The Songmen male voic a-cappella firsttime to visit China in 2013

The Songmen male voic a-cappella 2013 first

time to visit China

Group introduction

The Songmen are an international multi-award winning a cappella ensemble. In 2011 they won awards in the sacred and profane categories at the prestigious Tolosa International Choral Contest and in 2012 they were one of only three British groups to be nominated for the Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards in the USA, for their jazz album Midnight.

With an enviable reputation as one of the UK's finest and most versatile a cappella groups, The Songmen possess a wealth of experience from the worlds of classical, sacred, and popular music, balancing their love for the old Renaissance masters with a passion for exciting contemporary composers through commissioning and performing their own original material.

Regardless of what they sing, the universal principles of perfect tonal blend, colour, and precise intonation are fiercely strived for and shine through every performance.

Members introduction

Guy Lewis Countertenor

“Singing is in my blood. I grew up listening to old Mario Lanza and Luciano Pavarotti records that my Dad and I used to sing along to; he had a fine tenor voice. However, it was not until I received a video from my Mum for Christmas titled ‘The Art of The King’s Singers’ (boyhood idols turned friends and esteemed a cappella colleagues) that I realised that singing with other people without musical accompaniment could be so evidently rewarding. I was hooked.
I threw myself into my singing by convincing Mum and Dad to let me start at Tewkesbury Abbey as a 12 year old which in treble voice terms made me quite old. I think that injection of slight panic due to my age fostered a real enthusiasm (some say it is unhinged) that has remained with me throughout my life as a professional singer.
I can honestly say that I feel privileged to have been part of this amazing journey that has seen us come from a humble thrown together bunch of lay clerks to an internationally touring professional award winning a cappella ensemble.

Ben Sawyer Countertenor

“I am now into my fifth year as a member of The Songmen, and I really feel that it is the most enjoyable and most challenging musical experience I have had to date. I grew up singing in churches and cathedrals, wonderful places with wonderful people, and this gave me my love of all things choral. From my early days at Kingston Parish Church I took every opportunity to sing that I could get and I thank my then Director of Choral Music at school for putting me on the countertenor line as, for some reason, that's what my voice seemed to want to do. I went on from there to enjoy some great times at Birmingham, Gloucester and latterly Tewkesbury Abbey.
I've already had some great opportunities with The Songmen. After our first visit to Lübeck as a fledgling a cappella group in 2009, I thought I would try my hand at arranging for the group and am happy to say that this seemed to have been a good decision. Aside from my singing, I am principal arranger and this involves researching songs suitable for us to perform and working out interesting and new sound worlds for these songs. This has als led me to composing original works for the group as well. As an educationalist, I also take a leading role in our work in schools and look forward to building on this over the coming months and years

Rob Waters Tenor

“I came to professional singing later than the rest of the group: I'm the only Songman who wasn't a chorister, and although I did some choral singing at school and as an undergraduate, for a long time I had a very different career in mind. Joining the choir of St Mary's, Nottingham aged 23 finally opened my ears to the glorious music of the English church tradition. I was hooked.
Moving to the West country, and singing at Bristol and Gloucester cathedrals, led me inexorably to the world of The Songmen. I first heard them perform in 2010 and jumped at the chance to audition when a vacancy came up later that year. Before long the tours, concerts and recordings (and the endless barrage of music to learn off by heart) had taken over my life.
I enjoy enormously the jazz and pop repertoire of The Songmen, and have even contributed a few arrangements of my own; but the early music I was introduced to in the choir stalls remains my first love.”

Chris Monk Baritone

“Now I'm a (kinda) grown-up, I look back on my history and realise that what felt very normal to me back in the day is possibly something quite alien to many people, especially our supporters outside of the UK. I grew up in the leafy Home Counties and went to that oh-so British institution – the choir school, where as a nine-year old, I became most accustomed to daily rehearsals before and after school and performing regular services, concerts and tours.
This early exposure to music continued throughout my school-life and culminated in me studying music at Edinburgh University - quite simply, my favourite city which I always look forward to visiting (and its NOTHING to do with it having the highest density of pubs per square mile in the world...).
Keeping in my chorister tradition, I have held lay clerkships in Edinburgh, Gloucester and most recently, Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum. Sacred singing is a big part of my life but I have always felt the need to explore different styles and opportunities that sacred music does not fulfil, but singing with The Songmen does.
It would be easy to say that the best part of being a ‘Songman’ is getting to travel around the UK and abroad and meeting some simply brilliant people and singing in some wonderful locations, but great as that is, the best part of being a Songmen is not just that, but getting to do it with my friends.”

Nick Ashby Baritone

“It's easy to forget how lucky you are, as a musician, to be doing what you love for a living. Having grown up in a heavily musical family in the ‘rougher’ end of Oxford singing, playing instruments and going to concerts was common place for all my formative years.
After graduating from the University of York (in Music of course) I moved straight to London and into freelance singing. Ensemble and a cappella singing has always been one of my favourite types of performance. Footnotes, York University's finest (and only, at the time) barbershop quartet helped cultivate that love.
The thing that makes the Songmen so rewarding as a member is its democratic nature. When musicians work together unconducted they all personally invest so much more in the music. In rehearsals people will fight for their personal musical opinions and be a little bit proud when performing knowing that that moment was their idea. For the sort of repertoire The Songmen focus on this approach transforms the music, creating much more engaging performances.”

Jon Beasley Bass

“I often ponder what my life might have been had I not found a love for music… to date I have not really come up with an answer, except I can't help feeling it would be much less interesting.
It all started one Friday evening when I was around 10 years old. I was playing football with my friend Dan and, for a reason inexplicable to me, he called time early on our game and said he was heading off to choir practice.
This happened on several occasions and I started to wonder what it was about and how it could be more interesting than football. So I went along, sang in the fantastic surroundings of Tewkesbury Abbey, made some great friends and that was it – I was addicted!
Fast forward twenty or so years and I'm pleased to say that I have been heavily involved in music since then. I can't help feeling that, what at the time appeared to be a slightly strange combination of choral singer by day and jazz musician by night, was actually just preparing me for now.
So, do I love singing with The Songmen – in a word, yes.

Education

Working with other singers is one of the group's favourite activities and educational work is seen as a very important part of the Songmen's vocation, whether that's leading masterclasses at a school, running workshops for a choral society, or judging competitions.

Building on last season's work with the a cappella groups at Oundle School and the Junior choirs at Bedford Modern Junior School, this year the group will be leading masterclasses and workshops at Tewkesbury School and Dean Close School in Gloucestershire.

Media comment

One of those groups I could listen to for hours.” Aled Jones, BBC Radio Three

“Crisp, tight, cool arrangements… The Real Group had better watch out.” John Rutter, Eminent British Composer

Programe

Midnight

This cool collection of jazz and pop songs is complimented with folk and spiritual favourites from the group’s lighter repertoire and will surely have you tapping your feet and wanting to dance.
It features many songs from the group’s CARA nominated album ‘Midnight’, as well as other favourites. You’ll be taken on a journey from folk and spirituals through 1920’s jazz, 1980’s soul and into the most current classic pop genre. Many of the arrangements in this programme are by members of the group and are only ever performed by The Songmen.

Down in the River – Traditional, arr. Philip Lawson

Were You There? – Traditional, arr. Rob Waters

Swing Low – Traditional, arr. Philip Lawson

Bright Eyes – Mike Batt, arr. Ben Sawyer

Gimme That Wine – John Hendricks, arr. Ben Sawyer

Cheek to Cheek – Irving Berlin, arr. Pickard

Music to Watch Girls By – Bob Crewe, arr. Ben Sawyer

Stand By Me – King, Leiber & Stoller, arr. Ben Sawyer

Il est bel et bon – Pierre Passereau

La Guerre – Clément Janequin

Interval

It Was a Lover and His Lass – John Rutter Come

Live With Me – John Rutter

Ye Banks and Braes – Traditional, arr. Ben Sawyer Skye

Boat Song – Traditional, arr. Ben Sawyer

Londonderry Air – Traditional, arr. Peter Knight

Take the ‘A’ Train – Billy Strayhorn, arr. Ben Sawyer

Heartbeats – Dreijer-Anderson & Dreijer, arr. Ben Sawyer

Round Midnight – Thelonious Monk, arr. Ben Sawyer

Classical Gas – Mason Williams, arr. Ben Sawyer

Lullabye – Billy Joel, arr. Philip Lawson

Mr. Bojangles – Jerry Jeff Walker, arr. Guy Lewis

I’m Crazy ‘bout My Baby – Fats Waller, arr. Ben Sawyer

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