Author: Solveig Bjarnardottir, Bard and Teacher

#Bard #Troublemaker
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Bardic Around the fire, Strikes again!

Winter is coming, my friends and it’s time for more Bardic!

 

With winter starting to show it’s face and the camping events slowing down, it’s time to keep our bodies and souls warm with the best thing I can think of. Bardic!

Once or twice a year for the last few years I have been running an unoffical gathering at the Inn of Bards Rest. There is a bonfire, potluck and of course, Bardic lubricant. The event is child friendly until 10pm and then the bawdy material may seep its way out.  I try to make this a safe place for all sorts of performers all all levels.

This particular time we have just shy of 30 folks showing up from Maine, Mass., NH and even Vermont. We had performers ranging from age 9 to 60. The fired roared and so many new pieces I have never seen or heard performed happened. One story even made its debut as it was completed being written while the story was being told!

The best part about this was there were folks who showed up only to listen and they grew brave enough with the encouragement of myself as well as those around the circle to perform themselves. It was a magic night especially since the rain held off.

Until next year, when I have a new witty title to name this.

 

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The Closing of the Inn- Coldwood

Brrrrr … it’s cold outside

Or rather, not at all. This was an unseasonably warm Coldwood. I would say it’s named for the season and such, but it happens to be named for the shire it is hosted in.

This would prove to a more lax weekend for me, but c’monnnnn campfires and bonfires every 50 feet. This is a Skald’s paradise.

One of the things I am working on as a Skald is to not hesitate to share my music as long as it is welcomed. I had a previous conversation with Her Royal Highness, Matilde back at GNEW. It was clear that she appreciated classical music and vocalists in general. I challenged myself to not wait to be beckoned for a performance. Saturday afternoon, after I had completed fencing for the day (It was 80+ out), I shambled… well, wandered over carefully to EK royal and made a stiff upper lip. There was no backing down now. I took a knee (Not the football style) and asked if in about 30 minutes if she would care for a song. She happily obliged.

30 minutes later, after cleaning up and looking less like a schlep, I wandered back over. It was exactly 30 minutes later. Never keep a princess waiting and as a musician I was trained to never be late. Alack, Alas! The princess had wandered away to manage a personal matter. No matter. I would take matters into my own hands… well I’d wait patiently. I wandered off to spend time conversing with the other fencers until she returned. After she had a few moments to settle down, I made my way back over.

This was it! I offered up my song. I opened my mouth and let the music pour from me. When the piece was over, I was greeted with a welcoming hug, a thank you and a token. I don’t think I had had ever been this warmly thanked for a song. This, was most gratifying, not as a bard, but as a human to another human. Music is a very dear thing to me. You could see that her highness had been moved and she shared that gift with me back.

I would say that this was the end of my successes, but that would be a fib. That evening, Tearlach shared a great story about the cow that wouldn’t die. Folks were still gathered around the bonfire and it appeared they were looking for entertainment. I against, poured out another song. I only expected to sing one piece and then leave. I was beckoned to sing more. From time to time, I also sat next to her excellency, Jocelyn, from Stonemarche, and would serenade her privately. I then finished a personal request to new friends made.

It doesn’t seem like a super exciting story, but it’s starting to appear that my SCA dreams are coming true. People are asking me to sing and I am aware enough to read my audience. This is a great accomplishment and step in my journey.

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Winter Nights

Those suuuuummmerrr….NIGHTSSSSSSSS *singing to the tune of Grease*

 

Hello friends and welcome to another edition of Solveig needs to stop traveling and competing so much. I am your host, very sleep deprived and messy housed Solveig. This weeks edition is a special one. This episode has nothing but bards in it (ok, and a few viewers).

Back at the Feast of St. Nicholas in Queen Elizabeth’s Court, Drake Oranwood had described to me this as an all day/night bardic challenge called Winter Nights. He spoke of this sweet sweet armband he got to wear for a year and the circulating location of this event. It had started as a Concordia only event, but had grown larger. This event, however, was not typical to most bardic competition. This one would almost require you to have access to your coveted book of all things bardic. On top of that, you would be issued a challenge and would issue a challenge every round.  This would be a new way for me to meet new Bards as well as stretch myself.

Drake had reached out to me prior, asking if I could assist with gate, so I arrived early anticipating that I would be providing assistance. Luckily, when I arrived, that was all managed so I didn’t have to leave the secret not so secret bard lounge. The atmosphere was filled with Drake noodling on his new toy, chatting of new bards meeting one another and then anxiety of trying to figure out the sign up format and the grading system. We would all be judging. Hooray for rotating judges!

Although I had introduced myself to several new faces, ADOS (Attention Deficit OOH SHINY) over a fancy piece of weaving, I cuddled myself into familiar bare feet. I was second on the roster to perform my first piece (which was our choice). I pulled out a familiar favorite of mine as most of these folks had never heard me sing it. I sang it well and as per the challenge, described what kind of a Skald I was.  To date, I believe this was my best performance of this piece yet, despite the yellow liquid trickling down my leg and boy… was the air dry *cough cough* is it hot in here?

Each of the performers one by one displayed their array of interesting styles. I was quickly feeling intimidated. I was so used to being a big fish in a small pond. It was awe inspiring but it also kicked me down a few pegs.

The second round I was issued my first opposition challenge by a familiar face I had met at crown. Lorita spoke of how she had observed me constantly making the audience laugh. She asked me to make the audience cry. I gladly accepted that challenge. Her challenge from me was to perform a piece not using her own words.

For my challenge I chose the Irish folk piece of lover’s loss, “Turtledove”. It was somber, slow and beautiful. I wish I had chosen a better key to sing it in. Hindsight. Lorita did an incredible job of telling a story (which she informed me afterwords, was originally a song) of an angry woman cursing  the populace as they would make a pregnant woman run. Her emotions evocative, her timing, impeccable and her facial expressions were solid.

For my final challenge, I was paired with Grimm/Grym Skald. I panicked to think of a challenge for this story telling/poetic giant. His work was far surpassing of my own and I often wondered how I could challenge him. I though, very Winnie the Pooh style and contemplated how I could even put a small obstacle in his way. It then dawned on me that I had never heard him sing.  I asked my barefooted co-skald if that was a thing Grym could do and they affirmed as such. I asked Grym to sing and he asked me not to sing. I was prepared. I had not 1 but 2 stories I could pull out this time.  Which one? GYAH!

After deliberation, I pulled out the piece that had more refinement to it and played with the audience.  The timing was much better than the last time I performed it, better response times from the audience and much shorter.  This was some of the feedback I had received from the King’s previous bard (from K and Q) as well as a few peers. Still not perfect yet, but it’s a work in progress.

The end of the event, we had some open bardic before the winner was announced. I sang a contrafact/filk which I hadn’t performed for the public, as well as Drake’s “We are the East” (Which, to that date, he had never heard another human sing his piece for him). Peregrin the Illuminator was named the winner of the day and my god, his grapes were the best grapes. (he had been challenged to Illuminate the grapes and as well write a dirty/lusty/raunchy/sexy piece… which he took his first piece and wrote a new perspective on it).

The other two performances which truly stuck out to me were Cedar san Barefoot’s piece where they wrote themselves into a “Norse” piece where Loki had to get them to wear shoes and Douglas Doan’s constant use of staircase jokes and box myths. I will never look at staircases and boxes the same way again.

As we packed up for the evening, I was stopped by Toki (of whom I had never met prior to this day, but apparently had created this event many moons ago). He presented me with his token. I was humbled because as the day had progressed I had heard much about him.  I thanked him graciously and thanked him for his patronage.

A few days later I had connected with Toki on the Visage of Tomes and we had a several hour conversation. To me, I think a new mentoring relationship/friendship was born an I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.

 

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Harvest Moon

When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie!

It was time for me to get off my throne and I don’t mean the porcelain kind.  I had the honor of running and judging this years Provincial Bard competition for Malagentia. From the few years I have been entering competitions for Bardic, I learned what I wanted and didn’t want in a local competition. I had been working to build a bardic community wherever I go because my heart aches when I hear people say, “I’m not good enough… I can’t follow HER…. Bardic is hard. This does not make a safe environment for performers. It’s hard enough to get up in front of folks, especially when you never did it professionally or even semi professionally.

This year I made a rubric. It included the following categories:

Were you prepared?

Did you perform well?

Can you be heard?

How well did you know your piece?

Did you fit the theme?

Did the audience enjoy your piece?

Did you provide documentation?

How detailed was your documentation?

I also had a theme “Home is where the hearth is”. I figured it would be a nice and creative way to see how the competitors would deal with it.  Also,  how they would introduce their pieces and explain how their piece fit into the theme. In addition, the competitors would perform 2 pieces in contrasting styles, 1 piece must be period and documentation is required. This would tie into the SCA as but leave enough leniency that it would be fun.

Before the performances began, our Senechal (Who was one of the 3 additional judges I had asked to help with the judging) interjected for a moment. I couldn’t imagine what she needed to announce, but who was I to say no to this amazing lady. I was bestowed the very first provincial honor for Arts and Sciences for my work in the Bardic field. I was surprised and honored to receive… well, this honor! It was only the very first because I needed to leave early to head to a wedding so I was not able to attend the closing ceremonies where it should have been awarded.

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On to the performances! We had 4 incredible performers. All of them were not only incredible performers in all their own ways, but they were also all skilled in a martial activity as well. There were two heavy combat fighters and 2 fencers. I am proud to say I have fought and fenced with each of them. On top of these skilled performers, we had an exceptional young lady perform to compete for the youth bard.  I had decided this year to include this category. I find that we cannot support the arts just as adults, we need to hone their skills at an early age. It’s true what they say, the youth are our future.

The deliberating was difficult. Each was unique and powerful. I was blessed to have the judges I had picked along side me to help me pick. I didn’t want anyone to feel like they weren’t good enough. I had asked each of the judges to talk to all of the individuals privately and provide feedback. I didn’t want critiques, I wanted positive reinforcement. One of the largest lessons I have been learning in life is that you never provide unwarranted feedback or feedback that wasn’t asked for be the individual. I sent my words with the other judges and I also reached out to each of them after to let them know where their strong points were and encouraged them to keep shining like the jewels they are. Though, if someone told me that I’d reply, “ I’m volcanic ash! I don’t shine”

Bards. Keep being you!

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Harper’s Retreat

You must not under any pretense allow your mind (Harp).  To dwell on any thought that is not positive, constructive, optimistic, kind. -Emmet Fox

I think this should be the mantra I focus on. It’s always tough when you put your heart and soul into something and then have your spirit crushed by not obtaining that goal.  

This year was a new year to push myself . To try something new. This year I brought new repertoire. These pieces had never been performed by me for the public.  This year’s repertoire choices were very personal and close to my heart as well.  

Saturday I spent the day fencing, teaching, reveling in good friends and company. What did you teach, Lady Solveig? I taught what’s called a “Master Class”. This class is a safe place workshop where you bring a piece you are polishing or a piece you want to improve on. The format is generally you perform your entire piece all the way through and then you do it again, section by section. Suggestions are made about your performance and how to improve it. This was my first time performing this outside of an academic setting and I was overwhelmed to have three students attend. All of them brought difference pieces and styles to the table. I say overwhelmed in a good way. I never know how performers feel about being critiqued. Not everyone takes criticism well and even when they ask for it, it can rub them the wrong way. This was a great exercise for me in providing feedback but also serving as a bardic mentor for those who were older, same and younger than I was. I monitored body language very closely to make sure what I was providing was well received. When the class was over, I was thanked by the students and was told by two of them that they were now going to compete with these pieces for Baronial Bard and the third was just going to get up and perform for the open mic section. I couldn’t be prouder. I felt like a mama bird, proud that her kiddos are getting kicked out of the nest…. her… viking nest. With spears and fire.

I had set up, ahead of time, for an accompanist to help me with a piece. A few weeks prior, for personal reasons, he had to decline. Luckily, I am surrounded by amazing musicians in my life and another rose from the mist. I went to go rehearse with her but found out she had broken her foot the night before. In addition, she may have injured her wrist (Insert a chain of explicates and rapid swearing/heart beat) Oh wait! Another friend… can you play a thing? Maybe? No. Crap. oh hey, other friend (#4) yeah, I can play violin and make this work if your guitarist can’t.  (Like watching the Bob Ross reruns on twitch where he throws a blob of paint on the painting and you think its ruined? Nope.… SAVED!). We made this work. Awesome.

After the class was over I rushed to get ready for feast and the bardic competition that night. “Ooooo girl, you so fancy!” I would jest with my friend, Ollala, that I was “Installing my weave”. I was quickly corrected that it was not a weave, because they were not sewn in and they were just extensions. I pushed that button a lot over the next few hours. After all, what is a Skald without harassing their good friends.

I made my way over to feast in my finest raizing garb, head weighing a few pounds more, thanks to the extensions and beads. I promise, my head was not full of hot air… that would have made this so much easier to walk. I followed up with a few of my friends whom I knew were competing, and I made sure to speak to them and encourage them. One, specifically said they weren’t even sure if they were going to complete. I did my best to encourage them and even walked over with them to sign up. The rest was all feast and a blur until the competition.   Feast was an immense success as it always ways. The food was amazing as was the company.  #Foodcoma #Wholeroastedpig #liquidcourage #bardjuice

Game face on. No… not vampires. You know, srsbsns.

I mentioned that my repertoire this year was important to me. Several years prior, I had discovered a performer named Owain Pfyfe. If you know me well enough, you know I do not really care for tenors. The bright timbre is not something iI inherently enjoy. However, there was something about his charisma and style that I couldn’t ignore. I was so intent on finding him. He had to be a SCAdian right? After about six months of searching and re-listening to all of his repertoire, I was DEVASTATED to find out that he had passed a few years prior. I then began spending my time learning his music, listening to his humor and trying to take it and internalize it, making it my own.  My first piece would be one of his repertoire and it was my own take on it. I spent time focusing on that.

This year, I started with a mummer like feeling. I sat in the back of the room, covered in a wool cloak and an Italian Renaissance style plague doctors mask. I sat, quietly listening to the other performers, trying not to disturb them, but enjoy myself as well. Then, a friend of mine and fellow Bard, Kara the Mischievous took the stage. She sang a song, in which I have already received from her to add to my own personal book (It was that awesome!). Then, she too, decided to tell a story. She had mentioned at dinner she was telling a Norse story. I listened intently as she started her story, to tell us about when “Thor wore a dress”. My heart hit the floor, eyes widened and all the blood rushed from my body. That was -my- story. What was I going to do? Should I leave? Should I quit? What should I do?!?!?!

I took a stiff upper lip when it was turn, re-centered and let my new “persona” take over. I would not back down. I took the stage from the back of the hall in my mummers kit and my awful mix of European accents. I would crack jokes, get my “unsuspecting” assistants to the stage to help me out and slowly remove each piece. First the cloak (Which was alllll wool) so i weighed more than the world did at the moment. Next, the mask. Facial expressions are very important with physical comedy and the shtick I had chosen at that time. The piece I performed was “Fuggi, Fuggi”. I had the audience sing with me, I sang the Italian and as I explained to the audience, they’d be singing the Latin… ( Falalalala). At the end, it was time to show off my classical training. I arpeggiated my way up to a F above treble clef (One full octave above the top F line) and then gliasando’d down (Slide). A few small mistakes here and there, but ultimately I am very happy with how that piece went down.

Next, it was time for my story. I quickly thought of how I was going to fix this, the debacle, of two of us telling the same story. I opened with, “You may have already heard this story… tonight” and the audience seemed to appreciate that. Thank goodness for me, Kara and I have very different styles of telling stories so, although we told the same story, it was very different. This story was huge for me as I am not a storyteller, though, my friend’s say otherwise. I rely on my fast paced wit and vocal technique to entertain with. This was also important as this was my first true to persona piece I had done. Win or lose, this was my own victory.

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At court on Sunday, I was not announced at the victor and my heart sunk. I had several folks approach me, telling me how much they enjoyed my piece, how much they loved my voice, how excited that I was going to be their champion again. I think this was devastating to me only because this was told to me. Had I not had so much stake in this at this point I think it wouldn’t have been as much of a letdown. However, their new Baronial champion is a shining star. She is just starting to really get her feet wet into Bardic. She has such talent and skill. I cannot wait to watch her grow and support her. My job in Stonemarche is done.  Their community is growing strong and supportive. I will never stop supporting them, I will never stop being a part of their community, but they are not my focus any more. I need to find another group who needs my help just a tad more. You could say, “I’m a Wizard, Harry” and “A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.” And I will go precisely to where I am needed next.

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Pensic Pity Party

Pity me on my pilgrimage to Loch Derge!

As in the aforementioned post, I could not make the journey to the holy land this year. Next year in Jerusa—– Pennsic.A few folks had created a small circle in the middle of the lawn. Garb, fencing, thrown weapons, food and archery were all surrounding this (safely at distance… the marshalls all checked! I watched). Music started. I sat and listed to the dulcet tones of these strangers. There is nothing more comforting and home than music.  One gentleman asked me if I sang or played anything or if I was just there to listen. I responded “Both”. They asked me if I would share.  Who was I to say no. I was honestly there to just listen, but denying someone music is the worst crime of all.

I pulled out a tune I knew well and suddenly new friends were made. We jammed for what seemed like hours.  I harmonized with the other performers, I noodled on one of their guitars, sang by myself, had them harmonize with me. It was heaven. Now I just need to figure out how to make this happen in Malagentia. To the drawing board!

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A Walk Amongst the Pines

I pine for you!

Holy mother of rain, Batman. Was this a wet demo. It was raining cats and dogs off and on. Though, it did clear up for a couple of hours.  I was asked a few months prior, knowing that I wasn’t going to Pennsic, to perform for the attendees of the demo. The plans for this had not changed, but there was a hiccup. The individual who was supposed to marshall for this event had to step out last minute.

The Monday evening prior to the demo, I received a message from the autocrat asking if I knew any fencing marshalls who’d be willing to attend the event. I said I would ask around. The Northern Region Rapier Marshall attends my local fencing practices and I asked her as well as the local marshalls if they would be available or have any suggestions. I, myself, had been working on my fencing marshallate for the last year but was not a marshall yet. That evening, I had earned my fencing marshallate and was able to reply to the autocrat with good news. I would be MiC(Marshall in Charge) to make sure fencing could happen.

Fast forward to day of, paperwork was provided, everyone was safe, no one died and it was a good demo. I even heralded and announced the fencers as well. The heavy armored fighters were so thrilled to see this, they asked me to herald them in as well and speak to the audience. I think this went well.

Finally, the rain just overtook the whole event. We curled up inside of structure… Barn/garage thing… A small bardic circle formed. Ruadh was discussing that bardic can be for everyone and comes in all shapes and sizes. I sang for the group… pretty pieces and not so pretty pieces. I told stories and hammed it up (Kosher Ham, mom. I promise!). I gently nudged new performers to get up and do their thing. I sang with the new comers and I could feel the cold air turn warm. There is something magical about how bardic can make a garage with crockpots feel like an old tavern.

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The Great Northeastern War

She turned me into a GNEW-t!… I got better.

Lord Frederick Vanderveer had approached me once again to open my mouth to make pretty noises. It was time to arrange another concert for GNEW. It was a bit harder to wrangle performers this year due to the fighting schedule and the notoriously long pomp and circumstance of Court.

I had lined up a few new acts for the concert. Something about this year filled me with the anticipation of new and exciting talent.

A few days prior to the concert, I began to receive multiple messages from people who could no longer perform. What started as a venue of 7 performers was now down to 4. This would still work, but we all suddenly had more stage time to fill.

Bardic Grove had been moved to Merchants Row, and the stage was now more intimate. The concert was slated for Friday night so it would not compete with Court (besides, some of us like to go to bed BEFORE the thunder parties are over).

Waiting with me to perform was Lady Nuala McKensie, but my 2 other performers never appeared.

I swore I would still make this work.

Nuala and I would weave between pieces. I also had the genius idea to turn the concert stage into a safe space for newer and less confident performers.

Lord Frederick Vanderveer happened to be in attendance. I asked him if he would grace us with a piece. He gladly accepted and entertained the audience with a beautiful melody. It was really nice to see him perform. He doesn’t often get a venue to perform vocally and sometimes the bard factor can be intimidating.

After that, we also had the joy of being entertained by Lord Greger when he told us a humorous tale of one of his many experiences within the SCA.

To round out the night, we had a young woman with a beautiful voice who had never performed publicly before. It was absolutely lovely to have new blood show such bravery as to perform in front of an audience at our show.

We finished with a group performance of “Life Blood”, which has always been an SCA favorite of mine.

The next day, there were to be several courts held. There was one mid day at which a friend of mine would be receiving an award, so I made sure to be present.

There was a hold with the royalty (not uncommon in these situations). They had called for a bard. Typically, in these circumstances the King’s or Queen’s personal bard would be called to perform, however, neither was present for this event. Being noticed by the King, I was called to perform. I did not have my bard book on me, but without hesitation I began to sing. I few verses later, my services were no longer needed and court resumed.

I had never been called on to perform so suddenly and without preparation. This was a huge honor bestowed upon me by the royalty, and I can only be thankful my performance was not preceded by me losing my lunch all over the court attendees.

 

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Sing for the East- CD

Some funds, some funds, my Kingdom for some funds!

It had been 8 years since I had done my last professional recording. I was eager to get my feet wet again. The wish fairy came to my aid via the Tome of Visages carrier pigeon. I received a request from Drake Oranwood. Drake was organizing a fundraiser for the East Kingdom Travel Fund. If one is not familiar, it is very expensive to be King and Queen, and so, we, as loyal citizens, aim to increase the size of their coffers.

We would put together a CD/digital download of East Kingdom anthems.

I was sent a piece by Mistress Aife Ingen Chonchobair in Derthaige called The Eastern Tyger’s Roar. I gave the piece one listen and needed no additional motivation. I learned the piece over the next few days and traveled to the Barony of Endewerde to visit with Mistress Aneleda. She had a sweet, sweet setup (next to her washer, dryer, and ironing board).

Recording started promptly at 10:30 PM Eastern Standard Time, and concluded 11:30 PM. I think I may have done 9 takes in that time, some of which may or may not have been composed entirely of giggles. The finished product was sent via carrier pigeon to Lord Drake and were never heard from again until the time of final production. What can I say? I am my biggest critic. 

If you’d care for a listen, and to support the East Kingdom, please follow the link below.

www.singfortheeast.bandcamp.com

 

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Giggleswick Garden of Arts and Sciences

It’s a maze this garden, it’s a maze of ways…

I may have a minor addiction to going to classes. I swore, when I was done with college I would never set foot in a classroom again. This, coming from the education major. That didn’t last very long. The one things that beats my desire to learn is my desire to teach. An opportunity arose at the Giggleswick Garden of Arts and Sciences that there were no bardic classes, only one on instruments themselves. How could this be? Why would anyone ever let this happen?  (It just so happened that after I submitted my classes, so did Lord Nicol) I couldn’t let this happen! When I found out this news, I made sure I would teach a new class and one I had taught before. Since this was a relatively small venue, it would be a safe avenue for testing out my new bardic class.

I arrived early on site as that’s the only way I know how to be. This is humorous as not only am I in the SCA, but my family is Jewish.  Being on time is not really a thing. Being early? UNHEARD OF! I guess the musician in me lives by our golden rule: “To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late. To be late, fired!” I threw on my garb hastily and then greeted a friend who was attending his first SCA event.

The first class was one on medieval musical notation and church modes. This was one I have taught a few years prior. I was really impressed with the level of questions I received after the class ranging from why we didn’t have musical documentation, the evolution of documentation and why most of our earlier documented music was sacred versus secular. Where, these were not necessarily on topic, I was overjoyed to answer these questions and cultivate eager minds.

It was then time for food and the day board was terrific. Thank you Giggleswick for your delicious noms. I don’t think I remembered to pack feast gear or prepare food. I was so excited to teach, I had forgotten about my need to eat. You also had this for me too. Yay!

The final class I was stated to teach was a beginning class on ear training. Ear training is a methodology of creating a better sense of identifying the center of the pitch to be able to sing/play in tune, recognize intervals and be able to sing/play back passages. I had two students. One of my students I had worked with before and she had a balanced sense of the above, but was not professionally trained and was looking to better herself. The other was a gentleman who had never sang formally. He had a good ear but, as we all do, had things to work on.

This was a new and interesting experience for me. Where I have worked with groups before for minor adjustments, this was my first time doing individualized adult instruction which was not chorus based. Both of the students grew in skill tremendously fast. It was clear that they both were frustrated with their own mistakes. Knowing where to back off and move on is always finding the feel for it. I feel like I had a decent sense of this.

Would I teach this class again? Absolutely! I would change up some of the structure and skill level activities, but all in all, I feel like it went well.