Arrangement reflections: Mingulay Boat Song

A great sea ballad/sea shanty with a rolling 9/8 rhythm. This song was introduced to me by Ewan Lawrie from the Canberra Shanty Club. The version he sent me is the one by The Longest Johns. This song is often sung at the Canberra Shanty Club to close out the night.

I did an arrangement for Strange Weather Choir (based on the Longest Johns version), and taught it at a workshop at Smith's Alternative in Canberra. Video here.

Harmonically, it's very simple: just primary chords the whole way. Satisfying to sing and sway from side to side (drunkenly?).

The choruses are all solid homophonic harmonies (for maximum ring and impact). The texture varies in the verses (one voice on lyrics, the rest on oos for example). The piano also plays a large part in changing up the texture.

The sheet music says 58bpm. I've since decided I like to bump it up to about 62bpm.

Rehearsal tip: advise singers how to pronounce Mingulay. MIH-ng-GAH-LEH-ee (diphthong in the last syllable).

I've had a number of singers in Strange Weather tell me how much they enjoy singing this song.