A Pirate's Life (an original song for SATB a cappella) by Kirsten Duncan 4-Part - Digital Sheet Music

SKU: A0.1750391

Words and music by Kirsten Duncan. Contemporary choral SATB a cappella, duration 3:20 mins. Score: A4, 16 pages (including covers), with piano reduction for rehearsal. Published by Shrub Creative. Item number 2025-06. ISMN 9790900969972. An original rollicking sea shanty for intermediate unaccompanied mixed choirs (SATB a cappella), about a pirate’s life at sea.

This rollicking sea shanty paints a grim picture of a sailor’s life aboard a clichéd 18th-century pirate ship, from hammocks and rum to scurvy and walking the plank. But, despite all the hardships, a life at sea has its attractions.

The words for this song floated through the window to me in a “big magic” moment* whilst waiting for my laptop to reboot, probably a result of recently watching ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Outlander’, although the more wistful second half of the song is inspired by my own years at sea in the Royal Australian Navy – the magical moment when the sun rises golden above an endless horizon is both humbling and awe-inspiring. Far from this romanticised version, though, modern piracy is a serious threat faced by those who voyage on our oceans, and it is still the job of navies and coast guards to protect against it.

Musically, this original song for unaccompanied mixed intermediate choirs has all the hallmarks of traditional sea shanties, except that I have given women’s voices the lead in recognition of the typically unsung contribution of women at sea. In the first half, the soprano part often sits below the alto part, working with the tenors and bases to accompany the melody, then leads the more joyfull later verses, so conductors might like to mix up their women to draw out the character of the story. The more boisterous and expressive the storytelling – and interjections! – the more fun it will be for audiences at a family concert.

Kirsten Duncan has had a lifelong passion for choral singing. Now based in Canberra, Australia, she has performed with Gaudeamus (Judith Clingan), Hamburg International School (ISH) Singers, the choirs of Christ Church St Laurence Sydney (Dr Neil McEwan), The Resonants (Helen Swan) and others. Kirsten started composing choral music in 2015 with a penchant for narrative a cappella works with an often quirky Australian flavour, contributing to the musical community that has been a stabilising thread throughout her life. She especially thanks Helen Swan and The Resonants for giving voice to her compositions.

Visit kirstenduncan.com.au to notify about performances of this music, and find more choral works and information.

Copyright © 2025 KIRSTEN DUNCAN. All rights reserved.

* ‘Big Magic: creative living beyond fear’, Elizabeth Gilbert, 2015, Riverhead Books.