SONGER’S COPSE
The quartet’s name—somewhere near a pun—is a real place, along The Singing Way in Wytham Wood, on the hill above their usual rehearsal venue.
Songers’ first year was spent developing sophisticated a cappella arrangements that included close harmony as a counterpoint to Sacred Harp and folk songs. Then a visit to Harwich International Shanty Festival in 2023 made it clear that there was ample scope to concentrate on their original objective, shanties and sea songs, which had the advantage of being far easier for four guys with busy lives to learn!
A well-presented shanty needs the right mixture of a strong tune, authentic lyrics, harmony and gutsiness, plus a chorus or refrain that’s easily taken up by the audience. This is what Songer’s Copse delivers with conviction and clarity. And if you’ve a taste for West Gallery and close harmony, that’s still available, too.
Songers Copse has four corners: David Barrington (bass), Mark Fry (baritone), Ian Wheeler (baritone) and Dick Wolff (tenor). They’d be pleased to receive your booking enquiries for folk clubs, festivals, workshops and concerts within travelling distance of Oxford.
See https://www.steamage.co.uk/wp1/songers-copse-debut-at-folk-weekend-oxford/
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