Saturday's Summer Songsters

Bob and I went into Norwich on Saturday to St Peter Mancroft Church [on the fourth corner of the square housing the Market, City Hall and The Forum Building] Every Saturday at 1pm, there is a free concert. I have wanted to attend one for ages, but never got round to it - and suddenly there was a free day and we could - so we did!

The Mancroft Music series is very diverse- soloists, ensembles, choirs - lots of organ stuff, and all types of music to suit all tastes. This weekend was the turn if The Wokingham Choral Society. 24 members of their group [60+ on the list] were doing a tour of East Anglian Venues.
Entitled "A Song for Summer" is was mostly John Rutter pieces, from his "Sprig of Thyme" suite based on British Folk Songs - but halfway through we had a lovely SaintSaens piece, on the larger of the two church organs

It was delightful. I recognised some titles on the programme - The bold Grenadier, The Keel Row, I know where I'm going, Now is the month of Maying etc - but "O can ye sew cushions?" was a new one. I looked forward to that - but when it came to it, I was not so keen!**

Then we went back to the Forum where the African Market was in full swing. Glorious Wax Print tops and dresses, smells of delicious foods, and cheerful music resounding round the space, dancers, choirs and bands having fun in the sun

Bob bought some Jolloff Rice Paste . Then we went into the Millennium Library and both selected a pile of craft books [his woodwork, mine needlework] 

Then we came home and sat in the summerhouse with long cool drinks and relaxed and read them! What a lovely day we'd had.

** To be fair, the conductor did explain the song was a lullaby, by Robert Burns, and therefore contains "baby talk" I made little sense of it at the time, and having come home and looked it up, I am still no wiser. Catriona, Ann and other friends north of the border - do you know this one??

O can ye sew cushions? And can ye sew sheets?
And can ye sing ballooloo when the bairn greets?
And hee and haw birdie, and hee and haw lamb;
And hee and haw, birdie, my bonnie wee lamb!

Heeo, weeo, what wou'd I do wi' you?
Black's the life that I lead wi' you;
Mony o' ye, little for to gie you.
Heeo, weeo, what wou'd I do wi' you?

I biggit the cradle upon the treetop,
And aye as the wind blew, my cradle did rock.
O hush a baw baby, o ba lil li loo,
And hee and baw, birdie, my bonnie wee doo.

Heeo, weeo, what wou'd I do wi' you?
Black's the life that I lead wi' you;
Mony o' ye, little for to gie you.
Heeo, weeo, what wou'd I do wi' you?