Taken out of the strict ritual context ,some 'call and response' was
built on simple harmonic progressions such as I to II, or I to V,
which made it easy to remember. These 'open ended' harmonic
frameworks encouraged improvisation, and socialization.
From the perspective of the "Sea Shanty", I'm sure the fruity
responses of what the crew 'intended' for the captain could go on for
days, and at times was probably hilarious.
But as in early blues, and the cleaned up versions in the
Northumbrian Minstrelsy, when it comes to publishing, the censor is
omnipotent?
Steve D
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