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Order of the Horse- Mikael Milrakki

Another scroll which I was asked to wordsmith for. I didn’t know the recipient at all but I tried to capture a regal form of his service for this scroll. This was for the Baronial Service award

Hear the mighty decree of Baron Muin to his fine flaming salamander kin! Loyal servant to the Barony, Mikael Melrakki epitomizes the essence of service to the Barony, his commitment unwavering, his dedication unparalleled. Offering his home as a bastion of camaraderie, he fosters unity through countless practices, where ranged warriors hone their skills and bonds are forged.

His abode doubles not only as a sanctuary for armaments but also as a repository for the Barony’s treasures, housing supplies essential for events and festivities. Yet, Mikael’s service extends beyond the confines of his dwelling. As the Minister of Lists, he ensures fairness on the field, meticulously maintaining records and overseeing tournaments with impartiality and integrity. His selfless contributions uplift the entire Barony, his passion igniting a flame of inspiration in others.

Let it be known throughout Bhakail and the Known World that Mikael shall be inducted into the Order of the Horse at the Waking of the Salamander, AS 58.

Calligraphy and Illumination done by Gretchen Schroeder

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Board Gaming Alliteration

The signet of Bhakail and I have become decently close. Having 2 peers connected to Bhakail, it is a second home to me (despite it being -across- the kingdom. Anyways, Bhakail takes their board gaming seriously. So, to counter that, I felt that a scroll with alliteration was in order. Nothing period about this besides the board games themselves but I have fun writing it.

Bhakail’s board gaming virtuoso, who brings brilliance, boasts breathtaking mastery beyond bounds and battles brainy opponents, is blessed with strategy, which baffles adversaries. They employ bewitching moves that bedazzle both beginners and seasoned players. Today, done by Baron Muin at Bhakail’s Tavern, ______________ is named Bhakail’s beloved Board gaming champion, where they also serve a beacon of camaraderie that binds the Barony together creating a bond that beautifully bridges generations and backgrounds. Brimming with benevolence, the Baronial champion shares boundless board game wisdom, fostering a bustling community of budding board gamers.

Scroll Calligraphy by Gretchen Schroeder Illumination Laura Louise

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Patronus

Take 2?

Back when HRM Tindal was on the throne the first time with HRM Albrecht, I decided I wanted to try my hand at composing a processional. I wanted to capture a piece that captured Tindal, himself.

I titled the piece, “Patronus” which means proctector. Nothing to do with Harry Potter. This was a conscious choice based on Tindal’s 1st century roman persona. It finally got a real performance of it and was performed for it’s intention. I was not there that day, but many thanks to Mistress Deonna von Achen for teaching it and running the group. Enjoy!

Video Recording of Patronus

Thank you to Angelica Di Nova Lipa for capturing this video for me and Ronan MacCodrum for sending it to me (And always being willing to sing my music either that I compose or teach)

Another recording from Arlyana van Wyck from a different visual/vocal vantage:

This comes from :

Gaius Iulius Caesar Octavianus Augustus

Res gestae Divi Augusti

anno 14 a.C.n

Bella terra et mari civilia externaque tóto in orbe terrarum suscepi  victorque omnibus veniam petentibus cívibus pepercí. Externas gentés, quibus túto ignosci potuit, conserváre quam excídere malui. Míllia civium Rómanorum adacta sacrámento meo fuerunt circiter quingen ta.

Wars, both civil and foreign, I undertook throughout the world, on sea and land, and when victorious I spared all citizens who sued for pardon. The foreign nations which could with safety be pardoned I preferred to save rather than to destroy.

Link to Source

Click to access patronus.pdf

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Seal Skinned One

I often find myself scared to share my music with other people. Music, if you couldn’t tell, is a very important part of my life. When I share something I compose, I feel vulnerable and as if you could simply step on my heart any time you choose to.

I’ve been trying to be less vulnerable about it. I happened to be inspired to compose a piece. I haven’t really written like this is a very long time. Sure, I write filks… those are just words. Sure, I do scroll assignments…. those are just words.

This? This -was- music. This was -my- music. This was my soul.

What makes this even more terrifying is the person I composed this for is also a composer and performer as well. I have an incredible amount of respect for them. Despite them being very close to me and knowing they would never do anything intentionally hurt me, I was still scared. What if it sucked? What if they didn’t like how I composed? We have different skill sets. We have different instruments. I was -terrified-.

This person is full of passion for selkie lore and the sea itself. I can also see the parrallels of their actual life to that of a selkie. I wanted to create a new Selkie piece. One that was not the helpless maiden. Not one where there would be failure, but partnership. So… I began to write….

I set myself an artificial deadline to have it done by so I couldn’t back out. I did test a bit of the motif out on them without them knowing (or atleast, I don’t think they knew at the time) to see if it might be to their taste. With a positive enough of a reaction, I continued on.

As I worked on it, I started to share it with friends who I felt were safe to listen to my track. I send them a voiceless midi with the sheet music. I probably sent it to a good 10-15 people to desensatize myself during the process.

This last Friday, I finished the pieces moments before (minor edits the day of, the piece itself was done the night prior). I asked them, when I saw them, when I might be able to present them with their gift and in what format.

I had done a quick recording of it day of in case they said they wanted to listen to a recording of it in private. They advised live but had some things they needed to manage first. The time came. I fumbled for my midi acommpaniment that I had also composed and played it. I was able to look up at them a few times while I was singing it to them to see if I could get a reading. I could not. They were purely listening to it.

I finished. I closed my black choral binder with the sheet music inside, covered by page protectors and waited for a reaction. They had no words. As of today, I still don’t know, but I, at the very least, know they enjoyed it.

I am no recording/mixing artist so this is likely the best you’ll all get uintil I can take some mixing/recording classes.

Seal Skinned One- MP3

Sheet Music

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Boast for Keziah Planchette, OL

My dear friend, Kiaya, was being elevated to the Order of the Laurel. She has been a peer to me in so many ways since I met her and her family. I was asked to boast her in. I asked her what type of boast she wanted. Her prompt was “Channel Ryou”. Challenge accepted. My original creation was 350 words… which… was a bit lengthy. This is what I was able to shorten it to and still have it capture their essence.

Good gentles, peers and nobles all …Behold the illustrious Keziah Planchette, Baron of Stonemarche, Member of the order of the Maunche, Member of the order of the Silver Crescent, Tygers cub, Recipient of the Consorts order of Courtesy, whose valor echoes through the annals of history! Who  stands as a beacon of hope in the darkest of times!

With quill in hand, she is swift as lightning, eye as sharp as the keenest blade. 

With brush, conjures visions of unparalleled beauty, capturing the essence of life itself! 

Keziah fearlessly defends the innocent and upholds justice in the face of adversity. Her valor knows no bounds.Therein beats a heart, overflowing with kindness and empathy. Known far and wide as a champion of the unseen. From the newest babe to the highest crown, all find solace in the benevolence of Baron Keziah.

let it be known throughout the land that Keziah Planchette is not merely a Baron, but a paragon of virtue. inspiring generations yet to come to strive for greatness and embody the virtues of bravery, kindness, and creativity. Long may her legend endure!

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Tyger’s Cub for Genevieve of Lochleven

There is nothing period about the way I composed this piece. However, I knew I wanted to make this scroll special for this little velociraptor. I wanted it to be whimsical and also capture who this mighty cub was. I was so lucky to work with this blossoming scribe, Octavia. Enjoy

In the Barony of Smoking Rocks, amidst cobblestone streets and whispered legends, there resides the charming Genevieve. She waltzes through life’s melodies, her heart tuned to the rhythm of society’s gatherings. With a twirl and a flourish, her laughter echoing across the lands.

Yet, beneath her graceful steps, Genevieve harbored a whimsical spirit, one that found joy in the simplest of pleasures. Amidst the bustling events, she immerses herself in finding any way she can help. Her favorite activity is tending to the children’s toybox. She makes sure no youth is left empty handed. 

But Genevieve’s kindness knows no bounds. While others revel, she slips away, sleeves rolled up, to aid in the tidying of the village square and counting points. From battles to challenges, she does this with diligence and a smile. For her, happiness lay not just in the glimmer of the dance floor but also in the warmth of community and in the satisfaction of a job well done. 

With this, we Matthias and Aesa Feillinn, Crown and Consort of the realm, with the power vested in our hands, do induct Genevieve of Lochleven into her rightful place as a member of the Order of the Tyger’s cub. We do so with joy March 2 AS 58 at East Kingdom Arts and Science Championshop.

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Silver Wheel- Trian O’Brudair

By THL Solveig Bjarnardottir

Based on Pangur Ban

Traveled wanderer, Triann, devoted Servant,
‘Tis a like task we are at;
Hunting work is his delight,
Hunting work through day and night.
Better far than praise of men
Laborious is he, his time given
Triann bears none ill-will,
He, too, plies his simple skill.
‘Tis a merry thing to see
At our tasks how glad are we,
When at large we often find
Entertainment to our mind.
Oftentimes duties will go astray
In the hero, takes arms, Triann’s way;
Oft’times with joy his songs are set
Merrily competes tasks within wide net.
‘Gainst all odds he sets his eye
Full and fierce and sharp and sly;
‘Gainst the odds of difficulty spied
Completes all acts and duty tried.
When a job appears and then,
O! how glad has Triann’s been;
O! what gladness do we prove
When he solves the doubts you route.
So in peace our task we ply,
Triann, loyal servant, and cry;
In our arts we find our bliss,
We have ours, and he has his.
Practice every day has made
Triann perfect in his trade;
We achieve play day and night,
Turning darkness into light.
So ordered, Triann, servant sent,
A wheel placed around your neck
Order to join with hearts a-glow
Birka AS 58, with silver we do bestow
King and Queen demanded now
Placed from the hands of the crown

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Baronial Brewing Champion- Speed Scroll

A little background on this scroll. I was assisting at a demo in the fine lands of Bhakail and ye olde Pax Unplugged. I had been chatting with a Scribe and they had mentioned that their wordsmith was MIA. I mentioned I was a smith and if they ever needed assistance, I could bust out a scroll for them. Well, bust it out I did. I had maybe 3 days total to finish the assignment with a limit of 100-150 words. I completed this in about 8 minutes… after a whole weekend of working Pax Unplugged for the event and some for the SCA as well WITH con crud (but not covid). Here is the result!

Hail and well met to all in attendance. Mighty Baron Muin demands wassails to be praised and brews to be imbibed. In the fine and proud halls of Bhakail did we have a competition. One that bears the same gravity as the bacon that fills our lands. A competition that could not be taken lightly…or darkly…or amber-ly. Many a fine beverage were sampled and in the end there could only be one who would take up the mantle of Baronial Brewing Champion. We sing out with merriment to celebrate the superior skill of Lui Wing-Ken who warmed our insides and souls this chilled day, December 9th, at Bhakail Yule AS 58.

Words by THL Solveig Bjarnardottir

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St. E for Excellent

I often stray away from arts and sciences competitions. It’s hard enough as a vocalist to show prowess in an ephemeral art. It is also difficult to convey information to this art as it simply is it’s own language. Music is a refined language, spoken by many, but felt by all.

How do you judge something that cannot be touched or smelled or tasted? How can you judge a feeling? How do you judge something that you cannot describe? Did you miss something? Why was this good or bad?

“I don’t like this because (Insert genre here) is boring”. “Gross it’s in ( insert foreign language)”. “No one likes vibrato” “I hate straight tone” “Too many notes for the royale ear!” (Bonus points if you can name that movie).

Taste plays a lot into performance. To break out objectivity into a performance is completely impossible. How could we add objectivity to it? That was my goal with this grouped up project. I wanted to show my research and why my performance choices were period, while explaining my aesthetic choices and provide examples of each objectively to prove a point.

The first linked paper below is regarding the overall performance of Downland’s, “Flow My Tears”. However, there is a controversial discussion regarding one specific performance technique. So, I decided to research it and show why -I believe- that, although the word “Vibrato” did not exist until the 17th century, it was likely an active performance technique, used as an ornament as opposed to being completely expunged.

Flow My Tears-Overall Performance

Vibrato Defense Paper

If you are music illiterate or don’t want to read my entire defence, here is an abridged version:

Abridged Documentation

I then chose to make 2 seperate comparison recordings. They are not perfect, but they are there to serve as references to my points.

Recording- No Vibrato/Straight Tone/No Ornamentation

Flow My Tears- With Vibrato/Ornamentation

Points to anyone who reads my paper and understands why “The GOAT”.

I didn’t expect to win as my project didn’t meet the rubric at all but there was a challenge. I entered as a chance to receive some feedback to see where I was on my A and S journey. Out of 25 points I scored a 21 and a 22. I will take it.

The other proud moment for me was I -almost- won populace choice…. WITH A RESEARCH PAPER. Not many thoughts on this but I figured this was a good start. More research to come.