Category: Blog

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Sweet hats and bling, so says my Laurel Sister.

I don’t even know where to begin about K and Q Bardic, yesterday. Parts of it were a blur, however, I cannot express how much my community means to me. I suppose I will start at the very beginning. I hear it’s a good place to start.

This is my 3rd year competing in K and Q Bardic. I never try to say ” I am going to win”, instead, I set smaller goals and achievements. It makes everything less stressful.

The evening before I stayed at the home of the amazing Sarah Byrd. She, as the day I met her 2 years prior, was full of kindness, warmth and a immense hospitality. I was unaware she had any staff duties at the event, meaning her hospitality was even more elevated.

The next morning I was fed and coffee’d… as Bards typically do -not- wake up before 11. It’s cruel and unusual punishment. This was heaven in a cup and plate. Sarah, Aegir and I dressed and walked the long and rigorous 4 block walk to site. We were greeted on our way by planned parenthood supporters (while we were in full garb), and wished them well as they stood for hours, in the cold, defending what they believed in. They asked where we were off too and we explained we had a competition just up the road. They cheered us on and off we went.

At site, we have a super secret delivery to a vigil and made that first priority before getting in the correct head space for the day. I talk about head space because as a performer, if you do not connect with yourself in the appropriate way for the day, it could cause your performance to suffer. I originally had a plan to perform “Twa Corbies” the Scottish “parody” of Three Ravens by Thomas Ravenscroft. However, I was unable to find detailed enough documentation to make it fit the day. So, with that said, 2 weeks prior to the competition, I decided to change it out for a much newer piece in my repertoire. I changed the piece to Depairt, Depairt, by Alexander Scott (See below for documentation). It took a while to settle in to my body. This was not my original piece and I was have problems coming to terms with it. However, over the two weeks I took to focus on it, I felt it in my soul.

Round 1) I was the 4th performer to go (out of 19). I do not envy anyone who has to go early in the rounds. It can be very unnerving. I was however blessed to follow two story tellers and a song that was very different from my own style. This allowed me to set the stage for my own unique performance style.  I opened up and out it came. I have no regrets starting with that piece. I only regret not singing out as much, but perhaps that is what allowed me to really open up. I sat the rest of the time, listening to each performer with their own unique performance. I was moved by several. When the round was over, I went to almost every single performer and presented them with my token and a genuine compliment. If you had read my last post, I have made it my mission to become more open about telling people about the talents they posses and not addressing anything negative at any point. I wanted people to enjoy their day as much as possible.

Between rounds I was introduced to a newer performer in the area who had won the novice day prize. I spoke with her at lengths about her passions and listened to what she had to share. I offered any assistance I could and encouraged her to come out to the event next weekend, which would be a friendly performance space. She also had mentioned she wanted to complete but was intimidated by not having enough rep. My friend and I both reassured her she should compete and if she needed help, we would help her find some.

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I have made it to round two every year so far. This was good news. The competition for round 1 was super fierce. When I heard my name called I was relieved that I could at the very least continue this tradition. I went second in round 2. Again, I don’t really like going to close to beginning, but with the field narrowed down to 9, I wouldn’t have too much of a choice. I had a piece that Aegir and I really enjoy singing together and in the car. It’s a Ladino piece called “La Prima Vez”. (More on Ladino below) It is possibly period, however, because Ladino was only prominently around for such a short period of time, we cannot document that this piece was indeed period. It’s pretty enough and the emotion is universal. At some point during the performance, the lights went out for a few short moments. I don’t recall it much as I was in the midst of performance, but I don’t remember even hearing a gasp. The lights went back on and I was still going.

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Round two was probably the best I have ever seen in my performance career in the SCA. I took my time afterwords trying to re hydrate (Just in case). I spent the time between the announcements speaking with fellow friends and mentors. Speaking to my fellow performers and sharing our experiences today. Planning more shenanigans in the future. No matter the outcome today, more music to come!!!

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The finals: I was surrounded by my family! My friend, Phillipe who I had met the year prior, who inspires me with his flare for the dramatics, his composition and his genuine kindness. Margretta (I can’t make the symbol to spell her name correctly… I guess I’ll figure it out eventually) who is my big sister. I wear her apprentice belt from Sabine. She is amazing in everything she does. She is dedicated to the music and the panache it deserves. She is who I aspire to be when I grow up! And finally Laila, new friend who I just met at Coronation of Wilhlem and Vienna. She met making music. We have connected and have been working on an opera company together. We have been planning to make more music. THIS IS MY FAMILY. There is no losing no matter what.

For the finals, we were challenged two fold. 1) To compliment the person who would be performing after you. This was no challenge, because I love all these people dearly. 2) To perform a piece that embodies kindness.

I didn’t hesitate more than a moment before picking my piece. I walked over to my Laurel and I showed her what I wanted to do. She agreed full heartily to it and so I ran into the hall for my “10 minute” prep time. (I think it ran longer, but i’m not complaining)

Hokay! I was going first. I spoke about Phillipe and then I revealed…. THE PIECE. About a year ago I composed a lullaby for Matilde. I spoke of the event that had sparked it. Though I was not close with her, I was moved by her kindness and selflessness she gave to the kingdom. I saw her having a rough time (while I was surfing the Visage of Tomes  //Facebook) and when I got home from work, I wrote it down, recorded it and sent it to her. I generally do not share pieces I’ve composed in public. It’s a piece of my soul and if it got damaged I don’t know what I would do. I write for people often, but it’s for them in their private moments. I sang it with all my heart. I sang it for a crowded room. I didn’t cry… then, but inside I wept because I shared my soul. This song is posted to my blog, but I suspect not a lot of folks actually read it.

It was decision making time and I didn’t care. We made music and reveled. We sang rounds and songs. We heard others play. My heart sang. I won the day. I was making music with old friends and new.

Court came. I was not announced the winner. That’s ok. I WON. My FAMILY was standing as champions. They are MY champions. They have always been my champions. Baldric or not. I love them. I screamed as they were announced. I cheered as they were addressed.

Not long after they had been announced, her Majesty, Vienna was announcing that she had been inspired by two other individuals in round 2. Myself and my brother, Phillipe. We were awarded a very rarely given award know as the Golden Lyre. (About the Golden Lyre below)

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I sat down to enjoy the rest of court. I was reveling again in the day. Surrounded by my community. The Bardic community. However, I was called into court for one more piece of business. The EKCoP (East Kingdom College of Performers) announced a new travel journal to be passed around. This journal is to document someone who inspired you that day (and a few more details). It is to be passed on to them at that event and taken home to the next event. Today, it was presented to me.

Also, throughout the event, I was presented these tokens by the populace for my performances. I added these into my “I guess I don’t suck” box. I keep every single token I’ve ever received as a way to remember on those days when the worms get to me that I am not as terrible as my brain tells me. HAND OUT TOKENS. GIVE COMPLIMENTS. These could help motivate and save your friends or strangers.

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This was my 3rd year. You bet you will see me next year. Until then, I have won the day. I hope everyone else won theirs too!

 

Depairt, Depairt

  • Alexander Scott (16th-century poet) (c. 1520–1582/83), Scottish poet. Scottish lyricist who is regarded as one of the last of the makaris (or poets) of the 16th century, because of his skill in handling the old Scottish metrical forms. His 35 extant poems are contained in the Bannatyne Manuscript (1568).
  • This was composed in Courtly verse in the grand manner.  Poetry in this manner comprises several elaborate dream-allegories more or less saturated with classical, as well as, rather more incidentally and cursorily, scriptural, allusion somewhat simpler love-allegories and dream-visions and debates, grandiose panegyrics and lament. Almost all of this is in more or less elaborate Chaucerian stanzas, mostly of seven, eight or nine lines of inter-rhyming pentameter lines. Set pieces in the courtly manner are also prefaced or appended to, or introduced into, works mainly in the narrative and didactic modes – as more or less conventional and pretentious prologues and prohemes, and conventional panegyrics and hymns, and some ‘complaynts’ or laments.

 

Depairt, depairt, (depart)*

Allace, I most depairte (Alas)

From her that hes my hairt (heart)

With hairt full soir (sore)

Aganis my will in deid (indeed)

And can find no remeid, (remedy)

I wait the panis of deid (pains of death)

Can do no moir. (more)

Adew sueit thing (Adieu sweet)

My joy and comforting,

My mirth and sollesing (delight)

Of erdly gloir: (earthly glory)

Fair weill, my lady bricht (bright)

And my remembrance rycht, (rich)

Fair weill and haif gud nycht, (have good night)

I say no moir.

 

Daiches, D. (1982), Literature and Gentility in Scotland, The University Press, Edinburgh

Smith, George Gregory (1911). “Scott, Alexander” . Encyclopædia Britannica. 24 (11th ed.). p. 468.

Cranstou, James (1897). “Scott, Alexander (1525-1584), poet” . Dictionary of National Biography.

About Ladino:

Ladino is very nearly extinct in many of these areas. A very archaic form of Castillian Spanish mixed somewhat with Hebrew elements (as well as Aramaic, Arabic, Turkish, Greek, French, Bulgarian, and Italian), Ladino originated in Spain and was carried to its present speech areas by the descendants of the Spanish jews who were expelled from Spain after 1492.

 

About the golden Lyre:

Given to an individual or group whose single work or performance, either displayed publicly or in an arts & sciences display at a Royal Progress, in The Crown’s sole opinion and discretion, manifests and represents the fire and passion of the East Kingdom arts. The basis for bestowing the Award of the Golden Lyre will rely on the artistic use of period mediums, creativity, and/or inspirational value of the work or performance. The work or performance may be a work in progress. Documentation is not required, but is highly recommended. Individuals/groups can receive the award more than once during a reign, but not for the same work or performance. The Award of the Golden Lyre may be awarded by the King or Queen, together or individually.

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Winter nights 2019-To Give a compliment

Typically I would talk about my event and my connection to it. I will briefly, but I want to talk about something more than that in particular so I will provide the lead up to it.

This years winter nights was just a time for me to go and hang with my other Bardy friends(not to be confused with baudy, though these are not mutually exclusive) , get a little challenge. No intent on winning. I went with the intent of celebrating Bard friends and being connected to my community, old and new.

This was also Aegir’s first true bardic event. I wanted him to get a view of my world. The second we got there, he ran off with a friend he had made at another event to go make arrows. Whatever.

Round 1 had 26 competitors and every last one was enjoyable. I had asked Aegir what he wanted me to perform and he picked an Irish traditional piece called ” If I were a blackbird”. It fits the SCA feeling so I decided to go with it. It felt solid and I felt like I performed it well.

Round 2 was my first (and only challenge, spoiler alert). I was challenged to do a late period piece which would “Blow a hole through the roof”. This made me a little nervous as I hadn’t sang in about 2 weeks due to being ill. Whatever, I’ll pull it out. I’m a big girl! (5’11 and built like a valkyrie). I decided to go with a Monteverdi piece, “Lasciate Morire” from the opera L’Arianna composed in 1607 into 1608. I did indeed, blow the roof off. Everything, for the first time, with this piece lined up, like the stars and heavens. I was moved to even take the ground and sing from the ground. This isn’t easy to do, but it felt like the right thing to do.

Fast forward to the end of the event. We were all cleaning up and I was approached by someone who knows me from the outskirts but we haven’t been close. She approached me to tell me how much she enjoyed my performance and was wowed by me singing from the ground. I thanked her immensely for her words. They meant a lot to me.

Shortly after, Aegir advised he had been speaking with the same woman earlier. This is the conversation he provided to me. “She said she almost didn’t tell you that. She said you needed to hear it like you needed another hole in the head because you know it to be true.” So, moral of the story. TELL EVERYONE

The reason I wanted to bring this up is for one reason. If you hear or see something you like, tell the artist. We are our own worst critics. We have our own brain worms.  I can tell you, day after day, I never feel good enough. The only thing I have to remind me I have some semblance of talent are your words and your tokens.

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New Beginnings

If anyone knows me, they know that music is the number one priority in my life. Whether I am singing or playing instruments or encouraging others to perform. I know the power that music can hold and I want nothing more than to make sure that others have this saving grace in their lives as well.

A few years ago I was very involved in a choral group called “Voce di Sonata”. These were all volunteer vocalists from Malagentia. We would run through pieces and work on them. Eventually we would get to have other performance experiences as well. However, after running it for 2.5 years, it was time for my life to explode and I simply couldn’t organize it again at that stage of my life. Life happens.

Even without formally running it, I would have folks approach me and ask for group singing and soloists to perform at their events (and weddings). I would gather ad hoc groups as needed as well as find appropriate soloists. In addition, those vocalists in the group would come and say, “Solveig, we would really love to sing with you”. My heart couldn’t say no, but I just didn’t know when.

In addition, I was also involved in the Malagentian Players. From a solo member as well as a member of their troupe. However, through discord and life, it too mostly went the way of Ol’ Yeller.

This broke my heart.

A few months ago I moved to the Riding of Giggleswick. It is a small riding but with some fiery and passionate hearts. I have a stable place to live and partner. I love my new job. Emotionally, I am in a good place. It was time.

Last night was the first meeting of the Giggleswick performing arts group.  I had 6 people show up! That’s huge for our little riding. There is promise for more to show as well. We had very new performers telling their first story in public, more seasoned performers working on newer pieces. We had rounds. ROUNDS GALORE. Folks who claim they don’t sing, sang with us! It was beautiful and harmonious. We even had a few repetitions of singing through “O Magnum Mysterium” which is no small feat. It was beautiful. The feedback was positive and I am ready to do this again in 2 weeks.

The plan is to have folks perform their pieces. Should they want feedback, they will ask. If not, no feedback is to be given. I am hellbound on making sure this is a safe space for all to perform. There will be workshops and classes to come as well.

For now, a new beginning, like a fresh layer of snow.

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Birka # 10

This is my first of double digit events for me. This is starting my 9th year in the society and I am still so very fond of my first event. This was also my partner’s first Birka. I chose not to fence this year as I wanted to focus on him and make sure he got to do everything he wanted at his first Birka.

Our main concerns today were making several deliveries as well as seeing friends of ours receive awards. Also… Fashion show.

Aegir had provided 3 tree of life necklaces to the auction for the incoming reign. I made the matching earrings for them as he wasn’t comfortable to making them. I happily obliged. After finding his 3 delivery recipients and receiving his auction purchase, I had to make my deliveries and receipt. I had donated a 30 minute private performance for the auction, however, this delivery was of another nature.

Last year, I was inducted into the prestigious order of the Silver Brooch. This is the award of arms level of Arts and Sciences awards in the East Kingdom. We decided to do an artisans gift exchange. My recipient wasn’t there, but I delivered hand made trim to her. I finally met up with my gift creator and I was in TEARS with the gift she presented me.

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Music is the only thing that truly keeps me alive. Someone made music for -Me-. After I cried over this masterpiece, I spoke with the artist, Shoshanna Gryffyth, and asked her if we could collaborate. She happily agreed. Not only did this project yield new beautiful art that may not have been created (It inspired art) but it helped me connect with someone I would never had met before.

Next was shopping! I didn’t purchase too much, but I am excited for the newest member of the family.

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Next, the fashion show! This year, at the coronation of Willhelm and Vienna, there was a challenge issued that we would incorporate Marvel and DC heroes and villains. I’m not much of a seamstress, but I wanted to improve my skills. I am a huge fan of Wonder Woman and German garb, so why not.

I just learned how to embroider. This is my 3rd project for embroidery.  Here are a few pictures of the in progress of the embroidery and then the final project.

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This is Aegir and I in our pieces:

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After the fashion show was over, Baronial court was happening. This was the last court of her Excellency Jocelyn Del Espada. I went to support her and my friends who were to be the incoming Baron and Baroness. After the court was over, I went to thank her for all she had done for me personally. What I didn’t expect was the flood of tears that came from me. She touched me a way that few have ever. She was/is a huge advocate of music. She inspired me to compete. She inspired me to be -HER- Bard/champion. Despite everything she experienced in the past 5 years, between the SCA and Mundane, SHE was my Baronessa.

Kingdom court came and it was time to see my friends receive much appreciated awards. This is always an exciting time for me. However, just before court, my friend, Master Lucien approached me. He was supposed to Herald the Boast for now, Master Scamus. However, he had fallen ill and requested that I do this. I was excited and honored to be able to herald in my friend, fencing teacher and mentor. I had only done this once before, but never for a crowd this large. Luckily, Lucien had written up the boast, so all I had to do was be loud.

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My friends Kenneric and Cat received their silver wheels, which I had crafted for the (see previous blog post) and our company escorted them into court. Additionally during court I retained for the princess.

After court was over, my favorite part of Birka was about to begin. I was once again honored to run bardic at Birka for the 4th year in a row. We had about 25-30 folks show. We had everyone from ages 13-??? (old). We heard song, story, poem. We had folks who this was their first event, 90th event and those in between. Everyone performed well. I learned a new story which I can’t wait to try out at winter nights (If Aegir doesn’t steal it from me first). Also, at the end of the night, a new and exciting voice arose. I quickly ran to him to present him with my token and encouraged him to get involved. I filled him in on allll the bardic stuff going on and gave him my information as the EKCoP Deputy Chatelaine.

All in all, this was an amazing Birka. So many emotions.. not a single one bad.

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Paneling Arts and Sciences as a Bard

I find that there is a very large divide in the world of Arts and Sciences between those who create and have a half life and those who create and their art is fleeting. I fall very much into the fleeting art. I love to re-create music that has already been written and perform it in it’s period style. I find that I can compose in a decent manner, but my passion is the recreation. As I mentioned in my previous post, getting out there is difficult. I don’t have the money to get good recording equipment to get out reproduced tracks so I perform at as many events as I can

With that said, at Stonemarche’s winter feast celebration, I brought the handsome Aegir to his first event he’d be performing at. Aegir, ever since we started our relationship, has been very adamant that he wanted to sing with me as well as solo. I had him attend one of my classes on beginning stage presence, but he’d need to get out there to get comfortable. Stonemarche is a very relaxed group with very positive individuals, so this joyous event would be a good place for him to get his feet wet. We’d be the background music. The Event Stewart, Astridr, had contacted me a couple months prior, asking if I’d perform at the feast. I, of course, agreed. She not only asked because I am always performing at their events, but because my family is Jewish. The feast this year was a completely Jewish based feast so they wanted songs in Hebrew and Ladino. Also, we were staying away from traditional holiday music as well.

Aegir and I had a mixture of songs, from Hebrew to English, and some to banish the cold winter away. By the end of the day, his confidence about performance has been boosted and I also got in my need to sing.

Before the day was over, the current champion of Arts and Sciences had asked me if I would be providing anything for the Arts and Sciences competition. I hadn’t put in any thought to it, but I did keep my documentation of my works on my handy dandy smart phone. I am also stupidly organized in my personal life. I have folders for my folders, so I could readily find the documentation and art work to go along with a couple of pieces that I had composed.

I had produced my songs Ah weh and lullaby for the queen. Besides presenting my physical documentation, I was asked to perform them as well. (TWIST MY ARM). These were pieces I had written in a Norse fashion using skaldic poetic style and typical Scandinavian composition patterns. Singing was not the problem, it was talking about my work. It’s very personal to me. I had never sat down in front of a panel and had to equate why my work was good enough. On top of that, I felt like I was speaking a foreign language to the panel. Musician’s speak their own language.

The panel was kind and warm. All in all, I feel like this was a step in the right direction for the fleeting arts.  I don’t feel like I won, as I don’t feel like my work was as adequately prepared as my fellow artisans, but I do feel like with some tweaking, it could be.

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Getting Medieval with Technology

Recently, there was a call for need of silver level and specialized awards in the East Kingdom. Her Majesty, Vienna, has put out a request and I felt like I could do something to help. My boyfriend, Aegir, and I love to craft and find new ways of making things. So, I put out the idea to him that we should make, or attempt to make, some of these awards.

Without hesitation, we both began to brainstorm. He asked me what were ways of making awards and what was acceptable. I mentioned that it only needed to look period or possibly resemble a period item. We then looked to our 3-d printer and our silicone mold kits and the lights in our heads went off.

Aegir asked me what the awards were and what they meant. I beamed as I got to explain to him the meaning behind the awards and the intricacies that were our tradition and lineage. I bring up lineage due to the fact that a friend of mine, David Poirier de le Loup, was going to be honored at Crown Tournament. I wanted to make him his Silver Wheel. In addition, a good friend of David’s and mine, Anne de Basillion, had mentioned to me that team “Do all the things” was going to pass down her medallion to David. If she did that, she would be without her regalia. That couldn’t be a thing.

So, we worked to get this amended.

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Aegir taught me how to 3-d model while he worked on the designs for other awards. 3-d modeling is not an extremely difficult process for awards, but it was time consuming. I also had picked a more in-depth design to complete instead of the standard silver wheel award. David is part of the Free Company of the Stella Maris, which is a group of Pi-…. Privateers. So, I chose to make it look more steering wheel like. Anne is also a friend of the company so I would make hers to match.

Here begins the process, 3-D Modeling!

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This modeling was done in a program called Autodesk Fusion 360.

From there, we exported the models into a program called Simplify 3d. This is where the data from the 3d modeling was sent for sizing and printing to be completed.

Here are a few of the models we completed:

Lyre.jpg This is the “Golden Lyre”

Wheel.jpg This is the “Silver Wheel”

Silvertyger.jpg This is the “Silver Tyger”

From there, it was mold making time, baby!

We tried a couple different mold processes in the comfort of our own kitchen. Silicone is not the most beautiful fragrance in the world, so I do recommend proper ventilation. Also, marking a proper container to house the mold during it’s 24 hour cure time is key. Chinese food boxes seem to work well for those who are a bit more frugal.

Here you can see Aegir taking one for the team and handling the fumes.

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Here you can see Aegir pouring the mold into our handy dandy takeout box.

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While we wait for this mold to cure, we were trying a new gravity fed two part mold… we may or may not have used a salt lick? (It’s a Himalayan salt grilling block thing… it was cheaper than stone)

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Here is our finished product (with a little bit of sanding/polishing. Flash happens)

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The Coronation of Willhelm and Vienna

Mad skills to pay the bills. Or something like that.

I don’t typically go to coronations because I don’t know any of the Kings or Queens. It’s hard to go to a day of pomp and circumstance if you feel like a stranger. Honestly, if I know folks getting awards, I am all for it and I will attend with a smile on my face.

This coronation was different. I went this time first and foremost because I actually had some semblance of who the incoming royalty because I had met them at crown service as Sir Marcus’ consort. He had nothing but wonderful things to say about this couple, so I figured it would be worthwhile to attend. Plus, I was most of they way to site the day before due to Mundane engagements.

About 4 weeks prior to the event, I received a message from Sarah Byrd, of whom I had worked with previously on an adhoc choir for the Feast of St. Nicholas. She had asked me if I’d be willing to sing in the choir since it was the Queen’s whim to have music her reign. I of course agreed.

3 weeks before the event she asked me if I would sing some solos during the performer’s showcase. I had a few pieces which were her majesties persona and period so I agreed (Twist my arm… make me sing more)

2 weeks before the event she reached out to me and asked if I would be willing to sing Alto. I’m not an alto, but if anyone knows medieval music, it really didn’t matter.

1 week before the event ” Oh hey Solveig, would you mind conducting the choir?”. Sure, I’ll do a thing.

The day of, I had 45 minutes to wrangle a choir and instrumentalists to make a thing happen. Sure, no problem.

 

 

 

After all was said and done, Her Majesty, Vienna did the one thing I never thought I’d see in my days in the society. She thanked all the musicians, continued to invite them and then made all performers that day a member of the Order of the Troubadour. ( I got inducted two more times, hehe. My name was called 2 more times that day since I had already been inducted a couple years ago.

This is probably once of the most memorable days in my SCA performance career and not because I was recognized, but because of the hard working musician’s around me were.

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Harper’s Retreat 2018!

Time after time this proves to be my favorite event. This year was no different. I brought my S.O. Aegir with me. He got to experience his first “small” event since his first event was the Great North Eastern War. Little bit of a size difference. Fencing was first on the docket for the day. Stab stab all my friends. Nothing gets me in the mood to sing besides dancing (aka, fencing) with my friends. I didn’t come close to winning but boy did I have fun!

Later in the day I taught a class on stage presence and how to make your piece more interesting to the audience. I had 2 students show up and I was perfectly ok with this. They were two very different performers, but were able to utilize the same skills. The first young woman was a puppeteer and storyteller. She exclaimed her issues were volume and some stage fright. I proposed we use a counting up excersize where we would identify different volumes and then use different shapes of our mouth and words to bring her resonance forward. We also fixed different focal points by adjusting where here body and puppet were facing and worked on a few topics of tempo.

My second student had never been on stage before and had never performed in front of anyone before. We worked through a song he had prepared. We again talked about volume. In addition, we added movement to his body, keeping his eyes open and stage movement in general.

When the class was over, both advised they felt more confident in their skills and would add these into practice. The young woman put it into practice for the Warrior Bard competition that evening.

Feast was next! Probably one of the best feasts to date. The current Baronial Bard and Nexcellency, Keziah Planchette had requested some of the prior and present bards to come perform during the feast. Here is a clip of my performance. I think the liquid courage also made an appearance.

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That evening it was time to compete for Warrior and Baronial Bard. The guidelines for Baronial Bard were Courtly love and Virtues. In addition, due to the recent loss of our Baron (who passed away about a month prior) it was requested that we not sing anything sad.

For Warrior Bard I whipped out a quick one of my favorites, Laciate Morire (which, is not exactly not a sad song… but it was in Italian so I fudged the poetric translation).

For Baronial Bard I sang a Ladino piece, La Prima Vez and We are the East (By Drake Oranwood). I may not have won Baronial Bard, but I did truly win because there were very few dry eyes at the end of We are the East. #lifetimegoalsachieved.

The next day in court, I assisted with Heralding because hey, i’m loud! I can haz shouty voice! However, not too long after I had sat down, I heard my name requested in court. I was asked to join the order of the Lamp of Apollo. This is a Baronial Arts and Science award especially for encouraging others to do their art as well. The scroll was done by Keziah Planchett and the words lovingly composed by Amalie von Hohensee and Gerhardt von Hohensee. I was in tears as there was no better gift. (If you remember back to Birka, I had done the words for their scrolls)

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EK- 50!

Where to begin with such a gigantic milestone for the East Kingdom. My home. This is the place where it felt safe to sing in public again. What else could I do for the Kingdom I love besides give it back the gift it gave to me?

I decided I would give everything I had to singing this weekend. It was too hot to do anything else. I think the heat this year was as bad as Pennsic 2 years ago where the heat won more bouts than the fighters. I’m glad no one was too seriously injured from heat.

With that being said, although I had transitioned to late period garb, the heat beat me in that battle for the weekend. Saari not Saari. Thats right, I ran around … well, walked around as a proper Indian woman should. It was a new feeling for me as I, in general, don’t show off this much skin. I’m a pretty modest dresser.

I bring this up  because it has a lot to do with how I perform. Confidence is key in your performance. If you are not confident, your performance will suffer. Another point being is that when you practice to perform, you should, for all intents and purposes, rehearse in garb and shoes similar to what you will wear in performance. This was not the case for my 3 concerts I did over the weekend.

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I was, however, blessed to be surrounded by performers and family of whom I respect immensely as performers.

In the first concert,Bards Ease, I collaborated with my good friends Bird the Bard and Sáerlaith íngean úi Duinnshléibhe (with Guest performances by Mistress Sabine and Mistress Margreatta) We would sing solo, group performances and some off mix of whatever we felt like was a good for the audience. Typically, I’d plan a concert one one genre. However, the 3 of us are so eclectic of performers, I really wanted to showcase that.

The next day we did a showcase of the Sing for the the East CD (which if you purchase this CD to support the East Kingdom Travel Fund, you can hear the track of Ceder San Barefoot and I performing that track. The rest of the concert was the original vocalists performing and the rest of us harmonizing.

The final concert was a sneak preview for the upcoming performance in April, The Decameron. We will be performing a a day of stories and music all from the 14th Century Italian literature. This happy little quartet was again, Myself, Bird, Sáerlaith and Margreatta.

If this wasn’t enough singing, we had our own camp of Bards who withered the night away with song till the wee hours of the morning.

I’d call this a success.

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Pennsic! There is no place like home

PennsicThis was my first year at Pennsic. I’m not going to lie. It’s all pretty much a blur right now so I will keep this short and sweet. I sang every night till the wee hours of the morning.  I went to a Bardic Circle every night and sometimes multiple in a night.

The only super notable things I did were sing at the VDK Invitational Bardic. I learned a new piece of music (to be) composed by the Queens Bard Geoffrey – MKA-David Yardley (AKA captain Speccy Pants) and then I sang in Drake’s Concert, who opened for Heather Dale. That was pretty cool!

 

One more thing of note. I did record for the Known World Bardcast. I put up an original composition (Lullaby for the Queen). Anyone who knows me, knows how anxious I am putting my work out into the public.

 

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