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Sea shanty singers descend on Falmouth for international festival Sea shanty singers descend on Falmouth for international festival
(about 4 hours later)
They have braved the storms to reach the weather-battered Cornish port of Falmouth from France, Holland, Norway and various corners of the British Isles. Over the weekend they will be belting out songs about wild seas, nights of excessive drinking and the loneliness of life on the ocean wave - and knocking back more than a few pints of local ale and downing countless pasties. They have braved the storms to reach the weather-battered Cornish port of Falmouth from France, Holland, Norway and all over the British Isles. Over the weekend they will be belting out songs about wild seas, nights of excessive drinking and the loneliness of life on the ocean wave – and knocking back more than a few pints of local ale and downing countless pasties.
Some 30 groups made up of 350 singers have gathered in pubs, clubs and squares in the far south-west of Britain for one of the country's more curious of musical gatherings, the Falmouth international sea shanty festival. About 30 groups made up of 350 singers have gathered in pubs, clubs and squares in the far south-west of Britain for one of the country's more curious musical gatherings, the Falmouth international sea shanty festival.
"We do it because we want to keep a great tradition going,'' said John Warren, of the local shanty crew Falmouth Shout. ''There was a danger a few years ago that the custom of singing shanties in pubs was vanishing. That would have been a great shame. A group of us liked a bit of a shout [a raucous singsong] after a pint or two so we decided to set up our crew. In the last few years I think there's been a revival in interest." "We do it because we want to keep a great tradition going," said John Warren, of the local shanty crew Falmouth Shout. "There was a danger a few years ago that the custom of singing shanties in pubs was vanishing. That would have been a great shame. A group of us liked a bit of a shout [a raucous singsong] after a pint or two, so we decided to set up our crew. In the last few years I think there's been a revival in interest."
The sea shanty does appear to be undergoing something of a renaissance, and it is no longer the domain of grizzled old seafarers. Younger people are getting involved and, to the surprise of some purists, it is no longer an all-male world. Falmouth Shout comprises 11 men and nine women.The sea shanty does appear to be undergoing something of a renaissance, and it is no longer the domain of grizzled old seafarers. Younger people are getting involved and, to the surprise of some purists, it is no longer an all-male world. Falmouth Shout comprises 11 men and nine women.
''A few people do think it's a bit odd,'' said Jilly Slater, one of the crew's female stars. ''But we add an extra dimension and we don't want to be left out. I think the shanty is becoming more popular partly because it is easy and accessible. You don't need to be able to play an instrument, you don't even need to be able to sing that well.'' "A few people do think it's a bit odd," said Jilly Slater, one of the crew's female stars. "But we add an extra dimension and we don't want to be left out. I think the shanty is becoming more popular partly because it is easy and accessible. You don't need to be able to play an instrument, you don't even need to be able to sing that well."
Sea shanties - the word probably comes from the French word chanter - were originally sung as sailors carried out onerous tasks on board merchant ships. Sea shanties – the word probably comes from the French word chanter – were originally sung as sailors carried out onerous tasks on board merchant ships.
Different songs with different rhythms were used to accompany the various tasks - hauling the anchor, pulling on a particular rope and so on. A lead singer generally hollered out a short verse and the rest of the sailors joined in the chorus, heaving or pulling in time with the song. Different songs with different rhythms were used to accompany the various tasks – hauling the anchor, pulling on a particular rope and so on. A lead singer generally hollered out a short verse and the rest of the sailors joined in the chorus, heaving or pulling in time with the song.
Some of the most popular shanties such as Drunken Sailor and Donkey Riding are still taught to children, but enthusiasts felt there was a danger that the custom of getting together in a harbour-side pub for a shout was dying out. The unexpected success of the Cornish group Fisherman's Friends, who signed a major record deal and have performed at Glastonbury and the Royal Festival Hall in London, has helped the revival. Some popular shanties such as Drunken Sailor and Donkey Riding are still taught to children, but enthusiasts felt there was a danger that the custom of getting together in a harbour-side pub for a shout was dying out.
In Cornwall, a growing interest in identity, the local language and traditional arts and crafts may be helping. The increased popularity of the sport of pilot gig racing - pilot gigs are six-oared rowing boats - may also be a factor in the rebirth as a means to relax after a gruelling training session. The Falmouth festival is in its ninth year. It is growing and attracting more international groups every year. Alan Ramsden, the secretary of the Cornish shanty group Rum and Shrub (Shrub is an alcoholic cordial that takes the edge of tainted rum) said: "I think there is a resurgence in interest in live singing of all sorts. You do see youngsters getting involved, not just hoary old-timers like us who've been doing this for more than 20 years." The unexpected success of the Cornish group Fisherman's Friends, who signed a major record deal and have performed at Glastonbury and the Royal Festival Hall in London, has helped the revival, as has a growing interest in Cornish identity, language and traditional arts and crafts. The popularity of pilot gig racing – pilot gigs are six-oared rowing boats – may also be a factor, as a means to relax after a gruelling training session.
The Falmouth festival, now in its ninth year, is growing and attracting more international groups every year.
Alan Ramsden, the secretary of the Cornish group Rum and Shrub (shrub is an alcoholic cordial that takes the edge off tainted rum) said: "There is a resurgence in interest in live singing of all sorts. You do see youngsters getting involved, not just hoary old-timers like us, who've been doing this for more than 20 years."
The popularity of folk music has also helped, he said, and it is not only the good old songs like Strike the Bell and Rolling Home that are being performed. Some singer-songwriters are writing new shanties, giving the form a modern twist.The popularity of folk music has also helped, he said, and it is not only the good old songs like Strike the Bell and Rolling Home that are being performed. Some singer-songwriters are writing new shanties, giving the form a modern twist.
Neither do singers need salty air to form a decent shanty group. One of the groups taking part this weekend, Hobson's Choice, hails from landlocked Herefordshire. The foreign crews are welcomed with open arms. The Breton (don't call them French) and Dutch crews headed into Cornwall on overnight ferries. The Norwegian Shanty Singers flew in from Bergen. Their group was established 40 years ago and was originally made up of only master mariners who had rounded Cape Horn. The membership criteria are more relaxed now. Group leader Roald Saetre, a retired marine scientist, said his crew sang shanties in English, Dutch and German as well as Norwegian. ''We are proud seafaring nation and happy to be keeping the tradition of singing sea shanties alive,'' he said. Neither do singers need salty air to form a decent shanty group. One of the groups taking part this weekend, Hobson's Choice, hails from landlocked Herefordshire.
The Falmouth gathering must also be one of the least commercial of the summer music festivals. Profits go to the lifeboat charity the RNLI. Groups are paid modest expenses but singers are entitled to a daily ration of up to four pints of Skinners ale - and, no surprise here - one Cornish pasty. The foreign crews are welcomed with open arms. The Breton (don't call them French) and Dutch crews headed into Cornwall on overnight ferries. The Shanty Singers flew in from Bergen. Their group was established 40 years ago and was originally made up of master mariners who had rounded Cape Horn. The membership criteria are more relaxed now. Group leader Roald Saetre, a retired marine scientist, said his crew sang shanties in English, Dutch and German as well as Norwegian. "We are proud seafaring nation and happy to be keeping the tradition alive," he said.
The Falmouth gathering must also be one of the least commercial of summer music festivals. Profits go to the lifeboat charity the RNLI. Groups are paid modest expenses but singers are entitled to a daily ration of four pints of Skinner's ale – and, no surprise here – one Cornish pasty.