Bring in the holly
Festive & celebratory songs
Songways choir directed by Jane Harris
Special guest Anna Tam | Multi-instrumentalist and singer
Fifty singers from the combined Bath and Bradford on Avon Songways choirs performed a wonderful set of festive and celebratory songs from Cornwall, Sheffield, France, the US and South Africa, in the beautiful setting of St Luke’s Church, Bath.
We were joined for three songs by the fine singer and multi-instrumentalist, Anna Tam. Songs included the classic Appalachian song, Bright morning stars, Lord of the Leopard by Sheffield composer Graham Pratt, original songs by Jane Harris including her carols, Bring in the holly (with Anna nyckelharpa and Jane violin) and Come and follow the light of the star (with Anna cello and Jane violin). Tourdion, a 16th century French drinking song, was brilliantly accompanied by Anna on the hurdy gurdy. The rousing Harky Harky from West Cornwall, three South African songs and Lea Morris’ Be the Light completed the programme.
After the interval, Songways singers joined the audience to enjoy Anna’s solo set, with her captivating combination of vocals and historical string instruments including the nyckelharpa, cell, piano, lyre and hurdy gurdy.
The retiring collection was in support of Bath Welcomes Refugees and The Hub Bradford on Avon and collected £300. Warmest thanks to everyone who came and made donations.
Many thanks to Dave Pegg for the beautiful images.
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- The Hub, Bradford on Avon
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- Bath Welcomes Refugees
Photo by Jorien Loman on Unsplash
About Songways
Songways choirs meet on Wednesday evenings in St Swithin’s Church, Bath and Friday mornings in Holy Trinity, Bradford on Avon. There are no auditions and there is no need to read music – Jane teaches all the songs and harmonies by ear.
We relish the energy, vibrancy and variety of the songs we sing in Songways and are excited by the way singing in harmony can take us into different sound worlds. Jane plays the violin and we love to collaborate with other instrumental musicians for some of our songs – including guitar and bouzouki. Singing with Songways is also a chance to develop your voice, increasing range and resonance, and exploring new singing styles.
About Anna Tam
Shortlisted as ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ 2020 and 2021 by Fatea Magazine
‘an extraordinary vocal performance’ Folking
‘the string playing is of another dimension… Anna Tam is a find’ Irish Music Magazine
Singer and multi-instrumentalist Anna Tam gives traditional British songs her own loving personal twist. She sings with a clear bright voice and accompanies herself on a selection of traditional and historical string instruments including the nyckelharpa, viola da gamba, hurdy gurdy and whatever else she can find. Her approach to the folk tradition is centred in the stories the songs tell and the people who lived them.
During lockdown in March 2020 she began the YouTube series ‘Folk from the Boat’, and she continues to bring audiences weekly songs, tunes and adventures from her canal boat. Now, out of lockdown, she is storming the British Folk scene with her mesmerising voice and instruments. Anna recently joined Paul Hutchinson (Belshazzar’s Feast) and Karen Wimhurst to form the folk group Coracle which are launching in 2022, and she formed the trio Wilde Roses in 2017 to passionately pursue her enthusiasm for researching and performing historical folk music. The group have toured in the US and Europe and released two albums to critical acclaim, their second ‘Woven’ on the Rubicon Classics label.
‘lingering and memorable songs…they pull you inexorably into a delicate fabric of instruments and voices’FolkWords
Anna lives on her beautiful boat just outside London gaining inspiration from the woods and the river.