Événement

New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus

SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2015 - THE NEW BEDFORD HARBOR SEA CHANTEY CHORUS
7:30 pm, doors open 7:00 pm
BYOB & BYOF
$12 advance, $15 at the door

The New Bedford Harbor Sea Chantey Chorus is made up of some of Schooner Ernestina's most vocal volunteers, one of the most harmonious crews ever to come ashore. Formed in 2000 as a non-auditioned civic chorus that would learn the nautical repertoire in a social setting, the group prepared a full program that has been enjoyed by hundreds of listeners in over the last three years.

The repertoire includes a variety of chanteys and songs that reflect the rich maritime heritage of New Bedford and the region. As a sampler of musical traditions connected to New Bedford Harbor and the New England seafarer, their performances feature the chanteys (work songs) of the Yankee sailor and whaler, along with the ballads and ditties of global mariners and coastwise fisherfolk in North America, the Cape Verde Islands and the British Isles. In addition to the Crioulo and French sailor's tunes, the singers are offering an Italian fisherman's ditty and a traditional Norwegian mariners' song.

The 40-voice group also sings rich choral music. These range from the ancient "We be Three Poor Mariners," by 16th century composer Thomas Ravenscroft, to the Ralph Vaughn Williams setting of the traditional "Down Among the Dead Men," to excerpts from Gilbert and Sullivan's classic, "H.M.S. Pinafore" to the traditional "Navy Hymn" and "Shenandoah."