We had a wonderful group of 55 singers for the Spring Singing Day at the beautiful Great Oak Hall at Westonbirt Arboretum. Singers local to Westonbirt were joined by others from Gloucester, Cirencester, Bristol, Portishead, Bath, Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, and even Essex. For many, it was their first experience of Songways.
After gentle warm-ups to put everyone at ease and open up our voices, Jane led the group in a round created specially for the day, Farewell winter and bring on the spring and a beautiful song celebrating the natural world, May you find a place, led with the fiddle. We enjoyed the stillness of a song inspired by a Native American chant, Spirit of the wind, followed by a rousing South African chorus, complete with simple dance movements. A fun clapping game with the names of trees in the arboretum focused our attention after lunch, followed by a lovely rhythmic walking song and a free group improvisation using the final words of I go among trees by Kentucky poet, Wendell Berry.
Comments from some of the singers:
Such an uplifting day
Beautiful, supportive atmosphere
Deeply moving at times
Just what the doctor ordered!
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