Singing - NFF Canberra

Subject: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: Hrothgar
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 04:47 AM

I've been talking to and emailing a few people about the lack of any good communal singing sessions at the National in recent years, and the upshot of it all is an unofficial arrangement to meet in the session bar at 3.00 pm each afternoon of the festival to see what develops.

Various themes have been explored in discussions, and there are a few things that seem to be agreed:

1. The "singing room" has lousy acoustics.

2. A lot of folkies (particularly some good singers) are getting old. They don't like three o'clock in the morning sessions any more.

3. We have to do it where people can see and hear it, so we can oick up new people. This can't be done where there is no passing trade.

4. We need hard walls and a comparatively low ceiling for good acoustics.

5. Desirable conventions (can't have "rules" in a singing session): songs must have at least a chorus; no yodelling; preferably unaccompanied; can't lead anything you've written yourself unless it is widely known and generally accepted.

3.00 pm each afternoon.

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 06:16 AM

see ya when I can & I'm sure I can reply for JennyO, who is currently computerless till her son can look at the sick machine tomorrow

sandra

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: GUEST,catgirl
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 06:30 AM

good idea Hrothgar.

1. The "singing room" has lousy acoustics. agreed

2. A lot of folkies (particularly some good singers) are getting old. They don't like three o'clock in the morning sessions any more.true

3. We have to do it where people can see and hear it, so we can oick up new people. This can't be done where there is no passing trade.yep

4. We need hard walls and a comparatively low ceiling for good acoustics. yup

5. Desirable conventions (can't have "rules" in a singing session): songs must have at least a chorus; no yodelling; preferably unaccompanied; can't lead anything you've written yourself unless it is widely known and generally accepted. - dont mind a guitar, concertina etc if people want to accompany themselves - but not noodling under other singers.

3.00 pm each afternoon.

6. songs going round in a circle, so that certain singers dont take over.

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: JennyO
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 07:56 AM

Hi Hrothgar. That sounds like a good idea. Haven't seen a program yet, so I don't know which ones I can get to, but I think you can count on me to make it to some of them, at least.

Jenny

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: freda underhill
Date: 20 Mar 05 - 08:09 AM

I like hearing new songs at sessions - who is going to say what song cant be sung? sounds... difficult.

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Mar 05 - 06:58 AM

the more song sessions the merrier

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: Hrothgar
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 04:58 AM

I wouldn't dare tell people what to sing - but I can drop broad hints about which songs might be best left out of a communal session. One of the important points is that the session is not meant for solo performances.

This has been one of the failings of the sessions in the "Singing Room" in recent years.

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 05:17 AM

lots of voices setting the room ringing

Subject: RE: Singing - NFF Canberra
From: JennyO
Date: 22 Mar 05 - 08:06 AM

Let us set the room ringing
With the sound of our singing,
When we come to the end
Let us hold the chord loooooooooong.
Hear the harmonies rise
And all close our eyes,
Till the last cadence dies
The people have songs.