Sea Shanties with Alex Harvey and Shinbone Alley
Sea Shanties with Alex Harvey and Shinbone Alley brings the history of maritime music to life through communal singing and storytelling. Drawn from songs once shared aboard whaling ships and cargo vessels, sea shanties helped coordinate labor, build solidarity, and pass time at sea. These call-and-response traditions carry influences from African, European, and Caribbean cultures, shaped in port cities where rhythm and language were exchanged. Part music studies and part cultural history, this event supports self-directed learning through the lens of sea shanties. Bring a blanket, come early to picnic, and stay to sing.
Self-Directed Learning
Explore the history of sea shanties and how music functioned aboard ships, separating fact from fiction. While popular songs like “A Pirate’s Life for Me” are rooted in myth, sea shanties were essential tools for synchronizing crew labor on merchant and whaling ships in the 1800s. With historical context, archival recordings, and global perspectives, this video supports learning in maritime history, music studies, labor history, and cultural traditions. Self-directed learners can listen to traditional shanties, write their own call-and-response songs, or research how music has supported coordination and storytelling across cultures.
