From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?

Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 06:36 PM

That crew could have come from anywhere in the English-speaking world, though "Coffin" is a stereotypical New England name.

As it is in "Moby Dick."

Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: John Minear
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 04:47 PM

Here is a link with a partial list of the crew for the "Julia Ann" when it arrived in Sydney on December 6, 1854.

http://mariners.records.nsw.gov.au/1854/12/008jul.htm

Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: ClaireBear
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 04:17 PM

A crew manifest giving some idea of the crewmembers' origins would, I think, provide great insight into what material would have been sung.

Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 03:46 PM

MtheGM-

The route would only be relevant if the shantyman picked up or composed a new song or some verses while in San Francisco or Sydney.

South Australia
Banks of the Sacramento (gold rush inspired)
Bound to California (gold rush inspired)
The 'Frisco Ship
Bound to California
Bound to Australia

Otherwise the shantyman would sing anything he knew that was appropriate for the job being done.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 01:41 PM

They could surely have been any mentioned by Hugill as being sung at that time — why/how would the actual route being sailed have affected which shanties the shantyman would have chosen to sing?

Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 01:26 PM

They may have sung some connected with the California Gold Rush of 1849, such as "Banks of the Sacramento."

Subject: RE: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 08:13 AM

Your best bet might be a list of nautical worksongs cited by R. H. Dana in his TWO YEARS BEFORE THE MAST (1840). Dana didn't call these songs shanties,chanteys/chantys/chanties but they certainly were. I believe we have summarized the list here somewhere on the Mudcat threads but if encouraged someone might do that again.

Are you working on a songwriting project?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: From SF to Sydney - 1853 Shanties Sung?
From: John Minear
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 08:05 AM

Between 1853 and 1855, the barque "Julia Ann" made four trips from San Francisco to Sydney, Australia. On the fourth return trip, October 3, 1855, she was ship-wrecked in the South Seas near the Scilly Islands.

My question is this. What shanties could have been sung on these voyages made by the "Julia Ann"? To my knowledge, there is no historical record in ship's log or from other accounts of any specific shanties being sung or heard on these trips. So I realize that the answers will be speculative.

I am interested in what shanties were likely to have been in use in that part of the world between 1850 and 1855, on such a sailing vessel. I am also interested in any reference works to this period and to the trade between San Francisco and Australia and to songs specific to those circumstances. Thanks for your interest and help.