What a feast of tunes as well as songs and carols, seasonal, celebratory, ritual and otherwise for our festive gathering. We were joined by Robert and his fantastic fiddling for the first time; normally at choir practice on a Tuesday, we benefited from the holiday on this occasion. Miriam, back from Leicester, and Beth from Germany gave us the benefit of their singing and Kevin swelled the musician's contingent on bagpipes and concertina.
David opened on small pipes with 'Little Wee Winking Thing,' a curious title whether referring to a baby (Katy) or candle or other thing entirely. This was followed by Katy's Gascon carol, 'Pat-a-Pan,' Miriam's traditional English carol, 'Tomorrow Shall be my Dancing Day' and Ruth's dialect poem, 'Winter's Came.' Eliza sang a couple of wren hunting songs during the evening, the first, an Irish and the second a Welsh version. Some discussion of etymology and origin ensued (see comment - thanks in advance, Miriam).
Carole accompanied herself on guitar for her song 'The Island' about Westray and Robert burst in with Hector McAndrew's Kalianan Cottage, 'Bodaich Bheaga Abriachan' or 'The Little Old Men of Abriachan' and 'Loch Ness.' Kevin played three Spanish tunes on his adapted pipes with Spanish chanter on Swedish Sackpipa bag: 'La Amistad,' (friendship), 'Van Ness,' and 'Muineira.' Angus' first was Fairport Convention's 'The Summer Before the War' followed by David's 'Poverty Knock,' and Phil's rendering of Les Barker's much relished, 'Oh the Hard Cheese of Old England.' Returning to the seasonal were Katy's 'Time to Remember the Poor' or 'Cold Winter is Come,' an evocative traditional song and Ruth's 'The Shepherds' a setting of an early poem by William Morris, then Carole's 'When Winter comes Howling in' and Eliza's 'Gower Wassail.' Miriam gave us, 'Let no Man Steal Your Thyme,' David, the sea shanty 'Sailing Over the Dogger Bank ,' Angus took us to Whitley Bay with Aggie and Joe (sorry didn't note the title of this one) and Phil, 'Indiana' by Andy Mitchell and sung by the band, 'Patrick street.'
Tunes were from James on accordion 'The Sally Gardens' and 'The ? Behind,' Robert, with general joining in, 'The Pinch of Snuff' and Kevin on concertina with Matt Seattle's 'Lindisfarne' and the tune for the pantomime figure, Morgiana (in Spain).
Katy and Miriam duetted on 'O Come O come Emmanuel' and Beth sang, 'The Galway Shawl' and 'Ye Jacobites by Name,' a traditional song, rewritten by Robert Burns. Carole lightened the mood with 'The Rottenstall Annual Fair and Angus with, 'Higher Education' by Norman Turnbull.
Tunes during the latter part of the evening were James' 'Gaster's Dream' (and another one, unknown), the strathspey, 'Captain Carswell' and 'Inverness.' Robert continued with 'The Rushmore Downpour,'and 'We'll Make Charlie Wear the Crown' and David with 'Low Country Dance' and 'Up wi' Eli Early.' Kevin further mined the Spanish seam with two regional tunes; a Catalan and an Asturian Melody and Carole gave us four tunes on recorder: 'Bonny Nancy', 'Ireland, I dare not speak your name,' 'Tweedside' and 'God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen.' Robert and Kevin played together on fiddle and concertina for 'Crested Hen,' 'Saddle the Pony' and 'Blackthorn Stick.' The musicians rounded off the night with polkas and Northumbrian tunes led by James and then Angus.
Beth gave the finish a fitting flourish with 'Stille Nacht.' Thanks for your contributions everyone.
January's date is the 26th. Hope to see you there.
