We held our annual Suzi Gold Memorial Workshop on Saturday 14th July 2012. Below see a report by BBCM parent Tom Campbell and see also some of the song texts performed at the Workshop.

On the morning of July 14th, the children and adults of the Bela Bartok Centre for Musicianship (BBCM) gathered at Central School of Speech & Drama for what was the 5th annual Suzi Gold Memorial Workshop. As with previous years, the event was expertly hosted by Agnes Kory and featured members of Suzi’s family.
The musical programme of the Workshop was largely based around Suzi Gold’s life and passions, reflecting the places where she lived, and which were of particular significance to her musically. It began therefore, with Nkosi Sikelel iAfrica (“Lord Bless Africa”), a 19th century hymn that has since become a pan-African liberation anthem, and which is strongly associated with the Transvaal region in South Africa where Suzi was born. Suzi moved to Edinburgh while still a child, and so this was followed by a good-humoured rendition of the Scottish folk ballad My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, in which groups of children enjoyed singing variations on the traditional verses. Later songs, such as the Mosquito song, were focused on Suzi’s musical experiences, particularly those which were instrumental in the establishment of the BBCM, such as the trip that the Gold family made with Agnes, while Suzi’s children were still very young, to Budapest, Bayreuth and St Petersburg. Everyone then enjoyed singing some of Suzi’s most loved songs including the Ode to Joy. [Agnes Kory: California Blue by Roy Orbison, Suzi’s favourite pop song, was also planned for the Workshop but it had to be dropped for technical reasons.]
In the second half of the programme the children of BBCM performed pieces they had learned to the rest of the group. Both playing instruments and singing, this gave them the opportunity to perform songs from their own traditions and cultures. Given the rich diversity of languages and ethnicities among BBCM families, it meant that a wide range of musical talents could be heard, including Thalassaki, a folk song about the sea from southern Greece city; a traditional Japanese song based on an old legend; some French violin pieces; an Irish-Gaelic duet and a Scottish ballad.
The event was a wonderful tribute to the life and legacy of Suzi, and the joy that she gave so many. It also provided young children with their first experience of performing in a public setting and also learning music from across the world. The enjoyment and warm response to every song that was heard demonstrated the strong feelings of friendship, internationalism and shared love of music that make BBCM so special.
Tom Campbell (father of BBCM pupils Asa, Clem and Theo)

Description and English translation for some of the song texts which were performed in original languages in the second half of the Workshop:

Philomena (mother of Aaron and Odin) in Gaelic
Irish-Gaelic Songs: Beidh Aonach Amárach, (There's a Fair Tomorrow)
There's a fair tomorrow in County Clare [x3]
How good will it be, without me there?
Oh Mother, will you let me go alone? [x3],
My little Darling don't be complaining about it.
You"re not ten or eleven yet
When you're thirteen you're big enough.

Angelos and his father George: Greek song
The song is called "Thalassaki", which means "little sea" (Thalassa means sea in Greek). It is a folk song from Kalamata, the southest city in Greece, famous for its fantastic beaches olives, olive oil and the folk dance called "Kalamatianos" which has a rhythm of 7/8. "Oh Sea, my little Sea, don't beat the sailors with your waves and bring back my beloved one. Oh Sea and salty water, I can never forget you!"

Clara and mother Yoko: Japanese song
The Star Festival originates from Chinese legend of the two bright stars, Altair and Vega.
Vega, a weaving girl, and Altair, a cowherd boy, loved each other. They had so much fun being together they stopped working hard. The king got angry and separated them by the big river, Milky Way. He allowed them to meet once a year across the Milky Way only on the night of July 7th.
On that day, people decorate bamboo branches with paper strips and ornaments to celebrate their reunion. It is believed that a wish comes true when you write your wish on the paper strips and hang them on the bamboo.
The song title is "Tanabata". The translation of the lyrics is:
Bamboo leaves are waving in the wind outside.
The stars are shining, like dust of gold and silver.
Five coloured paper strips with my wishes.
The stars are shining, looking on us from the sky.

Hyo Yoon Kang, mother of Julien, Korean song
The song is Arirang, a very famous Korean folk song. The word 'arirang' doesn't mean anything, but the verses are about life and love and they seem to be sung from a female perspective.
Korea is a completely mountainous country, which explains the refrain.
Refrain:
Arirang, Arirang, Arariyo,
Arirang over the Hill we go.
1st Verse:
If you leave and forsake me, my own,
Ere three miles you go, lame you'll have grown.
2nd Verse:
Wondrous time, happy time—let us delay;
Till night is over, go not away.
3rd Verse:
Arirang Mount is my Tear-Falling Hill,
So seeking my love, I cannot stay still.
4th Verse:
The brightest of stars stud the sky so blue;
Deep in my bosom burns bitterest rue.
5th Verse:
Man's heart is like water streaming downhill;
Woman's heart is well water—so deep and still.
6th Verse:
Young men's love is like pinecones seeming sound,
But when the wind blows, they fall to the ground.
7th Verse:
Birds in the morning sing simply to eat;
Birds in the evening sing for love sweet.
8th Verse:
When man has attained to the age of a score,
The mind of a woman should be his love.
9th Verse:
The trees and the flowers will bloom for aye,
But the glories of youth will soon fade away.