Black Sails - The Parson's Farewell

Composer Bear McCreary discusses his arrangement of the traditional sea shanty, "The Parson's Farewell" in "Black Sails." The song features Paul Cartwright on mandolin and violin, and plays a prominent role in Episode "VII."
"The Parson's Farewell" is included on the soundtrack for the complete first season of "Black Sails," available now from SPARKS & SHADOWS:
sparksandshadow...
For more information about "Black Sails," visit the composer's website:
www.bearmccrear...

[@ereini0n]

It's been 6 years, and I still remember the feelings engendered by this music during the scene where they leave Nassau, to go to war, and not all will come back. It was breathtaking. Music truly feels like another character in the show.

[@joeywilkinson4303]

SAME OMG

[@gpeddino]

The guy playing the mandolin is amazing.

[@ShepsAlmighty]

That dude can rock the hell out of a violin!

[@andresguerra8580]

Godd, I was looking for the guitar lol, this dude has skills, they all have

[@voroshilovechelon]

Yeah that guy is epic

[@ConlethNew]

Dragging quality music into the 21st century, kicking and screaming.. I am agog with splendorous awe, YARRRRRRRR!!!

[@merrileem9351]

Seeing the Walrus & Ranger finally set off on their grand, albeit terrifying, adventure in search of the Urca, canvas snapping & wood creaking to the rousing tune & beat of The Parson's Farewell, was incredible! God speed, guys! Thanks, Bear, for coming up with such a brilliant soundtrack!!

[@jaymarcelo3183]

Merrilee M that scene was tearjerker! Right when the bagpipe comes in!

[@g.t.werber4476]

One of the best shows I've seen. Awesome music too.

[@LuluDZulu]

My favorite show in the world

[@nissah01]

Something special about this song, indeed.

[@julienvernay8491]

One of the greatest music from one of the greatest serie

[@bruceaisher]

This song is one of my favourites from the fucking amazing soundtrack for Black Sails. I bought the whole thing from Amazon and I can't stop listening!

[@slduk88]

Gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

[@xxmusicplease]

Brilliant work! This was my absolute favorite song from the whole series.

[@fahadus]

I thought 3:25 was guitar... That guy is amazing! BTW, I've been listening to this for hours now. It almost never happens o me. Very very well done!

[@JesseCunningham-r2h]

9 years later and I'm still dying to see more footage from the original jam session that he talks about

[@Archontasil]

first time i heard it, it captures my heart immediately

[@karapitre]

Thanks for sharing. This is my #1 favourite song in this soundtrack.

[@andrefinnigan8780]

Who is the madolin/fiddle player? He is an absolute champion, his touch on the small scale instruments is astonishing, he really rock

[@andrefinnigan8780]

oh, Paul Cartwright. Great player, great.

[@VasilWho]

Damn you, guys, I can't get that tune out of my head. I even started checking the offers for a second-hand mandolin. You have created a masterpiece indeed.

[@deborahnewbury9873]

I have never heard Parson's Farewell as a sea shanty before, but it certainly fits. Parson's Farewell dates back to the first or second decade of the 1600s at least, sometimes under different names. Originally French, it's better known as an English Country Dance, appearing in Playford's "The English Dancing Master,' 1651. Some of earliest known appearances of the song have 'bouree' in the title; for example, 'Bouree d'avignon.' A bouree is a type of French Country dance, and the music that one dances a bouree to. This is the Playford dance kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3SWfXt4jNimr5I It's been played at various Renaissance Faires including the original one in California, for decades.

[@another_sunrise]

My favourite of the show. Freaking powerful !

[@firefist95]

All black sails songs soundtruck are legendary

[@chrishardiesax]

Brilliant as always. Amazing mandolin playing and 2:41 onwards.....OOOFT!!

[@BenGSimon]

I look forward to these videos every week! Absolutely love them. I hope you put out more videos between the seasons too!

[@healing_chronicles]

So frickin Awesome !

[@nvcn86]

someone please tell me there's a recording of that comic con concert?

[@MrMjolnir69]

Lovely job boys. Grrrr

[@NicholasBenjaminAmato]

Goddammit, this is beautiful...

[@AnteaEvans]

I just love this composition of yours! You make really great music.

[@michaelbrand8279]

I love the mandolin in this tune!

[@Laguero]

Not technically a sea shanty (it's a Playford dance tune), but sounds great nonetheless! And has a sea-like sound to it. Well done gentlemen.

[@yano213]

My god you can do what you want sir !! Ok i'm going to see this show right now !

[@christysmith2994]

love the research that goes into your compositions! One of the many things that make you one of the most outstanding composers of our time!

[@elisangelalopes3201]

Unbilievable! Wonderful!

[@daleduke1315]

Thanks Paul.

[@rafalx1717]

Simply awesome. Bravo!

[@drtrekwars]

I don't know where Bear got the idea that The Parson's Farewell is a sea shanty. It just isn't. It was originally an English Country Dance song collected and published circa 1650's by John Playford...

[@marcosdamata8325]

Amazing and kick-ass, Bear. As usual.

[@randyvines1497]

This tune gets damn good

[@jack_oo178]

you guys are amazing!

[@julius573]

super,perfekt ,bravo !!!

[@jarcool]

Amazing work as always!

[@EmmaHollen]

Best interpretation E-VER!

[@franciscolemos1674]

Is there a mandolin tab version of this? I'd really like to learn how to play this!

[@MateusSantos-jm4cr]

Amazing! 🤩

[@NoFear1979]

This song touch the very essence of the soul, atleast I could feel it all the way down my spine. Well performed as well :) *applause*

[@magnusbruce4051]

I've been playing mandolin a fair while and that is some incredibly clean playing by Paul Cartwright there. Maybe it's just that I'm more used to playing electric guitar where pull offs are a thing (and I probably use them too much), but I'm just not accustomed to that amazing clarity in mandolin melodies and struggle to drop into tremolo so effortlessly.

[@emiliorojasruiz1919]

Excelente. saludos desde Perú

[@martyfede1918]

adoro

[@helgifeamar2342]

Is there anyone like me who is a historical dancer and recognised this countrydance?) And a rock-fan I adore hardrock versions and this one became one of the famous, I even set it for my ringtone XDD

[@l8rb3]

PLEASE Sire McCreary... This trend has been started by you, so please make it a part of your future contracts to allow us, your most humble and appreciative followers, to continue to be amazed and inspired by your awesome attitude for the 'dirty little secret' of filmdom: the ever controlling, yet utterly astounding world of soundtracks! Oh, and Thanx too! ;-) :-D ;-)

[@mhesvik]

Please put this version on apple music or spotify.

[@UltraReverb]

No chance that we can get a sheet music version of this?

[@rjorangecat]

Love it mate!

[@JakesPlace]

Twas sick!

[@Aquapod9]

Uilleann pipes?! AMAZING!

[@mixuxim42]

Awesome video

[@spadelight951]

We need your Black Sails tracks to get commercialized to simply listen to them :D

[@IamSamys]

2:09 Dat solo, tho.

[@MGGSpicey]

Epic

[@AurelTristen]

I've got to say that your videogrpaher is getting better at documenting all of this too. They must spend an incredible amount of time finding shots and lining them up so that we can watch all these different instruments play (in synch with the audio)

[@paulmartinez594]

Kyle Biggs yeah it looks amazing isn't it?

[@smri8177]

My guitar showed me this and I’m playing this in class lol

[@alexhenry9256]

My fondness for traditional music makes me want to hate the bit that begins at 2:40, but...the frisson was real.

[@Neoony]

That violin part is the best I ever heard :D Seriously Bear, how do you do this kind of emotional response? :D Awesome!

[@ChantalMonette]

I'm so happy I found your channel (can you tell I'm watching through some stuff? haha) You're one of my absolute favourite TV composers EVER. Like.. the Zimmer or Williams of TV, if you ask me :D Really great stuff, and I love seeing this, and your thoughts on everything :D

[@jackbeckett2838]

0:46 When you get the perfect take but forgot to switch off your watch alarm

[@DevonM88]

That is so fucking cool...

[@rondunn6021]

I don't know why he keeps calling it a sea shanty. Its a courtly dance tune from the John Playford collection. Its a very good version nonetheless.

[@idlemessiah]

Musician goals

[@ianmcmill]

What kind of mandoline is the guy at the beginning playing?

[@Liffwoodstation]

I think it's a Crafter

[@simplyfantastic58]

@fargodidit on twitter sent me searching to find me here. Listening to this masterpiece

[@nmacipad]

I thought it was a guitar at the end...and i saw a violin :O

[@nicholai-cj4du]

Would love this without commentary

[@jaymarcelo3183]

I love the part the bagpipe kicks in!

[@Lhorkan]

Just one episode left? :(

[@bearmccreary]

One more THIS season. Season 2 is already in production, so more episodes are on the way. :)

[@Lhorkan]

Aye I know, but there's still the long wait until the next season begins. But, I'm already very pleased that the show, and these great videos, continue beyond the first season.

[@Siresly]

1:27 Små grodorna. Would be fantastic if this tune somehow inspired the French and their onion song which would somehow end up becoming part of our silly Swedish midsummer tradition.

[@eloscuro7]

Great tune, nice arrangement, but it's definitely a Playford dance, likely originally a Fremnch bouree, rather than a shanty. ;)

[@jlduran444]

Bourreé d´Avignonez

[@ozwzrd]

This is not a "traditional sea shanty" as cited here. The tune is an English country dance from John Playford's 1651 publication. This is like "arranging" Bach and citing the source as "German folk song". Additionally, it would be a "chantey". A "shanty" is a crude wooden shed. Un-bearable... Here's an un-arranged video of the piece: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWbJnGWsYrWoZ6c

[@alanskyrme9048]

Shanty is an acceptable spelling for the music, as are chanty and chantey. The entire soundtrack is perfect for the great Black Sails series. Brilliant.

[@teslaphysics]

IMO. Lose the guitar

[@gusvoorhees]

Not a sea chantey or a song but okay

[@MetalMaestro]

not a song?