The evening commenced with the hauntingly pure vocals of George Teasdell, accompanied by the evocative strains of his mandolin. He sang a traditional sailor folksong followed by The wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and Another New World, a sad song about a sailor adventurer. This was followed by performances by our own SASC members: Joanna Copeland, accompanied by Alison Cameron on keyboard, performed Sea Pictures by Edward Elgar, resonating with classical grace. Then Paula Morel, accompanied by Richard Lamrock on guitar, transported us to the shores of France with their folk-themed serenades.
The pinnacle of the night arrived with a spirited sea shanty singalong, led by the charismatic Chris Malby. We learned how to follow the solo line with a group response, which produced surprisingly impressive sounds—OH OH Honey and Leave her Jonny, Leave her…. The commentary with each shanty added to the enjoyment. Our clubhouse `provided perfect acoustics and an ambience of keeping warm in the galley of a tall ship. A brilliant gathering!! Perhaps it will become a regular winter solstice event?
