Zeke just sent me this video that, I believe, he took with his phone. The video is of the Mariners in a Swiss restaurant singing the Mingulay Boat Song. Every person you see in this video, except the waitress, is a Mariner. If we sound a bit tired, it probably is because we were. We had spent a long day rehearsing and preparing for the show in Augusta Raurica for the following day. I assumed we would finish our dinners and turn in early so that we would be well rested for the next day’s show. Au contraire mon frair. It wasn’t long before our energy levels improved. Not long after, the local law enforcement arrived as a result of the nine noise complaints the received from the neighbors. That got us all fired up and, consequently, we decided to move to the Baggenstos for a few evening Warteks. By 3am I was dragging Mariners out of the Beggenstos. Recent experience told me that in Switzerland the hour that immediately follows 3am is 8am. Those Swiss are crafty when it comes to manipulating time.
I’ll sing you a song if you’ll sing it with me. But for many of you, the words that you sing along will be just as empty as Henry’s bucket. The songs of the chanteymen and the instrumental music of the fife and drums, revisited at least once a week during the season, possess more than just notes and lyrics. This is the reason why we are all here. Ultimately it is the music that brings us together. But, it is the memories of past jollification and anticipation of future celebrations that give the music a life of it’s own.
Perhaps, we as performers become selfish, playing primarily for ourselves and secondarily for any lucky enough to witness our performance. But the energy and passion that is so apparent when watching the Mariners is the result.
Not yet of age to be truly accepted as a Mariner, I was still allowed to perform on the snareline in Basel, Switzerland. It was there that I began to realize just how much the Mariners transcend the music. We have even gone so far as surpassing an ocean. If you are a regular to this blog you have surely read the phrase “We are the Mariners.” And we are, all of us fortunate enough to share a moment in Mariner history. This includes all that we do, musically, socially, and otherwise.
Once in Switzerland, I could no sooner finish my first Feldschlosschen, than I had made a few dozen life-long friends, relationships that will build long after I am capable of gripping my drum sticks. I am truly thankful for all that has been shared in giving meaning to the music and creating memories to be triggered every time I sing a song. Perhaps someday that song will have just as much significance for you, as well. And for now, for those who are listening, farewell to you.
A video of the Mariners singing Mingulay Boat Song, that appears in a later post, was taken at dinner one night of the trip. Mingulay Boat Song is not simply a song any more.
Ok, maybe the Mariners were never radio stars. But, I do wonder if YouTube will kill the MTV star. We saw the first Mariner video’s cropping up on YouTube in July. Since then, there have been a plethora and I expect that we will see more and more. Here is what I found from this summers activities:
“The Ancient Mariners of Connecticut, a fife and drum corps, wait to join the marchers in the Westerly Columbus Day Parade on Sunday. From left are, Steve Chomka of Cumberland, R.I., Bill Fagen of Killingworth and John Greenhalgh of Westerly.”
“…The Ancient Mariners of Connecticut, a fife and drum corps, was one of the crowd favorites.
Dressed as sailors from the War of 1812, they occasionally shot a small cannon during their march. One of the members, Dan Woodford, played the part of a prisoner. He would fall to the ground at the sound of the cannon and John Greenhalgh dragged him a few feet down the street by his handcuffs…” Photo by Adena Stevens.
Here are a few pictures of the Sudbury muster taken by my sister Keri.
She’s a bit biased, as you’ll see, and only took pictures of the really handsome looking fellows. Sorry, the rest of you guys will have to bring your own photographer the next time.
Hmmm, looks like we are all slightly slanted to the right in this shot. I find this interesting because I definitely felt slanted to the left the whole time I was playing.
Once we got off stand Joe was so happy I thought he was gonna kiss me. Instead, and more preferably, they carried me off to the guy who was handing out homemade red wine. Mmmmm.
October 12th, 2007 by 
bacon
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