Hi Jim,

I think most of your observations are right on. To clarify (on your last statement) I didn't mean to imply that this performance was funny. I was thinking of the popular song-based chanties of days past.

As for this example:

I personally don't think it is *great* choice of song, although most modern (~since 1950s) pop songs would be worse. The rhythmic sensibility of late 20th century popular songs is quite different from 19th century sensibilities, so they don't work well typically. This one works just ~OK~. The main problem is too much "space" in the melodic rhythm.

That being said, I'm sure you could guess that this performance was impromptu. The participants did not know (I don't think) that this song would be chosen, which would explain their somewhat lacking in synchronization and gusto. But they're kids -- give them a break!

Call and response, while common, was not a prerequisite for capstan chanties. Many (most) old time capstan chanties had a call and response, but that was a feature of the genre from which they developed. Later, when other songs were adapted for capstan, many did not have call in response, but rather a long solo followed by a long chorus.

You have never seen a capstan in action? True because besides at Mystic Seaport it is rare to see nowadays. And given that rarity, we can't choose amongst many for an "ideal." Such capstans were generally used for raising anchor -- a job that could take hours!!! And anchors were heavy indeed. Straining was involved. In this case, in order for Mystic to do their demo, they can't drop anchor every time! So they hoist up a life boat. That being said, there are said to have been easier and harder "phases" of the process of heaving an anchor. At the beginning, one is just pulling in the slack of the chain, so it is pretty easy when lots of people are involved. Tempos could be quite fast. Alternatively, when the mudhook was "stuck" and breaking it loose required straining, the rotation could be so slow that one could not really keep a regular rhythm.

Capstan chanties in-tempo kept up the pace of the labor, but metronomic time was not essential; nothing was being coordinated per se. And the sound of the "pawls" clicking creates a rhythm of its own that is not necessarily in-synch with the tramping. (At some speeds it is, at others it is a counter-tempo which, for musicians, could even be distracting.)