AoS Playlist 1: English sailors, American navyboys and gay pirates (again)
And now for something completely different! venusinfurs90 and I have been exchanging Age of Sail related music for a while now and thought it would be fun to share some of it with you guys :)
Some of these songs are contemporary with the period, others are more modern but in the spirit of the tradition. All the songs here are in the English folk tradition (and we're talking proper hand-knitted finger-in-the-ear folk music here ;) so I haven't included any of the wonderful classical music including Britten's Peter Grimes and Billy Budd and Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, but don't let that stop you from listening to them! The songs I've chosen aren't supposed to be "representative" of anything in particular, they just happen to be songs I'm very fond of. However you'll notice one or two obvious omissions, most notably Hearts of Oak. I'm sorry but I just can't find a version online that doesn't make me cringe :(
Canadee-I-O, Nic Jones, Penguin Eggs
My favourite of all the many cross-dressing-lassie-running-away-to-sea songs. And what's more, said lassie promptly forgets her sweetheart and takes up with the captain instead!
Barrack Street, Nic Jones, Penguin Eggs
Nic Jones again on the perils of shoreleave.
Just As The Tide Was Flowing, Eliza Carthy, Anglicana.
This time it's the perils of falling for a handsome sailor. Not that I'd know anything about that.... ;)
The Bold Privateer, Eliza Carthy, Anglicana.
This is just a beautiful song that really needs no introduction.
Rolling Sea, Eliza Carthy, Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads and Sea Chantys
I've heard many sweet versions of Sailor Laddie, which is essentially the same song, but I adore this down right filthy sounding version by Eliza Carthy again.
Haul On The Bowline, Bob Neuwirth, Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads and Sea Chantys
Yes, yes, I know singing chanteys was not allowed on Royal Navy ships. However this short-drag chantey is thought to be one of the oldest surviving chanteys and may date as far back as the early 16th century though there is no direct evidence of this. This chantey was commonly used right up until the end of the days of sail and this is a cracking modern version.
King George The Third's Minuet / Valentine's Day, John Kirkpatrick, Make No Bones
Another anachronism here. The English concertina wasn't invented until 1829 but how can you not associate it with sailor boys? And anyway, I love concertina music so there! - sorry link no longer available
Nelson's Death And Victory, John Kirkpatrick, Make No Bones
One of the myriad songs commemorating the life and death of Admiral Lord Nelson. - sorry link no longer available
On Board a 98, Damien Barber, Mike Wilson, Under the Influence
An original broadside ballad dating to the early 19th century if not before. This song was one of many collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
We Have Fed Our Seas, David Jones, From England's Shore
I hadn't actually heard this intensely moving setting of Kipling until nodbear passed it on to kittycallum for her beautiful vid. If you haven't seen this already, and even if you have, you might want to fetch a hanky before watching...
Gay Pirates, Cosmo Jarvis.
From the sublime to the ridiculous, and just in case you missed it first time round, it's the Gay Pirates again! Not remotely authentic but you're got to love them :) nodbear has noted that this songs scans just as well if you substitute "Horatio" for "Sebastian" ;)
And finally, last but not least, real Navyboys and possibly one of the campest cutest things you'll ever see on youtube... allow me to present...the United States Naval Academy Men's Glee Club (!!) singing Spanish Ladies. I feel sure Captain Sawyer would approve!
Cross posted to following_sea and anything_aos
Some of these songs are contemporary with the period, others are more modern but in the spirit of the tradition. All the songs here are in the English folk tradition (and we're talking proper hand-knitted finger-in-the-ear folk music here ;) so I haven't included any of the wonderful classical music including Britten's Peter Grimes and Billy Budd and Mendelssohn's Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage, but don't let that stop you from listening to them! The songs I've chosen aren't supposed to be "representative" of anything in particular, they just happen to be songs I'm very fond of. However you'll notice one or two obvious omissions, most notably Hearts of Oak. I'm sorry but I just can't find a version online that doesn't make me cringe :(
Canadee-I-O, Nic Jones, Penguin Eggs
My favourite of all the many cross-dressing-lassie-running-away-to-sea songs. And what's more, said lassie promptly forgets her sweetheart and takes up with the captain instead!
Barrack Street, Nic Jones, Penguin Eggs
Nic Jones again on the perils of shoreleave.
Just As The Tide Was Flowing, Eliza Carthy, Anglicana.
This time it's the perils of falling for a handsome sailor. Not that I'd know anything about that.... ;)
The Bold Privateer, Eliza Carthy, Anglicana.
This is just a beautiful song that really needs no introduction.
Rolling Sea, Eliza Carthy, Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads and Sea Chantys
I've heard many sweet versions of Sailor Laddie, which is essentially the same song, but I adore this down right filthy sounding version by Eliza Carthy again.
Haul On The Bowline, Bob Neuwirth, Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads and Sea Chantys
Yes, yes, I know singing chanteys was not allowed on Royal Navy ships. However this short-drag chantey is thought to be one of the oldest surviving chanteys and may date as far back as the early 16th century though there is no direct evidence of this. This chantey was commonly used right up until the end of the days of sail and this is a cracking modern version.
King George The Third's Minuet / Valentine's Day, John Kirkpatrick, Make No Bones
Another anachronism here. The English concertina wasn't invented until 1829 but how can you not associate it with sailor boys? And anyway, I love concertina music so there! - sorry link no longer available
Nelson's Death And Victory, John Kirkpatrick, Make No Bones
One of the myriad songs commemorating the life and death of Admiral Lord Nelson. - sorry link no longer available
On Board a 98, Damien Barber, Mike Wilson, Under the Influence
An original broadside ballad dating to the early 19th century if not before. This song was one of many collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams.
We Have Fed Our Seas, David Jones, From England's Shore
I hadn't actually heard this intensely moving setting of Kipling until nodbear passed it on to kittycallum for her beautiful vid. If you haven't seen this already, and even if you have, you might want to fetch a hanky before watching...
Gay Pirates, Cosmo Jarvis.
From the sublime to the ridiculous, and just in case you missed it first time round, it's the Gay Pirates again! Not remotely authentic but you're got to love them :) nodbear has noted that this songs scans just as well if you substitute "Horatio" for "Sebastian" ;)
And finally, last but not least, real Navyboys and possibly one of the campest cutest things you'll ever see on youtube... allow me to present...the United States Naval Academy Men's Glee Club (!!) singing Spanish Ladies. I feel sure Captain Sawyer would approve!
Click to viewCross posted to following_sea and anything_aos