Aubergines English/Ukrainian song sharing – FLOW Orchard, 2nd July 2023
writing by Chris Brierley of The Aubergines, Exeter Community Family Orchestra

A Ukrainian flag hanging in the branches of an almond tree at the Exwick Mill Field end of the Flow Community Orchard marked our gathering point.

And what a gathering!

Aubergines Family Orchestra regulars were joined by the wonderfully charismatic Ukrainian accordionist and singer Sasha, the trombonist Matt Harrison (Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Associate from Cornwall) bolstering pulsating base lines and improvising mellifluous solos, and the irresistibly energetic and compelling trio of Ukrainian vocalists and dancers lead by our translator and dance teacher, Mariana.

As we went through our last minute preparations and got used to playing, singing and dancing outdoors, food for the picnic began to appear. Special thanks to the people who walked through the long grass of the orchard with large platters piled with Ukrainian specialities. Our picnic became a feast of shared food.

The circle widened as our audience arrived, including Tess Read, the deputy Lord Mayor of Exeter.

The performances were rich and varied, from the haunting Ukrainian folk song ‘Cherry Orchard’ to the gloriously upbeat and irreverent ‘Ty Zh Mene Pidmanula’ (with a superb theatrical performance from Sasha), from the exquisite close harmony of ‘Sweet Nightingale’ (performed by Thomasin and Hetty) to the rousing hornpipe ‘Roll the Old Chariot Along’.

Two other highlights amongst many were Aubergines member Matthew Dixon waltzing like a Ukrainian, and Ilya, a young Ukrainian Aubergines member, walking slowly anti-clockwise around our large circle leading the group at the start of ‘Green Grow the Rushes, O’.

Our much-loved leader and guide Emma Welton attempted to bring proceedings to a close at the end of the programme only to be told that we couldn’t possibly finish without a friendship dance. We joined hands and danced, again anti-clockwise, lead by Sasha and Mariana. Although we were many there was a gap in our circle. It felt to me like a gap left to remember absent friends and loved ones. There was a feeling of great poignancy alongside the great generosity and celebration.

Hopefully all we left in the orchard was a large circle of trampled grass, now fully recovered.

Once again the people of Exwick and St Thomas’s turned up to celebrate their new Orchards, planted along the river just a couple of years ago. What a great excuse to carry on the Winter festival, all the way to the old twelfth night. We did this by Wassailing- an ancient Angolo-Saxon custom of visiting orchards and singing to the trees to promote a good harvest for the coming year. This custom has been nearly all forgotten but has seen a revival in the last few years here in the South West, which is the prime cider producing region in the country. We here in Exeter will want to do our bit to keep this ritual alive!

The weekend was kicked off at Exwick church hall by storytelling, practising the Wassailing song and making lanterns and head decorations for the parade. At dusk the whole theatrical procession headed slowly for the Orchard at the end of the flood channel, where the ‘Toastmaster’ waited with his big roaring fire and flagon full of mulled Cider. ‘Sentinel’ and ‘Wind’ lead the large crowd of tree spirits, musicians and revellers – all singing and chanting as the sun was going down. Once by the Orchard, the Wassailing cup was passed around to much merriment, well wishes and cheers. We sang, danced and banged our pots and pans to frighten away bad spirits. Hot mulled cider and roaring fire warmed us while we lingered in the darkening night. When it couldn’t get more magical- it did! The otherworldly characters, ‘Sentinel’ and ‘Wind’, started their walk and dance around the orchard. They were shining in the night in their eerie whiteness and their extraordinary costumes, carrying a fire and gliding amongst the trees.

The same was repeated the following night at the Orchard by Trews Weir. Only this time the crowd and merriment was even bigger and louder! The preparations were done at the Boatyard Bakery and the procession walked slowly past the harbour and over the bridge, singing and chanting, trumpets and pipes playing. The fire was roaring, the stars were out and we all had another magical night.

Our 200 new trees are now well and truly Wassailed! Let’s hope they will carry on thriving and bearing fruit in the years to come. And let’s all gather together again next January, to wrap up the Winter festivities and welcome the turning of the year in this magical way.

– written by Jaana Pinchard, Exwick resident

The wassail only happens with your involvement and support. To get involved next wassail next year as performer, steward, helper or co-organiser contact floworchardexe at gmail.com

All photos by Jenny Steer

We had a great couple of days! We started with activities for families including weaving threads for the Toastmaster costume, lanterns, adding stories to our storymap and a singing and musical warm up with Emma,. On Sunday the Wildlife Trust joined us making apple bird feeders and fat balls for birds which people took home. Tea and cakes were provided by local residents in Exwick and in Boatyard Bakery Emma provided a delicious tea of baked spuds and chilli. Heather then shared her stories of FLOW, shaped by your stories and observations of the river and FLOW and then we formed a dusk procession to each orchard.

Once greeted by the Toastmaster at the fire, this year played wonderfully by Crispin expert cider maker from Exeter Apples, we sang the Exeter Wassail, arranged for voice and Slack Ma Girdle, our wassail band, by Emma Welton leading into a crescendo of harmonies and pot bashing.  This year we had two more characters in our wassail story: the wind – who played in the trees (literally) with his tin whistle and alerted us to geese flying overhead across the moon with his weather vain (see if you can spot them in the picture) and Sentinel, protector of the orchard, who blessed the trees in the orchard and came back bearing liquid sunshine (cider) which was then passed round for all in the wassail bowl. Music and merriment continued with warm mulled cider and apple juice as darkness fell and we then went on the Thatched House Pub and the Topsham Brewery for further music and song.  As ever, thanks to the many people who helped make this happen including Emma from Boatyard Bakery, Helen in Exwick who stitched the Sentinel’s dress and Theatre Alibi. Please do join us next year. We are evolving a new tradition and you are very welcome to come and be part of the story.

Exwick photographed by brilliant FLOW photographer Jenny Steer

ST THOMAS/TREWS RELIEF:

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