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Song Circle Openers

24 May 12 - 02:36 PM (#3355186)
Subject: Song Circle Openers
From: KT

Hi friends. I'm looking for ideas for a song circle opener...Preferably one that celebrates the gift of music and the gathering of friends and encourages folks to sing along. Have any favorites along these lines?


24 May 12 - 02:37 PM (#3355187)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: saulgoldie

How Can I Keep From Singing


Saul


24 May 12 - 03:05 PM (#3355197)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Bert

Let's all Sing Like the Birdies Sing.


25 May 12 - 01:13 AM (#3355347)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: dick greenhaus

A horrible song, but a sure-fire way to get a cold group warmed up:
(to the tune of Auld Lang Syne)

ROUND AND ROUND

The goldfish is a funny beast,
He just swims round and round
And round and round and round
And round and round and round and round

He swims below the surface
And very seldom found

And when the mating season comes
He does not leap or bound

He does not bark or chirp or moo
He doesn't make a sound

And when the crack of doom is heard
I know where he'll be found

Repeat the chorus each time with the words:

And round and round and round and round
And round and round and round,
And round and round and round and round
And round and round and round.

Keep a straight face, and encourage harmonization.


25 May 12 - 07:25 AM (#3355432)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: doc.tom

Eric Bogle's Sound Of Singing (believe it or not!)


25 May 12 - 12:19 PM (#3355540)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Snuffy

The Farmer's Toast

Come, all jolly fellows,
Who love to be mellow ....


25 May 12 - 01:04 PM (#3355560)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Bert

Lionel Bart's 'Oom Pah Pah' might work.


06 Jun 12 - 10:28 PM (#3360316)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Ebbie

Well, it was fun. 25 people, which is not a great many but I was prepared to be happy for 20.

Lots of songs. And KT started it off with 'How Can I Keep from Singing' (Thanks, Saul) and it pretty much ended with 'Turning of the World':

"Let us sing this song for the turning of the world
That we may turn as one
With every voice, with every song, we will move this world along
And our lives will feel the echo of our turning
With every voice, with every song, we will move this world along (2x)
And our lives will feel the echo of our turning"


I've had several requests for a repeat performance in July. We'll see. I do love to hear full-throated songs...


07 Jun 12 - 06:31 PM (#3360661)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Bert

Way to go Ebbie. Wish I could have been there.


07 Jun 12 - 08:10 PM (#3360703)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Tattie Bogle

"It's good to see you" by Allan Taylor.


08 Jun 12 - 12:39 AM (#3360806)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Ebbie

Speaking of 'full-throated songs", I shall never forget the spine-tingling of mine that resulted at my first Getaway as an introduced song very quickly became surround-sound. By the second verse/chorus I was bathed in dense song. I shall never forget it.


08 Jun 12 - 11:43 AM (#3360925)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: open mike

Kate Wolf's "Give Yourself to Love" is a good one...it starts out with:
"Kind friends all gather 'round,
there s something I would say,
What brings us together here,
has blessed us all today,
Love has made a circle,
that holds us all inside,
Where strangers are as family,
and lonliness can't hide."


08 Jun 12 - 10:08 PM (#3361136)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Genie

David Ingerson often shares this Tommy Sands song: "Let The Circle Be Wide"


Chris Williamson's song "Song Of The Soul" is another good one.   


A song circle at Artichoke Music in Portland (Oregon) in the early 2000s usually was kicked off by everyone singing "Pack Up Your Sorrows."

Lots of good choices.


08 Jun 12 - 10:14 PM (#3361138)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Genie

You Can't Keep Me From Singing?

Then there's Bill Staines's "A Place In The Choir."


09 Jun 12 - 12:38 AM (#3361165)
Subject: RE: Song Circle Openers
From: Genie

This one, as sung by Kathy Mattea, would be good for either an opener or a closer for a song circle: "Come From The Heart" (Clark & Leigh)

More good suggestions here: Songs about singing