Companion Voices – England UK

Companion Voices are groups of people located in the UK, who meet to learn songs and prepare together for singing at the bedsides of people who are dying. We sing for people on request and by arrangement.

“My experience of learning to become a Companion Voice has been profoundly rewarding and satisfying. It is a great privilege to be able to offer the gift of our voices and our support to those who wish to accept it”  ~ Kay.

Learning groups typically have up to sixteen participants, with the idea of creating close-knit and trusting relationships – vocally and emotionally. Participants pay to be part of the learning groups and, after an initial session to be sure there is a good fit with the group, commit to blocks of sessions; these are not drop-in singing groups and a steady set of people is necessary. It is intended that, as soon as possible, funding be found so that participants may join learning groups free of charge. Read more…

Judith Silver – Founder

Judith Silver founded the first of these groups in Brighton, February 2014. Inspired by the Threshold Choirs in the States and having had the vision and intention to start such a project in the UK for over a decade, she had long been waiting for the time to feel right.

Interview with Judith:
Judith was interviewed in August 2015 by Gil Karpas from JMI about the project, please listen below: 

Bedside Singing

At any time, people who would like to have singing at their own or a friend or family member’s bedside can contact their local group and arrange for a small number (probably between two and four members) to come and sing. This may take place in a family home, residential home, hospital, hospice or wherever the person happens to be. There is no charge for this, though if people want to make a donation to Companion Voices they are free to do so. Read more…

The Songs

Companion Voices’ songs are chosen to serve the purpose of creating a soundscape for people that will be comforting, relaxing and undemanding. To this end, they are simple and repetitive, drawn from a wide range of different traditions, and may have words in languages unknown to the recipient. Singers are trained to sing these songs but also to respond intuitively in the moment, perhaps improvising, taking the volume up or down, tapering to a single voice, hum or whatever seems the best fit.

It is possible for more familiar songs to be woven in on the request of the recipient, their friends or family, but this is not the real thrust of the idea: the singing is not for the purpose of entertainment or ‘cheering up’, but more to accompany and honour the person or people receiving it; not to pull them back towards life and the familiar but to allow them to progress forward knowing they are not alone; to give them a sense that their experience is held and acknowledged by the singers and their voices as they take their leave of life. Read more…