SOUND CLIPS
Just click on the song title to hear a 20 second clip of the choir in live performance. You will need an MP3 player like Windows Media Player or similar. You can also listen to previews (and buy!) individual tracks from our latest live CD: a decade in harmony from CDBaby or iTunes. Or you can buy our CDs from this very website.
- Imaweni (Malawi) (230KB)
An Easter song from the Christian church: "Rejoice, he is risen". Both halves of the song have the same meaning. The first is in Tombuka, spoken in the north of Malawi, the second in Chichewa, the national language.
- Hail Smiling Morn (England) (218KB)
Traditional South Yorkshire carol associated with Easter. Written by Reginald Spofforth (1770-1827), who lived near Nottingham. Still sung in pubs today in glorious four-part harmony.
- Lowlands away (England) (291KB)
A traditional sea shanty. Arranged by musical director Chris Rowbury.
- Tebe poem (Russia) (297KB)
Composed by Dimitri Bortniansky (1751 — 1825) probably for the "Imperial Chapel" choir under the patronage of Catherine the Great. The words mean: "We praise you, we bless you, we sing for you Lord."
- Tsena, tsena (Israel) (313KB)
"Come out, come out, come out, come out, girls, and see the soldiers in the village. Do not, do not, do not, do not, do not be afraid of a brave soldier."
- Fhir a' bhata (Scotland)
(225KB)
This is a gorgeous song from the West of Scotland, very well known among Gaelic speakers. It was written in the late 18th century by Jane Finlayson of the Isle of Lewis for a fisherman from Uig who she later married. The song is written in the voice of a young woman who is wondering if the boatman she loves will ever return. Scottish Gaelic is fiendishly difficult to learn for us Southerners, so excuse our pronunciation!
- Mravalžamier (Georgia)
(240KB)
"Mravalžamier" is the name of a large number of rural and urban table songs. It means Many happy returns. May God give you long life. Literally: years and epochs of happiness to you. They are sung at feasts or supras as they are called in Georgian, where participants wish one another health and a long life. This version is an Imeretian (western Georgia) urban table song. Musically, it is based on European harmony. The song is performed with an uplifting character, loudly. "We must raise the roof with this song".
- Maliarka (Russian gypsy) (224KB)
Maliarkitsa (a girl) is walking through the wood. Pashkale (a boy) follows her, he is sad. Pashkale addresses Maliarkitsa: "Let's run away, Darling". Then he addresses the Night: "Dark night, help us".
- Thousands or more (England) (191KB)
Song from the Copper Family of Rottingdean, Sussex. The Copper family have been singing in this distinctive, English southern harmony style for over 200 years and at times it really shows. Family has lived there since at least 16th C.