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 athttps://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/

This episode hears about Jean Durrand's,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  experience of being in the project and being involved in writing  'I Remember.' It also features beautiful creative writing pieces written from lines in 'I Remember' by Val Dijkman and Shirley James, and hears from Gina Rae about writing her arrangement of this amazing song.You can watch the video of the performance of I Remember at https://youtu.be/fB8WYwkosGA I REMEMBER (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) Lyrics by Jean Durrand with Sophie Bancroft, Val Dijkman and Shirley James and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group Music by Sophie Bancroft Choir Arrangement by Gina Rae Beautiful blue, terracotta smooth, holes worn through by the sea Close my eyes, carry me back to the tide Hold you in my pocket, feel you in my hand, link to where I belong Close my eyes, carry me back in time Take me there where the salty air And white spray catches my breath Wild and free when you call to me I remember…. Lazy summer days, cooling waves, gold sand, glistening skin Close my eyes, carry me back to the tide What will be, shaped by the sea, bringing clarity to my mind Close my eyes, carry me back in time Take me there where the salty air....... On a shore full of promise treasures can be found Far beyond where the land meets the sea Where the birds fly up high and sunlight paints the sky Waves bring me moonbeams Take me there where the salty air And white spray catches my breath Wild and free when you call to me I remember…. 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 songwriting group members discuss their involvement in the writing of Face In The Mirror, and  pianist and arranger Dave Milligan talk about his experience of the project.You can watch the video of the performance of  Face In The Mirror at https://youtu.be/3hYtCdKj47Y FACE IN THE MIRROR (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) Lyrics by The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group Music by Sophie Bancroft and Tom Lyne Choir arrangement by Dave Milligan Mirrors swear to tell the truth What they see they reproduce My face is hard to recognise The image here is not quite mine Still me reflecting time Like a fine red wine that satisfies And every line tells a story and every story is well read Although the days are sometimes stormy we weather on with no regret Contours on the map of life Sunkissed toil, laughter lines Still a sparkle smiling in my eyes I love the face that I can see I love the skin that covers me My younger self would be surprised And every line tells a story and every story is well read Although the days are sometimes stormy we weather on with no regret My skin, your skin, young skin, old skin, still feel young inside If they wrote me off at school now they see that I’m no fool With all that I have done in life My younger self would give advice Get balance right, be worldly wise Don’t work too hard, find time for play And every line tells a story and every story is well read Although the days are sometimes stormy we weather on with no regret My skin, your skin, young skin, old skin, still feel young inside

This episode from various participants in the project - choir members, songwriters, arrangers and audience members talk about their experiences of the project, and  also Barbara Hateley,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talks about her experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Hand-Me-Down.'You can watch the video of the performance of Hand-Me-Down at https://youtu.be/-O_6FZqdycc HAND-ME-DOWN (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) Lyrics by Barbara Hateley with Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group Music by Sophie Bancroft The soup-maker stands side by side with her daughter Onions, lentils and leeks fill the bench “I made this soup long ago with my mother” The soup-maker says The soup-maker moves in with daughter and family Pea and ham soup bubbles hot on the stove Wean in the high-chair wears pea and ham face paint The soup-maker smiles Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love The wean, now a mother, stands by her own daughter Mud covered carrots sit on the bench “I found them in the garden, can we make some soup?” Young soup-maker begs Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love The soup-maker lies in her bed in the care home Velvet brown, bone marrow broth, brought from home steams in a cup that is held by her daughter The soup-maker sips The soup-maker’s daughter returns to her family Holding the cup that was once full with broth Now filled with mem’ries of onions and lentils The soup-maker’s love Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love Hand me down, hand me down, I am warmth, nurture and love 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 some of the project's songwriting participants about why they were interested in joining the songwriting group, from audience members who attended some of the concerts, and  from Andrew Lorrain-Smith,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  who talks about his experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Grandad's Biscuit Tin.'You can watch the video of the performance of Grandad's Biscuit Tin at https://youtu.be/zFsr4DpckUc GRANDAD'S BISCUIT TIN (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) Lyrics by Andrew Lorrain-Smith and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group Music by Sophie Bancroft Too high for the kids, too high for myself Grandad’s tin sitting high on the shelf I try to stay full of things that taste sweet Things that I would choose to eat I’m battered and scratched and a little bit faded I sit here and watch the young growing up It seems to me they hurry too much Running around, feet off the ground Wasn’t that how I was found? I’m battered and scratched...... Listen my friends Let me tell you what I see from here It’s not the cards you get but more how you play Sometimes you win, other times you just walk away With an act of kindness every day So here I am now sitting up high Mem’ries filled with flavour and smiles Doing nothing is fine, I’m savouring time Not quite full but satisfied I’m battered and scratched...... Listen my friends...... Too high for the kids Too high for myself Grandad’s tin sitting high on the shelf I try to stay full Of things that taste sweet Things that I would choose to eat I’m battered and scratched...... 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 sees Here We Are project leader  Sophie Bancroft and Ken Cockburn, from Autumn Voices , discuss how the Here We Are project started. It also hears from various choir members about their love of being in The Pathhead Choir, and  Sue Lewis,  one of the Here We Are project songwriters,  talks about her experience of being in the project and being involved in writing the song 'Tree Of Life.'You can watch the video of the performance of Tree Of Life at https://youtu.be/cRUAqy56tTA TREE OF LIFE (a song created from The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Project - Here We Are) Lyrics by Sue Lewis with Sophie Bancroft and The Pathhead Choir Songwriting Group, Music by Sophie Bancroft You are drawn to me, my life, my age, my strength My ancient wisdom For I have seen more days Than you will ever know. Seeded, I begin as you do and my skin is scarred by life a life drawn in lines that show only when broken Rooted, to touch the sky Rooted, to spread my arms Rooted, in the soil I bend the battering winds The earth my holdfast But we all break sometimes Find healing in the green, the red, the gold of turning seasons And like me find renewal, autumn, fall and spring Until I stand no moreI lay here on forest floor Tho living yet the sleeping dragonfilling children’s dreams Rooted, to touch the sky......... You are drawn to me, my strength, my age, my life my ancient wisdom Long years I offer shelter to the young and old Though you’re drawn to me you don’t see the role I take to cleanse and to heal our beautiful world 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/