I Was the Boat Man

Maggie Furtak's I Was the Boat Man is a secular canon for SSA and TTB choirs. The text, sung in English, crafts a poignant narrative from the perspective of a boatman reflecting on the chain of craftsmanship that created his vessel and his own connection to the sea. The lyrics evoke a sense of pride in skilled labour and a deep, almost elemental bond with the maritime world, concluding with a melancholic farewell. The canonic structure, where different voice parts enter successively with the same melody, creates a rich, imitative texture that enhances the unfolding story and the communal spirit of the text.