Oxford Celebrates May Day the Virtual Way

One of the great traditions of our lovely city is to celebrate May Morning, with the choir singing Hymnus Eucharisticus,from the top of Magdalen College tower at 6.00am to welcome in the spring.

We couldn’t do that this year, however, with the power of technology, we could still celebrate this iconic and historic celebration virtually.

The choir sang and local community band, Horns of Plenty,played  ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ to be joined by people singing along all over the city from doors and windows. Here we have film of Robert Grayson, one of our star volunteers, and the other from the Church of St Mary & St John’s Cowley Road

‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’  was chosen because it has existing links to the Coronavirus community and has been used as a symbol of support for the NHS all over the country, has, links to last year’s May Morning choir singing and celebrates the diversity of our great city. More than ever this year the lyrics seem apt.

You can download the sheet music * for a range of instruments including ukulele/guitar (in the key of G) via this the Dropbox link https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kvmcfgykgsysasd/AAAyO4c8UAxPqpAPrDqKLpLya?dl=0 or from the Horns of Plenty website. https://www.hornsofplenty.co.uk/event/may-morning-4/ .

Download the Somewhere over the Rainbow Lyrics).