The Suffolk County Historical Society will host Dr. Stephen Sanfilippo at the society’s headquarters on April 22 at 1 p.m as he presents a talk and performance about whalers and their unique style of music and song.
Eastern Long Islanders from Greenport and Sag Harbor who hunted whales during the mid-1800s created a culture of song that helped counteract their isolation at sea and separation from home, using music to express their fears, hopes, longings, and most cherished values.
Sanfilippo, a native Long Islander who earned his doctorate at Stony Brook University, is a history professor at Maine Marine Academy and the University of Maine. He has long been performing historic songs of the sea at cultural and educational venues, accompanying his singing with banjo, concertina, and guitar. He currently divides his time between the Downeast Coast of Maine and Long Island’s North Fork.
This event includes musical performance and lecture, light refreshments, and admission to current exhibits.
Members Free; Non-Members $5.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend this event: 631-727-2881 x 100.
