These are melodies that everyone knows: those of sea shanties. In Arces, in Charente-Maritime, a retired teacher has made it a passion and is fighting to perpetuate this heritage.
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For a bit, he would think he was back in front of his class of schoolchildren. Raphaël Descamps distributes the words around in a bar in Meschers-sur-Gironde. And, everyone is invited to sing Santiano! A great classic to start with.
It’s a heritage that is known and therefore inevitably reminds everyone of things!
Raphaël DescampsPerformer and composer of sea shanties
The ex-teacher and new composer is here to test his recital. And indeed, the bar’s customers quickly get caught up in the game, like Valérie and Bernadette: “It’s very catchy, even if you don’t know the words, it comes very quickly! We like everything festive so it speaks to us, it sets the mood.“
Bar patrons pick up lyrics easily, even for new songs
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© Tiphaine Pfeiffer – France Télévisions
Imbued with maritime culture since his childhood in the north of France, he developed a passion for sea shanties and is happy to share them.
It relaxes me, it lets me meet lots of different people so it’s very humanly rich.
Raphaël DescampsPerformer and composer of sea shanties
“We have to take our hats off to Alan Stivell, Tri Yann, to all those people from the 80s generation who went looking for songs to bring them up to date. It worked and it still works. In seaside regions, there is always a sea field, one place or another. The proof is that here there was none and now there is. The goal is that it makes others want it!“
The former teacher intends to enrich this part of maritime culture by collecting forgotten scores in attics and trunks. Notice to amateurs! He wouldn’t say no to a little reinforcement on stage too.
I dream of having fellow musicians or singers who come with me and that we can export that to all the coasts of Charente-Maritime!
Raphaël DescampsPerformer and composer of sea shanties
In all weathers, Raphaël Descamps walks on the Gironde Estuary, it nourishes his inspiration
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© Tiphaine Pfeiffer – France Télévisions
In parallel with his singing tours, he composes his own songs inspired by his walks along the Gironde. “The estuary is always changing, I love it! I compose when I go on the path that is there. This is where I find ideas, where I put them into shape. I’m a fan, there aren’t too many people, especially in winter like that. Even if the weather is bad, I go there, well equipped, and the song machine works completely!“
Sea shanty, a French tradition which has not yet breathed its last, has just been included in the inventory of France’s intangible cultural heritage.
