Are Sea Shanties Folk Music?

A sea shanty, also called a chantey, chanty or shantey, is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels.

What are Sea Shanties?

Sea shanties are a type of maritime folk music sung by sailors. The name “shanty” comes from the French word for “dwelling” or “house.” Shanties were sung while performing various tasks on board ships, such as raising sails, hauling ropes, or chopping wood. The songs were used to help sailors coordinate their work and keep up their morale.

Definition of a Sea Shanty

A sea shanty, chantey, or chanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. The term shanty most accurately refers to a specific kind of work song associated with maritime labor, though the common use of the word has broadened to include a wide range of folk songs sung during sea-related work.

Archaic and sometimes Dicey spellings aside, the word “shanty” is thought to have come from the French Canadian word “chanter”, meaning “to sing”. How it made its way into English is unclear, but it seems likely that sailors who worked in the French Canadian Maritime provinces may have brought the term with them when they shipped out to work on British vessels.

Whatever its origins, by the mid-19th century “shanty” had become firmly established in maritime vocabulary as a name for both a type of work song and the rough wooden dwellings that sailors sometimes erected on shore. In 1863, American writer Herman Melville even wrote a book about sailor life called “White jacket; or, The world in a man-of-war”, which included a chapter devoted entirely to shanties and their place in shipboard culture.

No two shanties are exactly alike, but they all share some common features. Most sea shanties were sung in unison by groups of sailors while performing some kind of maritime labor – hauling ropes, weighing anchor, raising sails, etc. The melody was usually simple and repetitive, making it easy for everyone to join in without having to think too hard about the words. The lyrics were often bawdy or humorous, and sometimes both at once.

While some shanties were created specifically for maritime use, others were adapted from land-based folk songs or popular tunes of the day. Over time, certain shanties became so closely associated with specific types of work that they acquired alternative names like “Halyard Shanty” or “Cape Horn Shanty”.

History of Sea Shanties

A sea shanty, chantey, or chanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. The term shanty most accurately refers to a specific style of work song belonging to this historical repertoire. However, in recent years, the term has expanded and been used more generally to refer to any kind of folk song, especially those sung in maritime traditions.

Work songs have been documented in many cultures and throughout history. They were especially prevalent on board British and American sailing vessels from the 18th century onwards, when they were used to coordinate the work of seamen during tasks such as raising sails or weighing anchor. By the mid-19th century, shanties had evolved into a distinctly American form, which was characterised by its use of call-and-response vocals and its relatively simple harmonic structure.

Although work songs are now mostly associated with maritime cultures, they were also sung in other contexts such as lumber camps and mines. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional work songs, and they are now performed by a number of artists across the world.

What is Folk Music?

Folk music is the traditional music of a people or country. It is usually passed down orally and is often about the everyday lives of the people. It is usually simple in form and lyrics and is often sung by the common people. Folk music often has a strong connection to the land and the people who live there.

Definition of Folk Music

Folk music is a type of music that is passed down orally from generation to generation. It is usually associated with a certain culture or region, and it often has a traditional sound. Some examples of folk music include sea shanties, nursery rhymes, and ballads.

History of Folk Music

Folk music has been around since people first started making music. It was originally passed down orally from generation to generation, and only later was it written down. As a result, folk music often reflects the culture and values of the people who created it.

Traditional folk music is usually based on acoustic instruments, such as guitars, banjos, and fiddles. This style of music is typically Simple Folk Music sung by a solo artist or a small group. The lyrics are often about everyday life, love, and loss.

One of the most famous examples of traditional folk music is “The House of the Rising Sun,” which was popularized by The Animals in the 1960s. Another well-known folk song is “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” which was written about the real-life shipwreck of an American freighter in 1975.

In recent years, there has been a resurgence in interest in folk music. This is due in part to the success of artists like Mumford & Sons and The Lumineers, who have brought folk-inspired music to a wider audience.

While traditional folk music is still being created and performed today, there is also a new breed of folk music that is influenced by other genres, such as rock, pop, and hip-hop. This type of folk music is sometimes referred to as “contemporary” or “modern” folk music.

Are Sea Shanties Folk Music?

There is no one answer to this question. Shanties were originally work songs sung by sailors while performing their duties. Over time, they have evolved and become more popular. Some people consider them to be folk songs, while others consider them to be a type of maritime music.

The Relationship Between Sea Shanties and Folk Music

Are sea shanties folk music? This is a question that has vexed musicologists for years. On the one hand, sea shanties are traditional songs that were sung by sailors for centuries. On the other hand, most of the songs were written by professional songwriters and were not passed down orally from generation to generation.

The answer to this question is not clear cut, but there are some compelling arguments that sea shanties are indeed folk music. First of all, many of the songs were based on preexisting folk tunes. Second, the lyrics of many shanties were adapted to fit the specific work tasks of sailors (such as hauling ropes or raising sails). Finally, shanties were usually sung by sailors in informal settings, such as in pubs or on deck while working.

Despite these arguments, there are also some who believe that sea shanties are not truly folk music. One reason for this is that most of the songs were not created by everyday people, but rather by professional songwriters. Another reason is that many shanties were designed to be sung in a specific context (such as work tasks), and they did not necessarily reflect the lives or experiences of sailors more generally.

Ultimately, whether or not sea shanties are considered folk music is a matter of definition. However, there are good reasons to believe that these songs do reflect the traditions and culture of maritime communities.

The Elements of Folk Music in Sea Shanties

While it is difficult to provide a definitive answer to the question of whether sea shanties are considered folk music, we can look at some of the defining characteristics of folk music to see how they relate to shanties.

First, folk music is typically passed down through oral tradition, from one generation to the next. This means that it is not written down or published in sheet music, but rather learned by ear. Shanties were certainly learned in this way, as sailors would sing them while working on board ship.

Another key element of folk music is that it is rooted in the everyday lives of the people who sing it. It often reflects their work, their environment, and their culture. Again, this is certainly true of shanties, which were sung by sailors while doing their work on board ship. The lyrics often reflect their experiences at sea, and the melody was often adapted to fit the rhythm of their work.

Finally, folk music is typically simple in both its melody and its lyrics. This makes it easy for people to remember and sing together. Once again, this is true of shanties, which were designed to be sung by a group of people working together. The melody was often quite repetitive, and the lyrics were usually relatively simple and straightforward.

So while there is no easy answer to the question of whether sea shanties are considered folk music, we can see that they share many important characteristics with other types of folk music.

The Conclusion

After doing some research, we have come to the conclusion that sea shanties are, in fact, folk music. Shanties were originally created and sung by sailors as a form of work song, and often told stories or conveyed messages. Over time, they have become a popular genre of music enjoyed by people all over the world.