The South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty 50th Anniversary Celebration Community Band (otherwise known as “the band with the very long name”) formed in March 2011. This AONB community project brought in Steve Banks, founder of Blue Jewel, a South Devon based contemporary folk and acoustic group.
During a one day workshop facilitated by members of Blue Jewel, participants wrote, co-wrote and arranged songs and tunes inspired by the beauty and history of the AONB. The ‘band with the longest name’ gave its first performance at the Flavel Arts Centre, Dartmouth on 18th March 2011 as part of the AONB's 50th anniversary Golden Showcase evening.
The band is made up of local children, enthusiastic adult amateurs, and members of Blue Jewel, and directed by Steve. (We hope to perform again in the future. If you are interested in joining the band, please contact Steve, steve@bluejewel.info. You need to be grade 2 or above, able to read music, and age 10 or above).
Beauty to Treasure
In July 2011, we recorded the songs and tunes at Hirondelle Studios in Stoke Gabriel, under the collective title “Beauty to Treasure“. Listen to the tracks we recorded using the Audio Clips player, right. The words of the three songs are below.
1. Rushing Waters. Words: Tabitha Whates. Music: Tabitha Whates, Mike Vickery & Steve Banks
2. Greenway Rag. Tabitha Whates.
3. Evening Grace. Words: poem by Graham Searle (“the Muse of Devon”). Music: Bill Trezise and Steve Banks.
4. Falling Leaves. Matilda Whates.
5. Soar Mill Cove. Libby, Ella and Heather Greenberg, and Steve Banks.
6. Slate of Hand. Words and Music: Valerie Belsey, arr. Steve Banks
7. Devon Broom Dance / Heel & Toe Polka. Trad. Devon dance tunes.
Rushing Waters
by Tabitha Whates (song version of a poem)
Sometimes (just sometimes) in the fresh morning air
I stop by the rushing waters.
When, oh when, will my dream come true?
When, oh when, will my dream come true?
I pluck a sweet dream from deep in my heart
And toss it in the clear flowing river.
When, oh when, will my dream come true?
When, oh when, will my dream come true?
I toss that sweet dream into the clear flowing river,
And let it be guided through meadows, valleys,
Fields and mountains, ‘till it reaches a distant shore.
Then, only then, will my dream come true.
Then, only then, will my dream come true.
