When we think of music at sea, we might think of images popularised in films, sailors singing

while they hoist the main sail and scrub the decks, or perhaps the solitary accordion accompanying

element. But in the early modern period, music at sea was far more than a way to pass the

time. For as to days, guests will explain, musicians aboard ships were professional and civilian

performers, paid to play at times of work and leisure. Or to put it another way, these men were not

sailors who happened to be able to play an instrument. They were highly skilled trumpeters,

drummers and fifers, oboists, pipers, fiddlers and horn players. And they were employed as

integral members of voyages to perform specific roles from helping the crew navigate

treacherous waters to manage in communication with non-English speaking peoples. In fact,

the range of their work is quite incredible, but it's historically been absent from conversations

about maritime culture. So while today we will encounter some familiar names, including Francis

Drake and the Mary Rose, today's episode will lead us to think about early modern ocean voyages

in a whole new way. Our guide for this journey is Dr. James Seth, assistant professor of English

at Central Washington University. He teaches and researchers Shakespeare, early modern drama,

maritime literature and early modern English voyaging. And his first book, Maritime Musicians

and Performers on Early Modern English Voyages, the lives of the seafaring middle class,

was published by Amsterdam University Press in June 2022.

Dr. Seth, thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me today about this fascinating subject,

something I knew so little about and I actually think it might be quite unfamiliar for many people.

I wonder maybe if we could start by illustrating maritime musicians with the people who formed the

heart of your work. So can you tell us a bit about John Brewer and William Porter, who they were

and how represented they are of your research? Thank you so much. Absolutely. John Brewer and William

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