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Sailor Song

The Shanties and Ballads of the High Seas
By Gerry Smyth
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Sailor Song explores the rich tradition of seafaring songs, from the rhythmic shanties that coordinated sailors' labours to the ballads sung in their rare moments of rest. Gerry Smyth, an esteemed writer and musician, brings to life the words and music of around 50 maritime songs, revealing their history, meanings, and cultural significance. The book delves into the lives of notable shantymen, the varied types of sea songs, and traces their enduring influence on folk, rock, and contemporary shanty revivals. Enhanced by striking artworks from Jonny Hannah and archival images from the British Library, this volume celebrates the powerful connection between sea, song, and story.
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Format: Hardback
$3999
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

Sailor Song is ideal for enthusiasts of maritime history, folk music aficionados, and readers interested in cultural traditions. Musicians and scholars exploring the intersection of work songs and musical heritage will also find this volume invaluable.

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In Sailor Song acclaimed writer, playwright and musician Gerry Smyth presents the words and music of some 40 'heaving or hauling' working shanties and 10 off-duty sea songs and ballads.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

From the earliest of voyages, seafarers have sung, whether they are homeward bound or rolling in a merciless sea towards an unknown horizon. The shouts and cries of these sailors' shanties provided a musical rhythm to their work, and such 'concerted' efforts improved efficiency as anchors were raised, sails hoisted, and bilge water pumped. Boredom was allayed, concentration increased, and the stamina-sapping agonies were borne on a melody.

In Sailor Song, acclaimed writer, playwright, and musician Gerry Smyth presents the words and music of some 40 'heaving or hauling' working shanties and 10 off-duty sea songs and ballads. The meanings and history of each song are revealed alongside thematic sections exploring celebrated shantymen, song types, and traditions, as well as the influence these songs have had on the folk music movement, rock music, and the modern shanty revival.

The volume is illustrated with specially commissioned artworks by popular folk artist Jonny Hannah, alongside many previously unpublished artworks from the holdings of the British Library.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780712353700

Publisher: British Library Publishing

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 21 January 2021

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: British Library Publishing

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Jonny Hannah

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 151.0mm

Height: 216.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 160

Collections

Arts & Culture Gerry Smyth History & Archaeology History & Military Military History Music & Musicians Non-Fiction

About the Author

Gerry Smyth is an academic, musician, actor and playwright and is Professor of Irish Cultural History of Liverpool John Moores University. In his writing Gerry has specialised in the development of both Irish fiction and folk and popular music. Performing under the name Gerry McGowan, Gerry has released three albums of Liverpool-related shanties entitled 'Roll & Go: Songs of Liverpool and the Sea' (2009), 'Across the Western Ocean' (2011) and 'Sailor Song' (2017).

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