Calico Jack

John Rackham (December 26, 1682 November 18, 1720), commonly known as Calico Jack, was an English pirate captain operating in the Bahamas and in Cuba during the early 18th century. His nickname was derived from the calico clothing he wore, while Jack is a nickname for John. Rackham was active from 1718 to 1720 towards the end of the Golden Age of Piracy which lasted from 1650 to 1725. He is most remembered for his original skull over crossed sabers flag (featured in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean) and having two female crew members: Mary Read, who commonly dressed as a man, and his lover Anne Bonny, by whom he had one child. Rackham was captured by Jonathan Barnet, an English privateer, in 1720, put on trial by Sir Nicholas Lawes, Governor of Jamaica, and was hanged in November of that year in Port Royal, Jamaica. Calico Jack is a four and one half minute work that attempts to capture the feel of 18th century sailing ships. It opens with woodwind swells reminiscent of rolling ocean waves. A hornpipe melody, played by the piccolo draws your attention to the way sailors might have entertained themselves during long voyages. A more relaxing, contrasting melody is then heard in the euphonium, tenor sax, and bassoon. This melody in combination with the hornpipe theme theme will later combine at a stormy and climactic moment before subsiding back into the rolling accompaniment and hornpipe heard at the beginning of the piece. This piece changes key often and can be challenging for some instruments. Also, the ranges of certain brass instruments is extended a bit, but only for a brief section. It is fun to play but at the same time, it is challenging.