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Adrian Neibauer's avatar

I love reading your analyses of music! I'm curious. Do sea shanties follow the same rules as play parties?

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Andrea La Rose's avatar

Hi Adrian, glad you like it! Sea shanties are work songs; play parties are family-bonding songs. So in terms of purpose, both use strong rhythms and a clear meter to get people moving together, but toward different ends and for different social groups. Both are often strophic — one melody for all the verses, but not necessarily. I'm not sure what rules you are thinking of, but I hope that helps.

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