Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)

Subject: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 05:21 PM

The monthly shanty/forbitter session will be happening at the Press Room in Portsmouth NH on Saturday, 16 February from 3:30 to 7:30 PM.

These events have been grand and just keep getting better. But some new voices wouldn't hurt.

Hope the weather allows for a good turnout - Tom

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: jacqui.c
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 06:06 PM

We will be away so I'll have to miss out on this one.

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:57 PM

I'll be there for sure unless there is a blizzard.

I really enjoy these sessions. It's a great opportunity for singing something old with full chorus or refrain, or trying something new.

Anyone know any Valentine's Day shanties or forebitters?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Barry Finn
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 02:27 AM

I hope to be there early, then I'm off to help with a benifit for H.A.W.C. in Salem, Mass for 7:30 with some of the Gloucester folks.

Barry

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: PeadarOfPortsmouth
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 10:48 AM

Alas, I will not be able to attend this month's session...I'll be in VT attending my nephew's birthday party.

But since both my dad and I will be disappointed to miss this one, so I'm sure we'll slip into the kitchen to sing a few songs. Any shanties about working in the galley? ;-)

And considering the weather report, I'm sure we'll belt out "The Frozen Logger" at somepoint as well.

Of course, I don't need to tell you all how important these sessions (and Friday nights) are to me. The Press Room sessions are reason I moved to Portsmouth. The friendships I've developed there are the reason I will return like MacArthur.

Peter

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: PeadarOfPortsmouth
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 01:23 PM

refresh...and hoping the Bat Goddess is doing better

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 09:12 PM

Weather looks good for Saturday.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 11:46 AM

If it weren't for the #@*& weather, Bat Goddess would be doing just fine! As it is, it's been a little over a week with only a few hours of respite from weather-induced agony. Last Saturday there was even a new development -- spasms that made me yelp. First time I had to double up on the pain pills. And I try not to use them at all as I don't think the surgeon will give me another prescription.

I'm not whining; really, I'm not.

(Have I mentioned lately how tired I am of winter?!?)

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 01:44 PM

I've got a small pond in my driveway. I'm pretty sure I know where my ice skates are for later. I was shoveling (bailing?) and heard a thunderous crack, looked in that direction and saw/heard something large and pine making it's way down to the 'ground'. The trees aren't having such a great time either, but they're not hurting.

I think I have enough food to last until April, and as long as the electricity holds up, I won't have to go outside until then.

...
OK, so I typed that and then the electricity went out. It's back now, but I don't think I've changed my mind.

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 04:20 PM

Jeri-

Our branches are sagging lower and lower as I type, and it won't be long before they break and take the power lines with them. Best to plan an early supper while we still have power.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 07:28 PM

Took the day off with a cold and am also sick of the weather. The only problem is that I dread summer and humidity. I won't know until Saturday if I am going to make it. Right now, like Jeri, I am cont5emplating not leaving the house again until spring.

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 07:55 PM

See my post on the "Spring" thread in BS.

We really need this month's shanty session - Tom

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 06:46 PM

We actually didn't lose power during the last storm. The lights flickered as the lines went down in the rural areas of town but those of us living in the village did find. Of course now we have a skating rink instead of a parking lot but we managed to get rid of all the snow, all 8 inches of it.

Will they have the heat turned on at the Press Room?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: curmudgeon
Date: 16 Feb 08 - 11:38 AM

Bright sunny day, but cold; should reach 27F in Portsmouth, So have big monkey jacket...

See you this aftrenoon - Tom

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 11:05 AM

Another wonderful gathering! However, we were missing a few familiar faces around the circle. Let's see, who was there?

There were Tom and Linn, myself and Judy, Jeff Warner and Barbara Benn, Bruce and Jane McIntire, Dave Hallowell, Gardi, Alex, Barry Finn, and Jeri. I may have missed a soul or two.

We all got a chance to do more songs, with a lot less stress than when more of a crowd is present. I certainly used the opportunity to sing a couple of new longer songs, "News in Daly's Bar" by C. Fox Smith and "Ballad of the Old Navy" by Burt Franklin Jenness. I also sang "Neptune's Daughter," "Bold Benjamin," "Mid-Watches," "Lee Fore Brace," "Yangtse River Shanty," and mangled "Limehouse Reach." Dave Hallowell did a nice job of salvaging "Limehouse Reach."

There was an interesting discussion of "Nelson's Hymn" led by Jeff Warner, and Tom mentioned the A. L. Lloyd commemoration that was coming uo soon.

It really was bitterly cold outside and I can certainly understand why a few of our regulars might have elected to hunker down beside a roaring fire, or a forced-hot water radiator, rather than attend. I do know that some of the Gloucester crowd was booked for a benefit concert, which Barry left early for. However, travel on the expressways wasn't bad and it only took us the usual 90 minutes to commute in and get back home. The most difficult part of the navigation was across our parking lot ice rink to our porch, but we made it!

Next Saturday Barry Finn & Neil Downey are doing their house concert in South Portland, MAINE (not New Hampshire as one might conclude from their poster); see the Finn & Haddie thread for more info.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 11:45 AM

The discussion about Seaman's Hymn which was sung by Bruce was about Louis Killen's harmony wot's got a 6th of some sort note in it. Personally, I think we could adapt pretty well, provided folks were told about it and listened. Worth finding out.

It didn't feel that cold and the sun was out. I got a really good parking spot then realized why nobody was already there: giant block of NH granite snow. (I wonder what the Inuit word for THAT shit is?) I got out the passenger door. Good session, but I did miss folks that couldn't make it.

(Tom, why do they put notes on concertinas than only dogs and people sitting right next to the concertinas can hear? Reminds me of dentist drills.)

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 01:02 PM

Martha from Gloucester was also there, non-singing.

Small group, but after a slowish start, I think we were able to keep the volume up AND have time to discuss the songs in between, which is a luxury I enjoy.

I sang a couple I didn't intend to and didn't sing a couple I'd planned on singing. Now what was it I DID sing?!? (Random access memory is getting more and more random.)

"Lovely Agnes", Tom Lewis's "Sailor's Prayer", "Home, Dearie, Home", "Sandgate Girl's Lament" (for Gardi), a verse or so of the 1961 or '62 flip side ("Santiano") of the Highwaymen's 45 single of "Michael Rowed the Boat Ashore" , "Race of Long Ago" and, while discussing A.L. Lloyd, managed to mostly get through "Little Piece of Wang" -- not actually a sea song. (Hmm...maybe I sing it in C; I'll have to check.)

And just before the session closed, someone from Cape Porpoise whom I hadn't seen for about 10 years showed up -- not to sing (don't know if he does), but to have dinner with hs wife. They're getting back to The Press Room after a long absence and didn't know about th session (or the live jazz which is the afternoon's entertainment before we arrive). I think they'll be around more often.

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Charley Noble
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 01:32 PM

Linn-

Were you aware that the C. Fox Smith poem "Race of Long Ago" is the first of her poems to be adapted for singing by one Bob Roberts (the sailing bargeman singer) in the 1950's? Dick Miles has said that Roberts got the poem from another sailor, so this story may go back even further.

Did you get your version from Bob Zentz?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 02:07 PM

I got my version from the recording by Dave Webber and Anni Fentiman -- and I got the origin as adapted for singing by Bob Roberts from the liner notes.

Linn

Subject: RE: Feb. Shanty/Forebitter Session (NH)
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Feb 08 - 04:30 PM

Sorry guys. I have a vicious cold that has kept me in bed all weekend. Poor Seamus has cabin fever. Aunt Mary's usually isn't this dull.