Posted by Jock on September 12, 2011 at 07:11:35 user Jock.
In Reply to: Re: Swallows and Shanties posted by Duncan on September 12, 2011 at 04:39:13:
As sailing vessels were still in use at the time of the S&A's and
considering their nautical background and inclination, I do not see it to
be unreasonable that they would know and sing shanties.
Robin is, of course, right that the education of the Swallows and the use
of shanties on board sailing vessels overlapped. Though by the late 1920s,
large square riggers – and the sailors who crewed them – were quite rare.
The problem is: where and how did the Swallows actually learn them?
However, I think it's reasonable to suggest that they were known by
families, especially families with seafaring connections. So, I
guess my suggested answer is that Commander Walker learnt them either at
sea or from his own parents, rather than at school! [my emphasis added]
Duncan, a brilliant solution to the puzzle!
Shanties started 'coming on shore' with the demise of sail in the mid-19th
century. They would have been sung by retired sailors in pubs and some of
the more enterprising salts even sang them in music halls, so no prizes for
guessing where Captain Flint learnt his shanties.
In the 18th century they were the work songs of Merchant Navy, but
deprecated in the Royal Navy. So Walker elder would not have learnt them
while at naval college. The first authoratitive collections were published
in the early 19th century by Cecil Sharp, Captain W B Whall and Richard
Runciman. Shanties may not have been available as drawing room sheet
music (just imagine the GA's reaction to some of the lyrics!) at the time
the Swallows were growing up.
Positing a merchant navy background – and a keen love of shanties – for
the Swallows paternal grandfather neatly provides a solution.
Of course, in the real world, Ransome, Masefield and others did a great
deal to popularise the singing of sea shanties. I expect quite a few of my
primary school teachers would have read Swallows and Amazons
during their own school days!
Anyone with any evidence one way or another, please add to this thread.