Sea Folk Sing (2018)
Performing 'Never Again' on the train from Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea - Sea Folk Sing (2018). Credit: Hope Fitzgerald
Sea Folk Sing is a choral production produced by SparkedEcho and commissioned by Ideas Test, which aims to involve more older people in the arts to improve health and wellbeing.
In 2018, the first year of the Sea Folk Sing project delivered a powerful and immersive music experience performed by older people in North Kent.
Never Again by Kent composer Emily Peasgood, commemorating 100 years since Armistice Day, was sung by 30 singers on the train route between Sittingbourne and Sheerness-on-Sea during Remembrance Sunday on 11 November. There was also a stop-off performance at Queenborough Station.
The final composition was inspired by stories and memories from the First World War, as well as content created by participants during workshops which took place over the summer. The Sea Folk Sing community choir which performed Never Again, was formed of local residents - some who had previously attended the creative workshops - and many with no experience of singing in a choir, or to a live public audience.
In total, ten performances took place during November across North Kent:
The 24 sound-based workshops delivered in Gravesend, Rochester, Sheerness and Sittingbourne, were led by local artists, that ranged from playing stringed instruments and songwriting, to digital live looping. The workshops explored themes including the journey from conflict to resolution, co-existence without fear and managing memory pathways.
In 2019, the second year of the project explores the theme of sea folklore in Kent. It is being programmed as a series of music workshops, new commissioned songs and ambitious site-specific performances. See more about The Changing of the Tide.
Sea Folk Sing is supported by the Celebrating Age programme, funded jointly by Arts Council England and The Baring Foundation with further funding from Kent County Council, Optivo and Involving Medway. The performances in 2018 were a partnership with Kent Community Rail Partnership, The Historic Dockyard Chatham and Medway Council.
In 2018, the first year of the Sea Folk Sing project delivered a powerful and immersive music experience performed by older people in North Kent.
Never Again by Kent composer Emily Peasgood, commemorating 100 years since Armistice Day, was sung by 30 singers on the train route between Sittingbourne and Sheerness-on-Sea during Remembrance Sunday on 11 November. There was also a stop-off performance at Queenborough Station.
The final composition was inspired by stories and memories from the First World War, as well as content created by participants during workshops which took place over the summer. The Sea Folk Sing community choir which performed Never Again, was formed of local residents - some who had previously attended the creative workshops - and many with no experience of singing in a choir, or to a live public audience.
In total, ten performances took place during November across North Kent:
- on the train route between Sittingbourne and Sheerness-on-Sea
- on and around Strood Station
- at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, including a live stream on YouTube
The 24 sound-based workshops delivered in Gravesend, Rochester, Sheerness and Sittingbourne, were led by local artists, that ranged from playing stringed instruments and songwriting, to digital live looping. The workshops explored themes including the journey from conflict to resolution, co-existence without fear and managing memory pathways.
In 2019, the second year of the project explores the theme of sea folklore in Kent. It is being programmed as a series of music workshops, new commissioned songs and ambitious site-specific performances. See more about The Changing of the Tide.
Sea Folk Sing is supported by the Celebrating Age programme, funded jointly by Arts Council England and The Baring Foundation with further funding from Kent County Council, Optivo and Involving Medway. The performances in 2018 were a partnership with Kent Community Rail Partnership, The Historic Dockyard Chatham and Medway Council.
