This episode hears various project participants thoughts about the overall project, and hears from some of the songwriter participants about the challenges of collaboration. It also hears from Mags Bryan,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talk about her experience of being in the project, sharing a piece of her creative writing and being involved in writing the song 'Here We Are.' Arranger Tom Bancroft shares his thoughts about the project and writing the anthemic arrangement of Here We Are which gave its name to the entire project.

You can watch the video of the performance of Here We Are at 
https://youtu.be/8hqCrWjrDM8

 HERE WE ARE (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Mags Bryan and Val Dijkman with Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 
Choir arrangement by Tom Bancroft 

Restless thoughts, restless skies, friends there to empathise 
Time to wander and breathe the air 
Lives woven day by day, crossing paths, we find our way 
Summer sun and winter blues 

Here we are walking together 
Here we are with stories to tell 
Here we are to share the message 
And sing out loud that we’re still here 

Nature’s song, time to sow, learn slowly to let go 
Live each moment to the full 
Friendships so long and deep, memories to make and keep 
Room to laugh and even cry 

Here we are walking together.... 
We are here, see our faces, hear our voices 
Tell the story, share the message, we are here 

Life’s a dance, set us free, speak truth with honesty 
New adventures every day 
Old age, a gift to share, more time for us to care 
Grow our wisdom, give ourselves 

Here we are walking together.... 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces.

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at
https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/

This episode hears from Val Dijkman and Shirley James, two of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talk about their experiences of being in the project and being involved in writing the moving song 'Feather.' And arranger Corrina Hewat discusses her reaction to first hearing Feather and then how she went about creating her stunning arrangement.

You can watch the video of the performance of Feather at 
https://youtu.be/Zr6IS_El1NE

 FEATHER (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Shirley James, Val Dijkman, Andrew Lorrain-Smith, Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft and Val Dijkman 
Choir arrangement by Corrina Hewat 

We played in the burn catching trout for the tea 
Alone in the woods just you and me 
Together we grew like Adam and Eve 
And the children arrived with laughter 

A feather floats down, without a sound 
As I sit here and remember 
Is it you, can you see the memories of you and me 
A feather floats down 
I miss you 

We travelled the world enjoyed being free 
Discovering more about you and me 
The grand-children came our lives became full with time to enjoy them growing 

A feather floats down....... 
You were never supposed to leave 

Seasons pass by, our garden grows on 
I sit by our tree still hearing our song 
Chill in the air but love keeps me warm as I treasure our time together 

A feather floats down, without a sound 
As I sit here and remember 
Is it you, can you see the memories of you and me 
A feather floats down 
I miss you 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project 
saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/ 

This episode hears from arranger Tom Lyne about his experience of being involved in Here We Are and writing his quirky arrangement for Beach Escape, and  from Helen Horsfall,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  who talks about her experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Beach Escape.'

You can watch the video of the performance of Beach Escape at 
https://youtu.be/z_a5U-TrQ0Y

 BEACH ESCAPE (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) 

Lyrics by Helen Horsfall & The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group 
Music by Sophie Bancroft 
Choir arrangement by Tom Lyne 

I’m going crazy here, stir crazy here 
Escape away from the day-to-day, dry mouth, clenched jaw, tired eyes, back sore 
Give me the space, wild wind on face, back to everybody’s childhood place 
Escape, let’s escape away to the beach! 

Full palette blues, sand golden hues, sundown reds, psychedelic confuse 
Flags fly high in a pebbledash sky, castles stand so proud and grand 
Escape, let’s escape let’s escape away to the beach! 
I’m Here at the Beach! 

Driftwood fire burns bright with desire, cavernous caves echo thunderous waves 
Sandy towels hide passion fever, salt on the lips, the kisses are quick 
Escape, let’s escape let’s escape away to the beach! 
Kodak moments, salty doughnuts, sunburnt bodies drinking whisky toddies 
Chips get cool, we’ll disappear, back to life with no souvenir 
Escape, let’s escape let’s escape away to the beach! 
I’m Here at the Beach!

 I’m going crazy here, stir crazy here 

HERE WE ARE - The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project 
saw Sophie Bancroft guiding a group of Pathhead Choir members aged 60+ to write original songs for The Pathhead Choir to perform. These songs were then arranged and notated for the choir by Pathhead Music Collective musicians and arrangers, rehearsed and performed by The Pathhead Choir, conducted by Sophie and choir co-leader Gina Rae, with Dave Milligan on piano. The choir gave three concerts around the Lothians in June 2023, performing eight new, original pieces. 

Full information about the project, and sheet music and choir arrangements can be found at https://autumnvoices.co.uk/projects/the-pathhead-choir/