Twice a year Chris Rowbury creates a choir from scratch over just six rehearsals. There are no auditions and all songs are taught by ear. The idea is that we go on an imginary Singing Safari collecting exotic songs from around the world. The Singing Safar...  moreTwice a year Chris Rowbury creates a choir from scratch over just six rehearsals. There are no auditions and all songs are taught by ear. The idea is that we go on an imginary Singing Safari collecting exotic songs from around the world. The Singing Safari began at the Warwick Folk Festival in 2006, and continued in 2011 when Chris moved to Suffolk. The winter Safari ends in a shared concert in Ipswich, and the summer Safari is a free half hour performance outdoors. Each Safari learns about eight songs in 3- and 4-part harmony.  less

"My sweetheart ... ... is wearing a red fez ... has black eyes, and honey lips. Does he want to kiss me? I’d give all the czar’s treasure for it." This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one ni...  more"My sweetheart ... ... is wearing a red fez ... has black eyes, and honey lips. Does he want to kiss me? I’d give all the czar’s treasure for it." This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the winter are performed at St. Peters by the Waterfront, Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

Traditional African-American spiritual This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. The...  moreTraditional African-American spiritual This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the winter are performed at St. Peters by the Waterfront, Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  

Gospel. Not sure of the source, but possibly an arrangement of a song written by the Williams Brothers, a traditional black gospel music group from Jackson, Mississippi formed in 1960. This is a slowed down version with the word 'God' replaced with 'love'...  moreGospel. Not sure of the source, but possibly an arrangement of a song written by the Williams Brothers, a traditional black gospel music group from Jackson, Mississippi formed in 1960. This is a slowed down version with the word 'God' replaced with 'love'.   This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the winter are performed at St. Peters by the Waterfront, Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

Zulu civil rights song, one which came to be sung at political funerals in the 1980s. What have we done? We shall meet in heaven This outdoor performance was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night onl...  moreZulu civil rights song, one which came to be sung at political funerals in the 1980s. What have we done? We shall meet in heaven This outdoor performance was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the summer are performed outdoors near Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

Hawaiian proverb set to music. "Love is like a healing dew washing away all hurt". From Lila Flood, arranged by Nickomo. This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summe...  moreHawaiian proverb set to music. "Love is like a healing dew washing away all hurt". From Lila Flood, arranged by Nickomo. This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the winter are performed at St. Peters by the Waterfront, Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

“Mravalžamier” is the name of a large number of rural and urban table songs from the Republic of Georgia. 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 a...  more“Mravalžamier” is the name of a large number of rural and urban table songs from the Republic of Georgia. 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 is an urban version. This type of song is sometimes labelled Kutaisian because the town of Kutaisi (in western Georgia) is considered the centre in western urban songs, which are based on European harmony. This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the winter are performed at St. Peters by the Waterfront, Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com For the first time we were joined by the vo...    less

The Singing Safari has been on the road for five weeks now collecting exotic songs from all over the world. Just 6 days to go before we arrive at Holywells Park in Ipswich to perform the songs we've gathered. Tired, dusty and a few less people in o...

South African gospel song: "Say yes to salvation. Our home is in heaven, this is a promise, So say yes to salvation." Part of the winter Singing Safari concert, Ipswich 2013. From the Singing of the Soweto Gospel Choir, arranged by Chris Rowbury. This ...  moreSouth African gospel song: "Say yes to salvation. Our home is in heaven, this is a promise, So say yes to salvation." Part of the winter Singing Safari concert, Ipswich 2013. From the Singing of the Soweto Gospel Choir, arranged by Chris Rowbury. This concert was the culmination of a six-week project which creates a choir from scratch for one night only. Each winter and summer, Chris Rowbury gathers a random bunch of singers from in and around Ipswich. There are no auditions and all songs are taught and learnt by ear. Usually eight songs are learnt in six two-hour sessions and in the winter are performed at St. Peters by the Waterfront, Ipswich. http://chrisrowbury.com  less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   A few years ago I was asked by BBC Radio Suffolk to create a choir from scratch to perform in a concert in aid of Children in Need: The Big Night Out...