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During the latter half of the 19th century, the Atlantic Seaboard of America was involved in an intense and far reaching maritime industry. During this time, music was an integral part of the lives of men who worked on sailing ships. Songs referred to as “Chanteys” and “Forecastle Songs”, were often sung “to cheer the soul, curse the after guard, mark the beat, and lighten the labor” (Stan Hugill). In this illustrated presentation we will examine through live performance, the culture of sailors as reflected through their music. Stuart Gillespie holds a Master’s degree from the University of Connecticut where he wrote his thesis on the songs of the 19th century sailor. In 1970 he began his 15-year summer career as a musical historian and demonstrator of ship board music at Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut. In 1976, he appeared on national TV as the singer of sailor songs for the PBS special Anyone for Tennyson. In that same year he produced a vinyl record of Chanteys and Ballads with Folkways Records to celebrate our American bicentennial.

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