PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 May 01 - 11:15 AM

Your directions to the China Sea Marine Trading Co. in Portland's Old Port on Sunday, May 26th, 4 PM: the street address is 10 Dana St., which is off Commercial St. (the waterfront) almost opposite Dimillo's famous floating saloon. Other local landmarks include Amigo's Mexican Restaurant across Dana St. and Ship Wreck & Cargo at the corner of Dana and Commercial Streets.

Avoid Shanghai Brown's shipping office, and various flash girls and boys that hang out around Three Dollar Deweys. If you get truly lost you can always whistle up a friendly policeman and ask where the Shanty Sing is, or call China Sea at 773-0081, although we'll probably be making so much noise and having so much fun that no one will answer a phone.

Yes, you can bring some refreshments to share.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From:
Date: 18 May 01 - 12:49 PM

As some of you may know, we lost the back half of our shop, China Sea, to a soon-to-be-opened Italian restaurant. We will, nonetheless, with Uncle Jaque's help, make room. Sharon

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 17 May 01 - 11:29 PM

Ahoy all; Just spoke with the good Cpt. Bunker and Lady Sharon at our Sons of Union Veterans & Auxillalry Dinner tonight; They still have access to that area out back apparantly, but will need to move a fair amount of stuff around. I hope to be able to get down there in time to join the setup detail as we could use all the hands on board we can get methinks. I've also sent them a link to this thread so hopefully we will be hearing directly from them on details of any resources or support they could use to get set up etc..

Cpt.B. says that Charlie IPCAR was in the other day with a sea-song he had just written, and he was quite impressed with it; hopefully we will get to hear it on the 26th.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 May 01 - 09:05 PM

I am a definite. Flying in from NYC on Saturday.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 May 01 - 11:57 AM

Time to refresh and see if there any more aspiring shanty singers who want to put their feet where their mouth is. ;-)

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: kendall
Date: 13 May 01 - 12:47 PM

When I was in the service, some Bos'ns mate was always blowing on one of those damn things. If I never hear another, it will be too soon.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Naemanson
Date: 13 May 01 - 10:16 AM

The Bosun's Whistle is used these days only for ceremonies. They use a recording on ship board to get the crew's attention but no one has the vaguest idea what any whistle call might mean.

The modern (US) Navy chiefs are trained to use the Bosun whistle but, as I say, only for ceremonies. I have been singing at military retirement ceremonies. It's only there, and at change of command ceremonies, that I have seen them used.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 13 May 01 - 08:39 AM

Friend & fellow 3rd Mainer "Skip" Baker of Topsham used to be a Bo'sn on a destroyer - they used to tune the little whistles with wax, apparantly. Do they still use them or are all of the calls electronic nowadays?
It seems to me that fifes were used in the Navy up through the Civil War - the Ancient Mariners play several calls on thier fife & Drum album, such as "to the fiferail" (whatever that is). I guess the "long roll" was used as a "General Quarters" alert much as it was in the Infantry. I'd be interested in how far back the Bosn's whistle goes in maritime history, and if it was ever used in conjunction with the fife, or replaced it - and when. One of these days I've gotta pick up one of those dandys and learn a few calls on it. Perhaps one of ye Auld Salts can bring one along to the sing and teach us a couple of calls(?). I'd be surprised if Cpt. Steve did not have at least one in the shop somewhere. I'd think a creative ChanteySinger could incorporate a whistle call or two in a song at some point - as bells are frequently used.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: kendall
Date: 12 May 01 - 02:41 PM

In military vessels, they used drums (beat to quarters) and the bos'ns pipe.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Naemanson
Date: 12 May 01 - 02:03 PM

You mean I shouldn't have listed the shanty sing in all the major media on the east coast? (Just kidding.)

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 12 May 01 - 12:17 PM

While playing some chanteys on the tinwhistle at Mom's retirement community last week, was approached by a nice couple who expressed their appreciation, and allowed as how they had every album that Gordon Bok had released, and were disapointed that they had neither seen nor heard of him for the past few years. Suggesting that if they showed up with a case of Guinness at the appointed place they would likely be recieved with open arms (and tankards) and perhaps be in for a pleasant surprise. It was also requested that they keep it to themselves, as we're not really looking for an audience per se. I also notified the Middlesex County Volunteer Fife & Drum out of Newton, MA as many of them are "kindred spirits" of the old music and maritime tradition. So far I have not heard back from any. Another aspiring "Folkie" from South Portland might show up, and I will try to wheedle at least a couple of my fellow 3rd Mainer Field Musicians to come with fife and drum. We do a rousing rendition of "Sailor's Hornpipe" and "Whup Jamboree" which you may not have heard before. There was some discussion about "chanteys" not being sung aboard military vessels; correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they use fife & drum to communicate orders on deck? I'd be interested in some of the Naval beats and calls if anyone knows were they may be obtained.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 May 01 - 10:01 AM

Heave 'er up and away we'll refresh!

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 May 01 - 08:37 AM

Great Lakes Tim – look forward to meeting you and hearing you sing. A must for your Cleveland festival has to be a revival of that traditional Great Lakes whaling song "Fresh Water Whaling" or otherwise entitled "Superior Sperm;" there are recent threads and it's in the DT.

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: jets
Date: 06 May 01 - 11:21 PM

I intend to be there .

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Great Lakes Tim
Date: 06 May 01 - 08:39 PM

Hey, I've been lookin' for this thread for over a month now, but think I got it figured out now.

I'm a definite for Saturday, May 26 3pm (I'll be one of the early birds to help with the rearrangin'. I'd flood the ground beneath me with tears if I couldn't be there! Wish I could come durin' the summer too, but have my doubts about makin' the trip from Cleveland with gas price predictions as they are ($2.50 a gallon!).

As far as privateers go, one of my ancestors relatives, Isreal Thorndike from Maine, was a privateer, but I believe that was the Revolution, not in The War of 1812.

I was readin' in the Cleveland newpaper today that the 2001 Great Lakes Tall Ships Challenge includes a dozen or so sailing vessels that will dock in Cleveland (July 11-16) as well as in 6 other ports. Thus Cleveland will hold the first annual Cleveland Harborfest. Among the family entertainment we've got chantey singers, a steel drum band, jugglers and the like. Know anyone who's comin' to fill the spot of (Crankey Yankee, please don't cringe) "chantey singers"? If the accounts are right, we're expecting Canada's brigs Fair Jeanne & St. Lawrence II, schooners True North & Bluenose II, Playfair and Pathfinder, Ukraine's Bat Kivschyna, and the US's schooners Grand Nellie, Pride of Baltimore II, Red Witch & Highlander, plus the HMS Tecumseh (a modern replica of the 19th century British war schooner) and the US Brig Niagara, a reconstruction of Perry's ship measuring 198'.

If anyone's interested, let me know and I'll help find places to put you up!

Subject: RE: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: kendall
Date: 06 May 01 - 08:34 PM

Strong possibility Gordon Bok will come.

Subject: PORTLAND,ME Chanty Sing 2.5
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 May 01 - 06:59 PM

This thread is beginning to drag. We're trying to get a count of who's planning to come to the Shanty Sing at China Sea Marine Trading Co. in Portland's Old Port on Sunday, May 26th, 4 PM to ?.

From Roll & Go we have:

Brett Burnham, Norris Dale, Eli Dale, Dick Dufresne, and Charlie Ipcar and maybe two others

Others expressing interest above were:

Kendall Morse, Uncle Jaque, Cranky Yankee, Brian Hoye, Julia & Fred, Jeri, Joy, Great Lakes Tim and I may have missed a few.

Then there's Mary, Sinsull and Edmund.