Chantey Festivals in Poland

Subject: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: Karolina
Date: 04 Jul 00 - 01:44 PM

We do have many shanty (chantey?) festivals here in Poland, that's true. The date of one, has drawn very near. The 8th Shanty Festival in Gi¿ycko is going to take place on 6 - 8 July.

Gi¿ycko is a little town placed in the Mazury region, where there are many lakes connected with each other by a system of canals. Many young people choose to spend their holiday in the lakes. It may not be very challenging, but much cheaper than going to the sea.

Private sailboat owners are few and far between here and this "lakeyachting" is much more common. This is also reflected in our shanties. Apart from traditional sea shanties we often sing songs that were born among the Mazurian lakes, songs describing the joys of owning a small boat with no sailing instruments on it :)

Barry, hope you've found my reply here. I was glad to hear that you've such high opinion of our sailors' seamanship. We've got many good skippers, too. One of these is Andrzej Urbañczyk, who finished his solo circumnavigation in 1984. He's a very nice guy, usually sailing with his cat.

I'm not sure whether I'll be able to contact Marek Siurawski. I don't know him personally; he belongs to our sailing elite, and I'm just an inexperienced "lakesailor"...

I've never been aboard any of the tall ships (guess this is how they're called in English) and belonging to the crew of Zawisza Czarny or Dar M³odzie¿y could be only added to my long list of dreams...

I'm curious about what you've said about these 2 rare shanties sung by Marek. Do you remeber the titles of them?

Karolina

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 04 Jul 00 - 10:42 PM

Hi Karolina, the shanties I got from Marek are 1) Roller Bowler, I sing it but have never heard anyone else do it besides Marek & Shanty Jack who later sang a harmony with Marek when I ran into him again, 2) London Julie (sometimes called Julianna) this I've only heard sung by Pint & Dale. Laim's Sister In Law is recording this now & has an interesting trail of it & it most likely got to Marek. Karolina, Marek may belong to your sailing elite but get a shanty going within ear shot & he'll be there or just ask him for one of these shanties that you heard of from someone in the Boston area. Bye the way welcome aboard, Barry

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 05 Jul 00 - 05:09 AM

Karolina -

Do you have any information on the festival in Crakow you mentioned earlier? I'm pretty sure that's the big one I'm thinking of. I'd like to go to one next year. Thanks.

chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: Karolina
Date: 05 Jul 00 - 10:33 PM

Hello, Barry! I know Roller Bowler pretty well ( in Polish, though). As for the other one - no idea, but I'm gonna have a little look around... Perhaps we have our version of this shanty, too. Again, thanks for the warm welcome!!!

Hi Chanteyranger! Here's what I've found about the festival in Cracow (Kraków in Polish): it is organised by the HALS Foundation since 1981. It usually takes place in February. (The 19th Fest, took place on 24 - 27 February, 2000 )

Here is a nice site run by the organizers of the Festival (English version available) that contains detailed information as to who organises it, what groups were performing there in the past, how to obtain the tickets etc. Please let me know if there's a problem with the link (hope not) or if you want me to translate anything from the site!( One more thing: the festival is called "Shanties" :)

Thanks for the warm words of welcome, again!

Karolina

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 01:12 AM

Karolina -

Thanks much for leaving that link! I clicked on the English translation and it worked fine. 2001 will be the 20th year of the festival. Sounds like where I should be in February. Sounds like where ANY chantey singer should be in February.

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: Karolina
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 04:45 AM

Chanteyranger,

Who knows, maybe I'll manage to close one eye (the one that usually watches my duties :) and go there at last? I've never been to this fest. before, so it should be high time...

Karolina

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: Karolina
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 04:50 AM

Barry, is Julianna the same as Rolling down the bay to Julianna or not really? If so - then I know it; if not - I don't...

Curious Karolina

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: GUEST,Karolina
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 05:22 AM

Ah, stupid me - it can't be this one, this one is so popular...

Karolina

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: GUEST,Barry Finn
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 10:47 AM

Hi Karolina, yup, different one, chorus goes;

Julianna, Julianna, where do you go
Ah, ha my London Julie
(2x)
Barry

Subject: RE: Chantey Festivals in Poland
From: GUEST,Karolina
Date: 06 Jul 00 - 02:52 PM

Thanks, Barry, I was partly right, anyway: I don't know this one!!! :)

Karolina