San Francisco, CA - Continuing on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021 at 12pm, one of the Bay Area’s most beloved musical traditions is live from - your own home! Long a monthly “landmark" aboard San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park’s historic ships, the multi-generational gathering has adapted to COVID-19 and takes place the third Saturday of every month. As in the past, these chanteys can help us through challenging times by encouraging cooperation, creativity, and humor. With help from the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association, the Park’s non-profit partner, the sing will go on!
Recently retired Park Ranger Peter Kasin will be trading his fiddle and folding chair for a microphone and wi-fi to assume the role of chantey V-Empresario: introducing singers and setting up the songs. Singing participants from throughout the globe, who have signed up for performing slots in advance, will share their favorite songs, either accompanying themselves on traditional instruments, or a capella.
And for those in the home audience, remember: absolutely no one will know if you forget some words or sing off key!
Visit https://maritime.org/events-home/chantey-sing/ for complete details, including instructions for lead singers: an online signup sheet and some suggested virtual backgrounds (just in case your bunk isn’t completely ship-shape). You’ll need a good internet connection, and should be prepared to have fun!
Peter Kasin’s rousing collection of Sheltered-In Chantey videos at https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/photosmultimedia/shelter-in-chantey-series.htm is a great way to get your voice warmed up in advance. And if you’d like to learn more about this fascinating folk music tradition, the Park Maritime Research Center’s Chantey Pathfinder has links to books, music and scholarly journal articles at https://www.nps.gov/safr/learn/historyculture/chantey-pathfinder.htm
For more than 70 years, San Francisco Maritime National Park Association has worked to bring maritime history to life for visitors to the San Francisco Bay Area. The Association supports San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park and independently operates the World War II submarine museum and memorial USS Pampanito. Connect at http://www.maritime.org, or follow @sfmaritime on Twitter, FB and Instagram.
San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park includes a fleet of historic ships, Visitor Center, Maritime Museum, Maritime Research Center, and the Aquatic Park Historic District. Visit the Park online at http://www.nps.gov/safr; follow us on Twitter and Instagram @ SFMaritimeNPS; and join us on FB @ SanFranciscoMaritimeNHP.
Tags: maritime sea chanteys music san francisco maritime history maritime culture
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
