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
27th June 2019
Numbers Warm-up
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Zangi, Alex, Swahili)
Summertime (Gershwin, arr Penny Stone)
Små Grodorna (Trad. Swedish midsummer)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou) and in French, 3 harmonies
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad. used during democracy movement)
20th June 2019
Sasquatch and other folklore beings warm-up (Sasquatch is a large hairy bipedal humanoid in American folklore)
Kilele (Kenyan welcome song)
Great Day! (Penny Stone) 4 harmonies, 5th to come!
Sizinyoni (Trad. Zulu about being birds)
Suliram (trad. Indonesiam lullaby) – here is a beautiful rensition by Miriam Makeba https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCHfPYjAkz0
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone, inspired by Singing the Lost Words into Life workshop, 2018)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou) tune and high harmony, lower harmony to come
13th June 2019 Self-led session
Ah Weel Naebody’s Hame to tune of Vent Frais
Vent Frais (Fr. trad. round)
I Wanna Sing + When the Saints Go Marching In + Swing Low
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad. approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
To Stop the Train
Oleyo
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
I like the flowers, Trad. English Round
My Paddles Keen and Bright (Margaret Embers McGee, Canadian round to help keep time paddling a canoe)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou) and in French and recorded to send to Penny to wish her well
Banaha/Si Si Si (trad. The Congo)
Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian)
6th June 2019 Self-led session
My Paddles Keen and Bright (Margaret Embers McGee, Canadian round to help keep time paddling a canoe)
Kaki Lambe (Sengalese song arr. Brian Tate inspired by an African ritual dance and drum rhythm in celebration of the growth of crops, life and the birth of children) Vocal performance can be heard at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HYqNoxfNRI
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
I Trust the Water (with 3-beat clapping accompaniment, Jana Runnalls)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou) and in French
River Chat (John Warner, Australia)
One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick) & overlays
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian)
30th May 2019
Apples and Bananas Warm-up with vowel sounds
Let the Circle be Wide (Tommy Sands)
This Old Oak Tree (Penny Stone)
One song, one dance, South African tune “Mayenziwe”, new words by Cynthia Cockburn
Great Day!
Mnogaya lita (Ukrainian celebratory song, trs. “Many years to you”)
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
23rd May 2019
Abeeyo (Australian Aboriginal welcome song)
Great Day!
Små Grodorna (trad. Swedish midsummer song about frogs and pigs)
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Mary Maloney Labelle (Penny Stone, inspired by MM, an Irish suffragette who followed Churchill around for a week ringing a bell whenever he tried to speak)
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
16th May 2019
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
Sunshine plus improvisation (Penny Stone)
Strip the Willow (Penny Stone, inspired by The Lost Words Exhibition, RBGE, 2018) – first airing
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, full body percussion by Evie Ladin this time) teaching video can be found here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0
Vem Kan Segla (Swedish trad. about friendship)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
9th May 2019
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Fruit Salad Song
2nd May 2019
Bayesa Kusasa, (trad. Zulu, section from a healing song and also sung by Pete Seager)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad., approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, body percussion by Evie Ladin)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad., approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
One world, one chance
Deep down in my soul (Gospel)
25th April 2019
Ping Pong Ball warm-up
Freedom Train
Heavy Rain (Liverpool song group The Spinners)
Hame Samogua (Zulu)
Suliram (trad. Indonesian lullaby)
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
One world, one chance
Two week break
4th April 2019
Hello (Penny Stone)
Ide Were (Yoruba [Nigerian], arr. Dee Jarlett, in praise of Oshun, the spirit that embodies womankind’s love and sexuality; being sung at the forthcoming Water-Aid)
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Goodnight Sweetheart (James Hudson and Calvin Carter)
Tue Tue (Ghanaian harvest song, with clapping game)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou)
28th March 2019
Just As You Are (Warm-up round)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, full body percussion by Evie Ladin this time)
Honey and Salt (lyrics from poem “Between Mountain and Sea” by Norman MacCaig, melody Jane Schonveld)
Pokarare Ana (by an unknown group of Maori Soldiers 1914, later adapted and new lyrics added by P H Tamoana in 1917, a love song)
This is Home (Sofia Efthimiou)
Thina Singu (trad. Zulu, transl. “We are a burning fire”, also used to intimidate opponents)
21st March 2019
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
Pokarare Ana (by an unknown group of Maori Soldiers 1914, later adapted and new lyrics added by P H Tamoana in 1917, a love song)
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s weekly flapjacks)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian) in farewell to Kyomi from Japan who has been with us for a year
Freedom (in anticipation of forthcoming Pete Seeger 100th birthday singathon being organised by Penny)
14th March 2019
Ho Ho Watane (Sleep, sleep my little one, Iroquois Lullaby) in celebration of the birth of member Andrea’s baby
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Što me e milo (Trad. Macedonia, about a young man who wants to own a shop in the town of Struga)
Sail Downriver (Penny Stone)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
7th March 2019 (songs in celebration of International Women’s Day)
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu, how wonderful are mothers)
If I Say Yes (aka Freedom Song, Joe Crookston)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, full body percussion this time) body percussion teaching video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMSFJF-EnA0
Rhythm & Syncopation
Ho Ho Watane (Sleep, sleep my little one, Iroquois Lullaby)
28th February 2019
Alfred the Alligator (source unknown, warm-up song)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
If We Lose This Forest
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
Now the Sun is Rising Up (Sammy Hurden)
One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick) & overlays
River Chat (John Warner, Australia)
Rhythm of Life (Fields, Simon, Coleman)
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian)
21st February 2019
Why Don’t You Give a Little Kindness to Yourself
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, full body percussion this time)
Kothbiro (trs, rain is coming, by Ayub Ogada for the film The Constant Gardener, we mimic the sound of his instrument, the Luo niyatiti)
One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick) & overlays
Što me e milo (Trad. Macedonia, about a young man who wants to own a shop in the town of Struga)
14th February 2019
Coventry Wassail
Saul’s Lullaby (Penny Stone, Lucy Gilbert)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, we’re building up to the full body percussion)
7th February 2019
I Don’t Know Why I Sing
Tula Mama (Zulu lullaby)
We Are The Cholita Climbers (Penny Stone, in tribute to a group of cholita climbers who embarked on an adventure to climb eight Bolivian mountains. Many worked as porters and cooks with their tour-guide husbands, but now they’re doing it on their own. Once discriminated against, cholas, or cholitas, are making a resurgence in modern Bolivian culture)
Bring me Li’l Water Silvy (trad. American folk song attr. to Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter, we’re building up to the body percussion)
Da Day Dawn (trad. Shetland fiddle tune played at New Year, words by Jane Hazelden, arr. Mairi Campbell)
Ziwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
31st January 2019
Every Morning When I Wake Up
Zwele Mama (Kenyan, Swahili, in celebration of being a mother)
I Wanna Sing (Dee Jarlett)
Što me e milo (Trad. Macedonian, 7 beat rhythm, about a young man who wants to own a shop in the town of Struga)
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
24th January 2019
I Wanna Sing (Dee Jarlett)
Sizinyoni (Trad. Zulu about being birds)
Što me e milo (Trad. Macedonian, 7 beat rhythm, about a young man who wants to own a shop in the town of Struga)
Only Love (Natural Voice Network Songs of Change Collective, inspired by words of Martin Luther King “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”)
17th January 2019
I know that you know that I love you – warm-up round
Banaha/Si Si Si (trad. The Congo)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad., approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick) & overlays
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
River Chat (John Warner, Australia)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian)
Rhythm of Life (Fields, Simon, Coleman)
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
Woyaya (Osibisa, 1970’s Afro-pop band)
20th December 2018
Sail Downriver (Penny Stone)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant)
Yoik – Reindeer (Sami)
One Foot/Lead with Love (Melanie deMore, written the day after Trump’s election – do look her up on YouTube) with improvisations
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad. used during democracy movement)
O Tannenbaum (trad. German, lyrics: Ernst Anschütz, 1824)
Rhythm and Syncopation
13th December 2018
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Gatatumba (Trad. Spanish carol)
Remember the Little Things (Esyllt Harker)
Madeleine Song (Penny Stone, 2018) in celebration of donated madeleine cakes from ELC
Nana Korobi Ya Oki (Japanese proverb, translates as “Fall seven times, rise eight”)
One Foot/Lead with Love (Melanie deMore, written the day after Trump’s election – do look her up on YouTube)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
And in celebration of Penny’s birthday, self-led rendition of Mnogaya Lita (Ukrainian celebratory song, trs. “Many years to you”)
6th December 2018
Whatwhati To Hope (“Learning to Dance” chant used in preparation for Poi, Stick and Haka performance rituals)
Snow is Falling Down (Trad. adapted by Penny Stone)
Love Call Me Home (Peggy Seeger, 2001)
Sassy Brass Round improvisation
Nana korobi ya oki (Japanese proverb, translates as “Fall seven times, rise eight”)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
29th November 2018
Tamini Mamini (Mali)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
Silent Night (Franz Xaver Gruber, lyrics by Joseph Mohr) 2-part harmony and verse in German
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Solstice Patapan (Mary McCann lyrics, trad. Burgundian Carol)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant)
Put One Foot in Front of the Other
O Tannenbaum (trad. German, lyrics: Ernst Anschütz, 1824)
22nd November 2018
Hello (Penny Stone)
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant)
Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
Percussion improvisation
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone, inspired by Singing the Lost Words into Life workshop, 2018)
O Tannenbaum (trad. German, lyrics: Ernst Anschütz, 1824)
Tue Tue (Ghanaian harvest song, no bean bag passing this time)
15th November 2018
Mosquito Song (Words: Dalai Lama, Music P.Stone)
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Zangi, Alex, Swahili – do look him up on youtube)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant) – all the way through, all harmonies!
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
Solstice Patapan (Mary McCann lyrics, trad. Burgundian Carol)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
8th November 2018
Whatwhati To Hope (“Learning to Dance” chant used in preparation for Poi, Stick and Haka performance rituals)
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
Everything is Going to be Alright (Penny Stone inspired by the works of Martin Creed)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Solstice Patatpan (Burgundian Carol with new lyrics by Mary McCann)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
1st November 2018
Hello (Penny Stone)
Ole Moliba Makasi (Congo boat song)
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Carol of the Bells (Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky, based on a Ukranian folk chant)
One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick) & overlays
Bicho Papão (lullaby in Brazilian Portuguese trs. Bogeyman, Get off of the roof, Let my baby sleep peacefully)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
25th October 2018
The Gardener (greeting song, Rima Nasir Tarazi, Arabic)
Now the Sun (Sammy Hurden)
Deep down in my soul (Gospel)
Ho Ho Watane (Sleep, sleep my little one, Iroquois Lullaby)
Tue Tue (Ghanaian harvest song) with bean bag passing!
Mnogaya lita (Ukrainian celebratory song, trs. “Many years to you”)
Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
18th October 2018 – Half-term break
11th October 2018
Whakatu Waewae (a Maori Haka)
Ode to Song (In celebration of World Singing Day 2018, lyrics curated by Scott Johnson, tune of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy)
Freedom is a Noble Thing (Ewan McGregor)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Think of Me Forget Me Not (South Africa, Diamond Choir)
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu, how wonderful are mothers)
4th October 2018
The Gardener (Rima Nasir Tarazi, Arabic)
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
C’est Le Vent Du Large (The Wind of the Open Sea, Trad. French)
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Zangi, Alex, Swahili – do look him up on youtube)
If We Lose This Forest
My Boat is Coming (Arabic, Trad. Lebanese)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Think of Me Forget Me Not (South Africa, Diamond Choir)
27th September 2018
Ole Moliba Makasi (Congo boat song)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
Human (Music in Detention)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Mnogaya lita (Ukrainian celebratory song, trs. “Many years to you”)
20th September 2018
Numbers warm-up, this time with footwork!
Sing a Little, Swing a Little with body percussion
Hamba Nathi (S.African “Go with us”)
Heavy Rain (Cliff Hall, The Spinners)
Bumalena (Baka song from Cameroon, ‘my heart is happy’)
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Human (Music in Detention)
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Zangi, Alex, Swahili)
Ah Poor Bird (Medieval English round)
13th September 2018
Body Percussion rhythm warm-up
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Swahili by Zangi, Alex, UK based Kenyan gospel singer – do look him up on youtube)
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Ngarra Burra Ferra (traditional Yorta Yorta song, the language spoken by the Indigenous peoples of the Goulburn and Murray Valleys in Victoria, Australia but also sung in American Gospel traditions before translation into Yorta, sung in the 2012 film The Sapphires)
Yemaya (song to Cuban Goddess of the Sea, Yoruba language)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, 1342-c.1416)
6th September 2018
Mimi Ni Kame Tu (Zangi, Alex, Swahili)
Music is the Rock (based on trad. gospel)
Mnogaya lita (Ukrainian celebratory song, trs. “Many years to you”)
El Bombon by Elena (Elena takes chocolate, Puerto Rico)
Murmuration (Penny Stone inspired by The Lost Words exhibition, 2018)
Ho Ho Watane (Sleep, sleep my little one, Iroquois Lullaby)
August 2018 – No sessions, holiday break
26th July 2018
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
Otter in the Water (Penny Stone) composed to celebrate The Lost Words exhibition
Halalalalaya (Old Arabic song, made famous by Fairuz) completed all the lines
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley)
Improvised percussion session with Penny also playing her Hang (similar versions known as Hapi steel tongue drums)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
19th July 2018
Evening combined with other singers rehearsing for Nelson Mandela Party on Portobello Beach to celebrate Mandela’s 100th centenary year.
12th July 2018
Numbers warm-up challenge – a while since we’ve done that one!
Ke Arona (power to the people, Sotho)
One Child, One Teacher (Penny Stone, in celebration of Malala Yousafzai’s birthday, 12th July) 5 part-harmony
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement) improvisation opportunity
Halalalalaya (Old Arabic song, made famous by Fairuz) another line learned
A Song for Fergus (by member of the group, Christine Thomson, in celebration of the life of founder member, Fergus McInnes) recorded for his family
5th July 2018
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Amajoni (S.African Freedom song) Verse also this time so 5-part harmony!
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) now on to the verses
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
28th June 2018 (AGM at interval) – definitely sizzling summer this week!
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan) and with improv harmonies
Halalalalaya (Old Arabic song, made famous by Fairuz) next line learned
Three Little Birds (Bob Marley) now on to the verses
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song) with rousing ending
21st June 2018
I Got Sunshine
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Hangin’ Around
Halalalalaya (Old Arabic song, made famous by Fairuz)
Amajoni (S.African Freedom song)
Three Little Birds chorus (Bob Marley)
14th June 2018
C’est Le Vent Du Large (The Wind of the Open Sea, trad. French)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song) All parts and full song
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s weekly flapjacks) plus a big bouquet to thank Christine for all her flapjacks and similar goodies over many months!
Three Little Birds chorus (Bob Marley)
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
7th June 2018
I Got Sunshine
Hanging’ Around
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
Amajoni (S.African Freedom Song)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
31st May 2018 – self-led session
I know that you know that I love you – warm-up round
Ping Pong Ball warm-up
Ah Poor Bird (Medieval English round)
Banaha/Si Si Si (trad. The Congo)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad., approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Epo i Tai Tai (Maori)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
Baba La Gumbala (Yoruba ? greeting song)
One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick) & overlays
Rhythm of Life (Fields, Simon, Coleman)
River Chat (John Warner, Australia)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian)
17th May 2018
Naka Naka Hoi (Japanese warm-up, inside/outside)
Sol, Solet (Sun, little Sun, Catalan)
Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
Sá Ég Spóa (Icelandic, Curlew song) Sang the Icelandic version this time
Wangari (Polly Bolton, celebrates Wangari Maathi Day, 3rd March) echos this time to give 6 parts!
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep)
Love Call Me Home (Peggy Seeger, 2001)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song) with the break
10th May 2018
Sasquatch and other folklore beings warm-up (Sasquatch is a large hairy bipedal humanoid in American folklore)
Belle Mama (Torres Strait, in praise of mother earth)
On a pea green boat (Hungarian version of owl and pussycat but in English)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu anti-apartheid song)
Wangari (Polly Bolton, celebrates Wangari Maathi Day, 3rd March)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
Pobelelo pole z ovcama (Slovenian ring dance song, the fields were whitened with sheep) has 15 verses – we started with one, three-part harmony learned in 5 minutes!
3rd May 2018
Sing a Little, Swing a Little (warm-up)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad., approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Sá Ég Spóa (Icelandic, Curlew song) English and Icelandic versions
Love Call Me Home (Peggy Seeger, 2001)
Freedom is Coming (Anders Nyberg)
26th April 2018
Epo i Tai Tai (Maori)
Green Fingers (Laura Bradshaw)
Love Call Me Home (Peggy Seeger, 2001)
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s weekly flapjacks)
E Malama (Hawaiian, We must take care of the earth)
19th April 2018
Oley-o (warm-up)
Buzezo Way (Zulu welcome song, blessing to you)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
Wangari (Polly Bolton, to celebrate Wangari Maathi Day)
Green Fingers (Laura Bradshaw)
5th and 12th April 2018 Easter Break
29th March 2018
We’re Going to Sing (Kate Thomas)
Beshkan! Beshkan! (Trad. Persian Nowruz song) chorus this time
U-mun-tu (Zulu)
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
In Dangerous Times (Ali Burns)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
22nd March 2018
Tamini Mamini (Mali)
I Saw a Curlew (Icelandic folk song)
Beshkan! Beshkan! (Trad. Persian Nowruz song, Beshkan is a Persian snap of fingers)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
15th March 2018
Ping-pong Ball warm-up
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan)
When the Sun Rises (Penny Stone work in progress, Zulu and Spanish verses)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement) groovy words for accompanying harmonies this time
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, alternative arrangement)
8th March 2018
The Penguin Song (Jack Hartmann) warm-up
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu, how wonderful are mothers)
We’re Going to Sing (Kate Thomas)
When the Sun Rises (Penny Stone work in progress, Zulu and Spanish verses – we feel very honoured!)
Snow is Falling Down (Trad. adapted by Penny Stone)
Freedom is Coming (Anders Nyberg)
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
1st March 2018 – venue closed due to snow
22nd February 2018
Gentle body percussion warm up
Ke Arona (power to the people, Sotho) – call added this time
All You Need is Love (Lennon & McCartney)
Gong Xi (Trad. Chinese New Year song, Mandarin) with Feng Gong sound introduction
Far More United (words by the late Jo Cox, music by Janet Wood)
Sunshine (Penny Stone)
18th February 2018
Gong Xi (Trad. Chinese New Year song, Mandarin)
All You Need is Love (Lennon & McCartney)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
11th February 2018
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu, how wonderful are mothers)
Blue Moon (Rodgers & Hart, The Marcels arrangement)
Shen Khar Venakhi (You are a vineyard, thousand year old Georgian hymn, in praise of Georgia and the patronage of the Virgin Mary)
One Heart Beating (Sue Kirkpatrick) & overlays
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
2nd February 2018
A Ram Sam Sam warm-up (Children’s song with hand actions from Morocco)
Ke Arona (power to the people, Sotho)
Blue Moon (Rodgers & Hart, The Marcels arrangement)
Pachelbel’s Canon adapted for wassailing with names of apples
Under the Full Moonlight (written by a bunch of women somewhere! – Penny learnt it from Greenham Women’s Peace Camp)
All You Need is Love (Lennon & McCartney)
25th January 2018
Dog & Cat can-can warm-up
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan) – 4th harmony this time!
Ke Arona (power to the people, Sotho)
There’s Some Wad Say (Mairi Campbell & David Francis, commissioned by Scotland Sings for Renewing the Tradition 2016, inspired by Burns’ poem A Fiddler in the North)
All You Need is Love (Lennon & McCartney)
18th January 2018
Sasquatch and other folklore beings warm-up (Sasquatch is a large hairy bipedal humanoid in American folklore)
Let the Circle be Wide (Tommy Sands)
3 Wassails (tunes of Swing Low, When the Saints, I’m Gonna Sing)
Rillaton Wassail
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Wassail the Silver Apple (Mike O’Connor)
All You Need is Love (Lennon & McCartney)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
11th January 2018
Sasquatch and other folklore beings warm-up (Sasquatch is a large hairy bipedal humanoid in American folklore)
Think of Me Forget Me Not (South Africa, Diamond Choir)
Rise up, O Flame (Christoph Praetorius, 1600)
Rillaton Wassail
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Plovi Barco (Croatian love song)
14th December 2017 – self-led sociable session at a private venue
We covered rounds from way back, easy part harmonies we were very familiar with, songs with multiple parts we could remember and learned about Alfred the Alligator as a challenging warm-up, before and after imbibing. It was a jolly evening!
7th December 2017
Coventry Wassail
Think of Me Forget Me Not (South Africa, Diamond Choir)
I’m Gonna Do it All (Karine & Steven Polwart) Yeah – completed all parts!
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
30th November 2017
Think of Me Forget Me Not (South Africa, Diamond Choir)
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Zu Arende (about sunset, Zimbabwe)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Mravalzhamier (Georgian table/toasting song, transl. many years/long life)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965) – this time with Penny’s amazing finale harmonies!
23rd November 2017
Winter Calls a Clear Horizon
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Bambelela (trans. Hang on in there, South Africa)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
We Shall Overcome in Hindi (tranl. by S. Suresh Kumar)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, alternative arrangement)
16th November 2017
Winter Calls a Clear Horizon
Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby (trad. USA, featured in film “Brother Where Art Thou?”)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
9th November 2017
Bim Bam body percussion warm-up
Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby (trad. USA, featured in film “Brother Where Art Thou?”)
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
Mosquito Song (Words: Dalai Lama, Music P. Stone)
I’m Gonna Do it All (Karine & Steven Polwart)
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
2nd November 2017
Kilele (Kenyan welcome song)
Under the Full Moonlight (written by a bunch of women somewhere! – Penny learnt it from Greenham Women’s Peace Camp)
Ibachey (Yoruba, transl. thank-you for sky and earth)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Witches Reel (Some Scottish women, 1591)
Falling Leaves Return to Their Roots, Chinese proverb (Maggie O’Connor)
26th October 2017
We’re Going to Sing (Kate Thomas)
Caballos Galopando (Jules Gibb, Spanish about galloping horses)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Bambelela (trans. Hang on in there, South Africa)
Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby (trad. USA, featured in film “Brother Where Art Thou?”)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
19th October 2017 – half-term break
12th October 2017
Oley-o warm-up (Ghanian call to work song)
We’re Going to Sing (Kate Thomas)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
I’m Gonna Do it All (Karine & Steven Polwart)
5th October 2017
Tue Tue (Ghanaian harvest song, an old number revisited with harmonies)
In Dangerous Times (Ali Burns)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s weekly flapjacks)
Mravalzhamier (Georgian table/toasting song, transl. many years/long life)
Tumba, Tumba, Tumba
28th September 2017
Caballos Galopando (Jules Gibb, Spanish about galloping horses)
Mravalzhamier (Georgian table/toasting song, transl. many years/long life)
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s weekly flapjacks)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
People take time in life (Liberian) and with improvisation
21st September 2017
Goose Gaggle warm-up
Kilele (Kenyan welcome song)
Silver Sunlight (Penny Stone, 2017)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
I’m Gonna Do it All (Karine & Steven Polwart)
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
People take time in life (Liberian) and with improvisation
A Miner’s Lullaby (Coorrie Doon, Matt McGinn)
14th September 2017
Vowels warm-up
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
In Dangerous Times (Ali Burns)
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s weekly flapjacks)
I qu-de we ma la kha la (Zulu, woman’s work song about cockerel crowing and getting out of bed)
Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby (trad. USA, featured in film “Brother Where Art Thou?”)
Am a wee bee, Baka people (Cameroon)
7th September 2017 – it’s great to be back
Head and Shoulders variation warm-up
Kilele (Kenyan welcome song)
Caballos Galopando (Jules Gibb, Spanish about galloping horses)
Didn’t Leave Nobody But The Baby (trad. USA, featured in film “Brother Where Art Thou?”)
Funky Flapjack Song (Penny Stone, to celebrate member, Christine’s weekly flapjacks)
Mbula Bula (Polynesian greeting and farewell song)
All Shall Be Well (Julian of Norwich, alternative arrangement)
August – summer break, starting again 7th September
27th July 2017
We n’ de ya ho (Cherokee morning song, I am of the Great Spirit)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
People take time in life (Liberian) and with improvisation
Summertime (Gershwn, arr Penny Stone)
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan)
Honey and Salt (lyrics from poem by Norman MacCaig, melody Jane Schonveld)
O Lilizela (Xhosa, South Africa)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
20th July 2017
I like to eat apples and bananas vowel warm-up
Wild Geese Go Flying Along warm-up round
Vem Kan Segla (Swedish trad. about friendship)
Ole Moliba Makasi (Congo boat song)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
O Lilizela (Xhosa, South Africa)
Blue Danube harmonies
Plovi Barco (Croatian love song)
13th July 2017 (AGM at break time)
Rhythm and vocals warm-up
Ke Arona (power to the people, Sotho)
Honey and Salt (lyrics from poem by Norman MacCaig, melody Jane Schonveld) with variety of sound effects accompaniment
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
People take time in life (Liberian) and with improvisation
Ore-e-mi (Ghana, come and join the party everyone, even mum and dad)
6th July 2017
Wild Geese Go Flying Along warm-up round
Ke Arona (power to the people, Sotho)
Love call me home (Peggy Seeger, 2001)
As-Salāmu ‘Alaikum (trad. Arabic greeting song, trans. “peace be upon you”)
Hion do, Gaelic seal song from Uist (with improvisations on harmonies and drones and ocean drum accompaniment!)
Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
29th June 2017
Can-can warm-up round
I know that you know that I love you, round
Love call me home (Peggy Seeger, 2001)
O Lilizela (Xhosa, South Africa)
Yoik (Sami about a little reindeer)
People take time in life (Liberian) and with improvisation
Rousay Lullaby (Orkney dandling song)
Ke Arona (power to the people, Sotho)
22nd June 2017
Beat-box warm-up round
Hola Viva (Val Regan)
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Everybody Welcome (Penny Stone, Sept. 2015)
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Hion do, Gaelic seal song from Uist (with improvisations on harmonies and drones!)
Am a wee bee (rainforest vocables)
15th June 2017
Alphabet warm-up round
Mawenna Macolay (Ghanaian about dancing)
Ni ni ya moumou (Moroccan children’s song)
River Chat (John Warner, Australia)
Inanay Capuana (Iguana song, Australian Aboriginal lullaby)
Vem Kan Segla (Swedish trad. about friendship)
Barbara Ann (Fred Fassert, Beach Boys cover)
Baba La Gumbala (Yoruba ? greeting song)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
8th June 2017
Right and Left warm-up challenge
Mawenna Macolay (Ghanaian)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Plovi Barco (Croatian love song)
Bambelela (South Africa)
Earth Turns Night and Day (tradl.)
Everybody Welcome (Penny Stone)
1st June 2017
Numbers warm-up challenge
Can you hear the voices
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
River Chat
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Earth Turns Night and Day
Plovi Barco (Croatian love song)
25th May 2017
Cuckoo Song warm-up (trad.)
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu)
Shii Na Sha (Navaho Lullaby, also about going home)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan)
Vem Kan Segla (Swedish trad. about friendship)
Sushine in the morning
Belle Mama, Torres Strait, in praise of mother earth
18th May 2017
Life is But a Melancholy Flower warm-up
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu)
Mosquito Song (Words: Dalai Lama, Music P.Stone)
Panama m Tonbe (My Hat Fell Off, Haitian Creole children’s song)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
Ni ni ya moumou (Moroccan children’s song)
11th May 2017
Echo warm-up improv
I Saw a Curlew (Icelandic folk song)
Sow Seeds of Hope (Penny Stone)
O Lilizela (Xhosa, South Africa)
Ni ni ya moumou (Moroccan children’s song)
Deep down in my soul (Gospel)
Panama m Tonbe (My Hat Fell Off, Haitian Creole children’s song)
4th May 2017
Alphabet warm-up round
Iavnana (Georgian lullaby sung to sick children to encourage release of afflicting spirits)
Operatic Pasta! (Carolyn Necklan)
Sushine in the morning
O Lilizela (Xhosa, South Africa)
Ni ni ya moumou (Moroccan children’s song) and to finish . . .
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
27th April 2017
Kye Kye Kule (trad. Ghanian play song with actions)
Dog Song (Civil Rights Movement song)
Ishe Oluwa – a Yoruba song from Nigeria specially arranged for Water-Aid day
Tumba Tumba Circle Dance
O Lilizela (Xhosa, South Africa)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
13th and 20th April 2017 – EasterBreak
6th April 2017
Banaha (trad. The Congo)
Hackney Street Chant (Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991)
Under the Full Moonlight (written by a bunch of women somewhere! – Penny learnt it from Greenham Women’s Peace Camp)
Rhythm of Life (Fields, Simon, Coleman)
Shalom my Friend (English and Hebrew)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Ori Ori (Nepal about the 7 colours of the rainbow in the field being ploughed)
Tue Tue (Ghana, harvest song)
Think of Me Forget Me Not (South Africa, Diamond Choir)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian)
30th March 2017
Ping Pong Ball warm up (Wm. Tell Overture)
The Mosquito Song (Dalai Lama quote about feeling small)
Barbara Ann (Fred Fassert, Beach Boys cover)
Circle March (Trad. Shaker. collected in New Hampshire, 1844, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper)
Ishe Oluwa – a Yoruba song from Nigeria specially arranged for Water-Aid day
23rd March 2017
Mr.Sandman (Chordettes)
Bom Bom warm-up
Dog Song (Civil Rights Movement song as warm-up)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
Hola Viva (Val Regan)
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Bambelela (South Africa)
I bid you Goodnight, Trad. USA adapted by Penny
16th March 2017
Rhythm round, warm-up
Shel-la-ley (Naming song in Shona language, Zimbabwe)
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu, calling on our ancestral mothers)
Yoik – Reindeer (Sami)
Des Colores (Trad. Mexican Folk Song)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
9th March 2017
Hola Viva (Val Regan)
Haida (Hebrew folk song) and with circle dancing
Way Mammy Zolo (Zulu)
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
Circle March (Trad. Shaker. collected in New Hampshire, 1844, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper) and with circle dancing
2nd March 2017
Ping Pong Ball warm up (Wm. Tell Overture)
Belle Mama (Torres Strait, in praise of mother earth)
Des Colores (Trad. Mexican Folk Song)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Yalla Awlehd (Trad. Syria)
23rd February 2017
Backing to Mr. Sandman (Bom Bom . . . . etc) as warm up
Four White Horses (Clapping song, Virgin Islands)
We n’ de ya ho (Cherokee morning song, I am of the Great Spirit)
Des Colores (Trad. Mexican Folk Song)
Daughter of the Water (3 part swimming song, Antipodes, anon.)
Haida (Hebrew folk song)
16th February 2017
Baba La Gumbala (Yoruba ? greeting song)
Far am bi mi fhin (Gaelic)
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Asho Ch’ela (ox-cart driver’s song from the Samegrelo region in the west of Georgia near the Black Sea)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
9th February 2017
Japanese Frog Song, Kaeruno
Sow Seeds of Hope (Penny Stone)
Bambelela, South African, “never give up”
Asho Ch’ela (ox-cart driver’s song from the Samegrelo region in the west of Georgia near the Black Sea)
Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite (Carter and Hudson)
2nd February 2017
Nana Havesa
Far am bi mi fhin (Gaelic)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Grow the Roots Deep Down
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
Sing a New Song O (Penny Stone)
26th January 2017
There once was a frog (warm-up)
Noyana (S.Africa, Zulu)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Bodmin Wassail (Traditional Cornish)
Liebe Schwester, Trad. German children’s song
Birds in the Dawning (Betsy Binstock)
19th January 2017
Land on Shore
Circle March, Trad. Shaker song, arr. Katy Cooper
I Wanna Sing + When the Saints Go Marching In + Swing Low
River Chat
Deep Down in My Soul
Oley-o
Remember the Little Things, Esyllt Harker
Carhampton Wassail, Trad. Somerset
Coventry Wassail
Liebe Schwester, Trad. German children’s song
12th January 2017
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan)
Solstice Patapan (Mary McCann lyrics, trad. Burgundian Carol)
Nyangaybo (Sierra Leone, children’s song to cry for help if lost in forest)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Scottish Applebel’s Canon (tune of Pachelbel’s Canon)
Bodmin Wassail (Traditional Cornish)
15th December 2016
Four white Horses (clapping song, Virgin Islands)
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan)
We n’ de ya ho (Cherokee morning song, I am of the Great Spirit)
Era Nato Poveretto (A. Benedetti Michelangeli, about a soldier who sold his pants for a plate of spaghetti)
Zinga Zee! (Trad. Ghanaian, “we’re on our way” or “we’re making a noise”)
Christmas is coming
8th December 2016
1; 1,2,1 etc Counting Song but this time with z’s and further complications!
She Sells Sea Shells on the Sea Shore
Give Me Some Singing (Val Regan)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Era Nato Poveretto (A. Benedetti Michelangeli, about a soldier who sold his pants for a plate of spaghetti)
Rhythm & Syncopation
Carhampton Wassail (trad. Somerset)
1st December 2016
1; 1,2,1 etc Counting Song but this time with z’s (to warm up the brain!)
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
Zinga Zee! (Trad. Ghanaian, “we’re on our way” or “we’re making a noise”)
Ah Poor Bird (Medieval English round)
Era Nato Poveretto (A. Benedetti Michelangeli, about a soldier who sold his pants for a plate of spaghetti)
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
24th November 2016
We n’ de ya ho (Cherokee morning song, I am of the Great Spirit)
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Soul Cake (trad., seasonal – All Soul’s Eve – but we had some of Ileana’s delicious blueberry cake so changed some words)
Carhampton Wassail (trad. Somerset) – it’s that time of year again – Wassail event will be 21st January
May the Long Time Sun (Mike Heron, Incredible String Band, arr. Andrew Emmet)
17th November 2016
Round and Round the Earth is Turning (Trad. round)
Zinga Zee! (Trad. Ghanaian, “we’re on our way” or “we’re making a noise” – and we certainly did!)
Rhythm & Syncopation
Era Nato Poveretto (A. Benedetti Michelangeli, about a soldier who sold his pants for a plate of spaghetti)
Peace Will Come (Tom Paxton)
May the Long Time Sun (old Scottish folk song and Irish blessing)
10th November 2016
We n’ de ya ho (Cherokee morning song, I am of the Great Spirit)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Era Nato Poveretto (A. Benedetti Michelangeli, about a soldier who sold his pants for a plate of spaghetti)
Su la lu la (Swedish lullaby)
3rd November 2016
Head & Shoulders Baby warm-up (Also good for brain connectivity!)
Soul Cake (trad., seasonal)
Siuthadaibh, a Mhnathan (Gaelic waulking song, Skye, Mairi nighean Alasdair Ruaidh
[Mary Macleod], 17th century )
Yote Yawezekana (all is possible, Kenyan trad., used during democracy movement)
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Janey Mama (Spanish/Jamaican)
Froh Zu Sein (german trad., about being happy)
Su la lu la (Swedish lullaby)
27th October 2016
Baba La Gumbala (Yoruba ? greeting song)
Four White Horses (Clapping Song, Virgin Islands)
Falling leaves return to their roots, Chinese proverb
Siuthadaibh, a Mhnathan (Gaelic waulking song, Skye, Mairi nighean Alasdair Ruaidh
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Rhythm & Syncopation
Waltz song
20th October 2016 – half-term break
13th October 2016
Baba La Gumbala (Yoruba ? greeting song)
Epo i Tai Tai (Maori)
Shiny Conkers (Penny Stone)
I’m Feeling Good (Newley & Bricusse, Nina Simone arrangement)
Frog Song (US trad.)
Rousay Lullaby (Orkney dandling song)
6th October 2016
Abeeyo (Australian greeting song)
She Sells Sea Shells on the Sea Shore
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Japanese Frog Song, Kaeruno
Ishe Oluwa (Nigeria, Yoraba – That which your creator made can never be destroyed)
The Music Box Waltz
29th September 2016
Epo i Tai Tai (Maori)
Vent Frais (Fr. trad. round)
Tula Mama (Zulu lullaby)
Janey Mama (Spanish/Jamaican)
Peace Will Come (Tom Paxton)
22nd September 2016
She Sells Sea Shells on the Sea Shore
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
If You Can Talk, You Can Sing (trad. Zimbabwe)
Barbara Ann (Fred Fassert, Beach Boys cover)
Peace Will Come (Tom Paxton)
15th September 2016
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
Janie Manie (Santiago greeting song)
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Feet on the Ground (Val Regan)
Rhythm & Syncopation
Rousay Lullaby (Orkney dandling song)
Hamba Nathi (S.African “Go with us”)
8th September 2016 (after some summer opportunities to sing elsewhere)
Boom Chika Boom (new warm-up)
Epo i tai tai (Maori)
Rhythm & Syncopation
Barbara Ann (Fred Fassert, Beach Boys cover)
Circle Dance (Germany)
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
14th July 2016
Coventry Wassail
Tue Tue (Ghana, harvest song)
Unst Boat Song (Trad. Shetland)
Let the Circle be Wide (Tommy Sands)
Remember the Little Things (Esyllt Harker)
For So Long (Christine Kydd)
7th July 2016
Pokarare Ana (unknown group of Maori Soldiers 1914, later adapted and new lyrics added by P H Tamoana in 1917, a love song)
Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
Hey Mr. Miller (written and arranged by David Machell)
Third section from In the Mood (Joe Garland and Andy Razaf)
Tue Tue (Ghana, harvest song)
Daisies White (Trad. Appalachian)
Shosholoza, (South African/Zimbabwean train song)
30th June 2016
Goose Gaggle warm-up
Let the Circle be Wide (Tommy Sands)
Barbara Ann (Fred Fassert, Beach Boys cover)
Ole Moliba Makasi (Congo boat song)
Remember the Little Things (Esyllt Harker)
23rd June 2016
Ori Ori (Nepal about the 7 colours of the rainbow in the field being ploughed)
Pokarare Ana (New, by an unknown group of Maori Soldiers 1914, later adapted and new lyrics added by P H Tamoana in 1917, a love song)
Bambelela (South Africa)
Daisies White (Trad. Appalachian) learning the harmonies
16th June 2016
Naka Naka Hoi (warm-up)
Remember the Little Things
Hackney Street Chant, Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991
Era Nato Poveretto (New, A. Benedetti Michelangeli, about a soldier who was so poor he sold his pants for a plate of macaroni. He sings if you want to win the war, make sure all the cannons are filled with macaroni)
Yeah Yeah Aggranadeo (Sengalese clapping song)
Tula Mama (Zulu, “hush now mother” but meaning “hush baby”)
9th June 2016
Rainbow Lorikeet (Jane Thomson)
Mabako Niwa Phwe (trad. West Africa, Do You Want to Come & Dance?)
Era Nato Poveretto (New, A. Benedetti Michelangeli, about a soldier who was so poor he sold his pants for a plate of macaroni. He sings if you want to win the war, make sure all the cannons are filled with macaroni)
2nd June 2016
Rainbow Lorikeet (Jane Thomson)
Rhythm of Life (Fields, Simon, Coleman)
River Chat
Sail Downriver (Penny Stone)
How Lovely is the Evening (Trad. English)
Shalom My Friend (original words)
So So Babo So (Guinea, Welcome to the Elders)
Daisies White (Trad. Appalachian)
Now my Friend, the Meeting’s Over
26th May 2016
Away Away (warm-up)
The Waters of the World (Penny Stone)
Dis Moi, Beau Printemps (trad. French springtime song)
Yalla Awlehd (Trad. Syria)
Yeah Yeah (with body percussion, trad. Senegal)
Now my Friends the Meeting’s Over
Somos El Barco (Lorre Wyatt, 1983)
19th May 2016
Away Away (new warm-up)
Body Percusson Rhythm Warm-up (round)
Dis Moi, Beau Printemps (New, lovely French springtime song)
Shosholoza, South African trad. (testing time switching between high and low harmonies!)
Tree of Liberty (four parts overlaid)
For So Long (Christine Kydd)
12th May 2016
Belle Mama, Torres Strait, in praise of mother earth
So So Baba So (New Guinea welcome song)
Cuckoo, As I went Walking (Trad., approx. 8th century from 1st edition of Oxford Book of Rounds)
For So Long (Christine Kydd)
5th May 2016
Popocatapetl (Anon.)
Circle March (Trad. Shaker. collected in New Hampshire, 1844, arr. Katy Lavinia Cooper)
Senwa Dadende (Ghana, from song about lazy vulture who builds nest & when the rains come, he can’t remember where he built it)
Tongo, Tongo (Solomon Islands, Polynesia)
For So Long (Christine Kydd) New
Cuckoo, as I went walking, (Trad.)
28th April 2016
Earth Turns Night and Day
Zidele a Makembo (“Take a Chance” or “Give Yourself Up, Bones and All”, trad. African, music by Bruce Knight)
Gazapkhuli (Spring, Trad. Georgian, as sung by Anschiskhati Choir, first verse completed!)
Mawenna Macolay (Ghanaian Children’s Song “do you want to come and play?”)
21st April 2016
Naka Naka Hoi (Japanese physical warm up – new)
Sithi Malweni (South African Welcome Song)
Sunshine (Penny Stone) New
Gazapkhuli (Spring, Trad. Georgian, as sung by Anschiskhati Choir, first verse nearly completed!)
Mawenna Macolay (Ghanaian Children’s Song “do you want to come and play?”)
14th April 2016
1; 1,2,1 etc Counting Song (to warm up the brain!)
Yalla Awlehd (Trad. Syria)
Mawenna Macolay (Ghanaian Children’s Song “do you want to come and play?”)
Popocatapetl (Anon.) New
Gazapkhuli (Spring, Trad. Georgian, as sung by Anschiskhati Choir) New
Deep Down in my soul (round, origin unknown)
7th April 2016 (last run-through of some songs before Spring Fling)
Tongo, boat song, Polynesian Islands
Unst Boat Song (Shetland)
Mawenna Macolay, Ghanaian Children’s Song “do you want to come and play?”
Shosholoza, South African trad.
California Dreaming (Yeah – all the way through!)
31st March 2016
Mawenna Macolay, Ghanaian Children’s Song “do you want to come and play?”
Rhythm of Life (Fields, Simon, Coleman)
Hion do, Gaelic seal song from Uist (with improvisations on harmonies and drones!)
Yoik – Reindeer (Sami)
California Dreaming (Yeah – second verse mastered!)
Now the Sun, Sammy Hurden
24th March 2016
Under the Full Moonlight (Round)
Unst Boat Song (Shetland)
California Dreaming (Yeah – second verse mastered!)
Mawenna Macolay, Ghanaian Children’s Song “do you want to come and play?”
Shosholoza, South African trad.
17th March 2016
3 pitch harmony warm-up (to be developed)
Cuil Fin An Ane (Irish Gaelic)
Tamini Mamini (Mali)
Plentyn Bach (Welsh lullaby)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Remember the Little Things
Hion do, Gaelic seal song from Uist
10th March 2016
Ori-Ori (Nepal)
Fruit Salad Song
Rhythm of Life (Fields, Simon, Coleman)
River Chat (John Warner)
I trust the Water (Jana Runnalls)
On the Moor I Saw a Plover (Linton Adie Warm-up)
Snow is Falling Down (Trad. adapted by Penny Stone)
Hackney Street Chant (Hackney Street Music Festival 1991)
The Waters of the World (Penny Stone)
On Shore (Trad. Appalachian)
3rd March 2016
Goose Gaggle/Pom Pom warm-up song
Grow the Roots Deep Down
Nero’s Expedition (Moondog)
Wangari (both parts, to celebrate Wangari Maathi Day)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
25th February 2016
I Like to Sing – brain teaser warm up
Nga Iwi E, traditional Maori
Tongo, boat song, Polynesian Islands
O-le-le, Congolese boat song
Everybody Welcome (Penny Stone, Sept. 2015)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
18th February 2016
Tongo, boat song, Polynesian Islands
O-le-le, Congolese boat song
Asho Ch’ela (ox-cart driver’s song from the Samegrelo region in the west of Georgia near the Black Sea) – second part
Shosholoza, South African trad.
Yalla Awlehd
Oley-o
11 February 2016
Yena Manoa Manoa (Gaelic vocables)
California Dreaming (John & Michele Phillips, The Mamas and The Papas version, 1965)
Oley-o
Earth Turns Night and Day
Shosholoza, South African trad.
4 February 2016
Ori Ori (Nepal trans. re ploughing in fields and 7 colours of rainbow)
Zidele a Makembo (“Take a Chance” or “Give Yourself Up, Bones and All”, trad. African, music by Bruce Knight)
Everybody Welcome (Penny Stone, Sept. 2015)
The Penguin Song (Jack Hartmann)
Earth Turns Night and Day
Chela (Cart-driver’s song, Samegrelo Region, Georgia)
Yoik – Reindeer (Sami)
28 January 2016
Bumalena, Baka song from Cameroon, ‘my heart is happy’
Pachabel’s Canon
Sing a New Song, O (Penny Stone, after “The Tree of Liberty” by Robert Burns)
The Penguin Song (Jack Hartmann)
Harmonising improvisation
21 January 2016
Yena Manoa Manoa (Gaelic vocables)
Zidele a Makembo (“Take a Chance” or “Give Yourself Up, Bones and All”, trad. African, music by Bruce Knight)
Sing a New Song, O (Penny Stone, after “The Tree of Liberty” by Robert Burns)
Happy Birthday (with body percussion devised by Penny Stone)
Yoik – Reindeer (Sami)
Now the Sun (Sammy Hurden)
14 January 2016
Blessings for the New Year (Mary McCann)
Zidele a Makembo (“Take a Chance”, trad. African, music by Bruce Knight)
Wassail the Silver Apple (Mike O’Connor)
Coventry Wassail Song
Edinburgh Wassail (lyrics by OCSG members and Penny Stone)
Now the Sun (Sammy Hurden)
Christmas Break
17 December 2015
One Heart Beating
Snow is Falling Down (round, to the melody of Vent Frais, one of our favourite rounds)
Shona Malanga (Till We Meet Again, Zulu ant-apartheid song)
Gaudeamus Hodie (Let us Rejoice Today, traditional Latin round)
Yoik – Reindeer (Sami)
Edinburgh Wassail (lyrics by OCSG members and Penny Stone)
Bless us all, good friends here, with a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
10 December 2015
O-le-le, Congolese boat song
Gaudeamus Hodie (Let us rejoice today, traditional Latin round)
Asho Ch’ela (ox-cart driver’s song from the Samegrelo region in the west of Georgia near the Black Sea)
Yoik – Reindeer (Sami)
Edinburgh Wassail (lyrics by OCSG members and Penny Stone)
Now the Sun is Rising Up
26 November 2015
On shore
Rhythm of Life
Sithi Malweni
Li Li Li
One Heart Beating
Tue Tue
Ore-e-mi
Let the circle be wide
Oley-o
Life is but a melancholy flower
Think of me, forget me not
12 November 2015
Bim Bom Bim Bom (Percussion)
Buzzy Bees
I Trust the Water (with shakers)
Tongo
Inanay kapuana
Yoik
Shalom my friend
Bella mama
Vent frais
Ore emi
22 October 2015
Earth Turns Night and Day, round by Jane Cocker
Songs of Freedom, round by Serenity Singers
O-le-le, Congolese rowing song
Autumn round (Colchiques dans les prés) French trad.
Wassail, peace and plenty
Hamba nathi, south African “walk with me for the journey is long”
Sami reindeer yoik
O-lec, tobo lullaby from Paraguay
15 October 2015
Belle mama, Torres Strait, in praise of mother earth
Mr Miller, round
Bambelela, South African, “never give up”
Hion do, Gaelic seal song from Uist
Tree of liberty, round by Penny after Burns
Sami reindeer yoik
Now the Sun is Rising up
8 October 2015
Hion do, Gaelic seal song, Uist.
Ore e mi, Ghanaian hi-life party song
Let the circle be wide, Tommy Sands
Falling leaves return to their roots, Chinese proverb
Coventry Apple wassail, trad. English
Now the sun is rising up
1 October 2015
How lovely is the evening
Hackney Street Chant, Written for Street Music Festival, Hackney 1991
Panama m tonbe, Haiti children’s song
Weave and Spin, unknown
Shona Malanga, Zulu, South African
Senwa Dadende, Ghana, from song about lazy vulture who builds nest & when the rains come, he can’t remember where he built it.
Unst Boat Song (Shetland)
24 September 2015
Ori ori, Nepalese song
Tue Tue, Ghanaian harvest song
If we lose this forest, round
Wangari, Polly Bolton
Shosholoza, South African trad.
Paraguayan tobo lullaby, with percussion!
17 September 2015
Mawenna Macolay, Ghanaian Children’s Song “do you want to come and play?”
Earth turns night and day, round by Jane Cocker
O-le-le, Congolese rowing song,
Deep Down in my soul, round, origin unknown
One song, one dance, South African tune “Mayenziwe”, new words by Cynthia Cockburn
Break ’em on Down, Harmony Grisman
Autumn Round, French Trad.
10 September 2015
Tongo, boatsong, Polynesian Islands
Tue tue, Ghanaian harvest song
E Malama, Hawaiian
Mango mango, dafty round!
Panama m’tonbe, Haiti children’s song
Circle song, shaker song, arr. Katy Cooper
Remember the little things, Esylt Harker
3 September 2015
Abeeyo, Australian Aboriginal welcome
Nero’s expedition, Moondog
Panama m’tonbe, Haiti children’s song
Shosholoza, South African traditional train song
One song, one dance, South African, new words Cynthia Cockburn
Yoik, Sami, about a little reindeer
30 July 2015
Bella mama, Torres Strait islands
Under the full moonlight, written by a bunch of women somewhere! (Penny learnt it from Greenham women’s peace camp)
Hackney street song, collective, London
E Malama, Hawaiian “we must take care of the earth”
Let the circle be wide, Tommy Sands
Shona malanga, South Africa (shorten the days until we meet again)
Feeling good (with improvisation)
Am a wee bee, Baka people (Cameroon)
23 July 2015
Bayesa, trad. South Africa, section from a healing song
Tula Mama, trad South African lullaby, Zulu
Circle March, trad. Shaker song, USA, arr. Katy cooper
Bumalena, Baka song from Cameroon, ‘my heart is happy’
Asara ti-am luat basma, trad. Romanian
Remember the little things, Isylt Harker
O le le, Congolese rowing song
Now the sun is rising up
16 July 2015
Bim Bom (trad USA children’s game)
Banaha, Congolese welcome song
Circle March, Trad. Shaker song, arr. Katy Cooper
Iav Nana, Georgian Healing song & lullaby
Senwa dadende, Ghanaian song about lazy vulture Am A Wee Bee, Baka game song, Cameroon
Feeling Good, Bricusse Newley
Zidele, trad. South African phrase “Take a Chance”, music by Bruce Knight
All Shall Be Well, last words of Julian of Norwich
What a Goodly Thing, Words: Jean Ritchie, Trad tune
9th July
Bella Mama
Oh What a Goodly Thing
Yeah Yeah with body percussion
Daisies White – Appalachian folk tune
All Shall be Well
Lay Down Sisters
Bim Bom body percussion
River Chat
Oh How Lovely is the Evening
Shalom
The Waters of the World
Hackney Street Chant
On Shore
2 July 2015
Tongo – Polynesian boat song
Come awa’ in – written by local songwriting group, including our very own Helen!
What a goodly thing – Jean Ritchie
All shall be well – last words of Julian of Norwich
Iav Nana – Georgian lullaby/healing song
Rhythm of life – Sweet Charity
Somos el barco – Lorre Wyatt
Now the sun is rising up
26 June 2015
Belle Mama, Torres Straight Islands trad. – ‘in praise of mother earth’
The Sweet singing of the Birds, Irish Gaelic Trad.
One Heart Beating, Sue Kirkpatrick
Bambelela, Trad South African “Never Give Up”
I bid you Goodnight, Trad. USA adapted by Penny
Zidele, trad. South African phrase “Take a Chance”, music by Bruce Knight
Hion Do, Trad. Scots Gaelic song from the seals, S. Uist
11 June 2015
OCSG in combination with rehearsal for Water Aid “Sing for Water” to take place on 27th June in Edinburgh
Thina Simunye – from KwaZulu-Natal – South Arica?
Ride this Train and There’s a Train a Coming – the chorus of the old gospel song Ride This Train (Come Along my Friend, Come Along) partnered with a couple of riffs and a partner song: There’s a Train a Coming.
Ishe Oluwa – a Yoruba song from Nigeria specially arranged for WaterAid day
Elia Lrde – a very old song from the wild mountainous Sveneti region of Georgia.
Kaki Lambe – a song from the Baga people of Guinea on the coast of West Africa and roughly translated means: Kaki Lambe: protector of the harvest, Kecombe: come to me, come to us
4 June 2015
Sorry, a glitchy data gap!
28 May 2015
Memory glitch, full list not completed
O-le-le, Congolese Rowing Song
Water of Leith, Mary McCann
21 May 2015
No singing – a week off
14 May 2015
Rhythm of Life
Ori Ori
Shosholoza
Remember the Little Things
Oh What a Goodly Thing
Slap Clap Huh
Oleyo
Mawenna Macolay
How Lovely is the Evening
Hackney Street Song
Tongo
7 May 2015
Coo-Coo, as I went walking, Trad. Scots/English round
O-le-le, Congolese Rowing Song
Water of Leith, Mary McCann
Mangwane Mpulele, Sotho Children’s song, South Africa
Ori Ori, Nepalese song “I am ploughing in the fields, my fields are the seven colours of the rainbow”
Ho Tarukoi, Japanese firefly song
Lay Down Sisters, USA adapted by Penny
30 April 2015
Shalom My Friend (with Hebrew words)
On Shore
One Heart Beating
Banaha
I like the Sunshine
Oleiyo
Hackney Street Chant –
Tue Tue
Sail Downriver – Penny Stone
Let the Circle be Wide – Tommy Sands
I’m Gonna Sing
The Waters of the World
Noyana – a lullaby
Senwa Dadende – South African Welcome Song
Sithi Malwene – South African Welcome Song
Kye Kye Kule
Amanue
23 April 2015
Slap, Clap, Huh! – warm up
Oh How Lovely is the evening, English Round
Sail Downriver, Penny Stone
Ise Oluwa, Yoruba “that which has been created can never be destroyed”
Am a wee be, Baka game song, Camaroon (With rainforest hand sounds)
O-le-le, Congolese rowing song
Peace, Salaam, Shalom, Pat Humphries
16 April 2015
Mawanna Macolay, Ghanaian children’s song
Let the Circle Be Wide, Tommy Sands
Shona Malanga, South African ‘shorten the days until we meet again’
Dog Dog, Civil Rights song, James Bevel and Bernard LaFayette
Gille Beag O, Gaelic Lullaby, North Uist.
Sail Downriver, Penny Stone
Peace, Salaam, Shalom, Pat Humphries
Feeling Good, Bricusse & Newley
Donkey Song, English Round
8 April 2015
Now the Sun, Sammy Hurden
I like the flowers, Trad. English Round
Elesa, Georgian work song (log carrying!)
Shona Malanga, South African ‘shorten the days until we meet again’
Remember the Little Things, Esyllt Harker
Feeling Good, Bricusse; Newley
2 April 2015
Mawanna macoley (Ghanaian children’s song)
Ancient mother (Piquat, indigenous Peruvian tribe), translated into English by Libana, Canada
Am a wee be (Baka game song, Cameroon)
Shosholoza (South African song)
Unst Boat Song (Shetland)
Iav Nana (Georgian lullaby)
