January 2012 Session 3

Wren Music Trust travelled to Wells Cathedral School to lead the 30 Feeder students in a series of folk songs and traditions for the day.  They began with warm ups including body percussion and breathing exercises and then moved onto ways of working with the voice in different styles.  The students were taught a range of folk songs by ear (following the folk tradition) including harmonies and call and response songs from around the world.

After the break they were then taught the song ‘Gower Wassail’ and learnt the meaning of a Wassail.  They were then invited to transfer the melody line to their instruments and then get into groups to create a self-composed piece based on a part or all of the Gower Wassail song to be used as an attention grabber at the start of a Wassail as the door is opened.  The groups performed their work back to each other to give each other feedback and thoughts on how to develop it.

After lunch the focus moved to folk dancing and the use of voices as instruments to dance to when nothing else could be found.  The dancing was a great success with the students creating their own steps as well as dancing those that have been around for centuries.

The group then took their learnt songs out to the people of Wells in true ‘Wassail’ style and sung outside a sweet shop (following the Wassail tradition of asking for treats through song) and then in the square outside a café.

The day finished with an informal performance of the day’s work to parents which was a great success.