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.
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.
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.
Pensic 50. I DREADED it. I’m not huge into parties, covid is rearing it’s head again and I just don’t want to make the 10.5 hour car ride there and 12.5 back (I make a detour to visit the cutest kiddos and favorite middle sister on the way back). We have done a lot of work on our house and I was just a bit traveled out, but my husband wanted to go, so I made sure to head to Pensic.
Friday am arrival. Fastest gate I have ever processed through. I waited maybe 10 minutes in line total before we were seen and out completely. Then, rolling down to the Bog. HOME. MERMAIDS SONG. Like the name sounds, we are all Bards or some type. The best part of our Bardic Mayhem group is that none of us specialize in the same artform. We have a magician as “Camp Dad”, A harpist, a shanty-man, a vocalist who specializes in period works, a story teller and the rest provide us with libations and support. Friday night was just a night in camp to enjoy friend’s and reconnect. It would not be Pensic without random bursts of music and such to which we did.
Saturday came around quickly, but not the worst for timing. I once again decided to join my comrades from ACROSS the kingdom for another Song Byrds Concert. I believe we hailed from 6-7 Kingdoms between us and only 2 lived in the same kingdom and they were partners (so that made sense). Bird, Aibihilin, Colette, Geoffrey, Robbin, Leaf and Mathias and of course me. This set list was almost entirely new to me. The only piece I had some inkling of was Ecco La Primavera. However, every piece we performed was period. It was so much fun to do an immersive period concert since that is my focus. 5 completely new pieces to me and 1 I knew and 1 which I had conducted but never sang (and I ended up learning Soprano and Alto for different performances)
Set List:
Now Wolde Y Fayne, Mors Sui, Se Je NE Vous Vois, Je Ne Cuit Pas, Ecco La Primavera, Doulz Viaire Gracieus, The World an Illusion , Il Est Bel Et Bon.
In between each of the pieces we each had a chance to perform a solo. I chose to do my Landskneckt piece which has only been performed for an audience once before, a year ago. It’s a persona accurate piece for me and a joy to do in persona garb. This performance comes later in the week but rehearsals needed to happen. We had folks shifting parts as well as participating because of illness and commitments. This group was incredibly flexible in their abilities to switch parts at the drop of a hat. I am 1 of 2 professionally trained musician’s in the group and the rest just have an overabundance of passion for performance and they are all absolute joys to work with.
Later that evening I had been cordially invited to perform at Duchess Caoilfhionn’s Bardic. This is an invite only performance set. This Bardic is special to me because VDK is a fighting household and to see that their warrior queen supports the arts, performs herself and child performs, is very near and dear to my heart. I used to fight armored combat for a period of 6 years but my body decided it wasn’t right for it but typically you fight or art. It’s nothing more than a time dedication. People who focus on more than 1 activity can struggle to keep up with both or will burn out. I chose to sing about love and loss. This year has been such a full of those I could think of no better subject than that. My ladino piece was bitter sweet, La Prima Vez. The rest of the night was full of other incredible performers, old and new to me. oh! Another point to note, I am a huge advocate of “Clothing changes how you move/perform”. I chose to wear male presenting clothing because I’m still having difficulty knowing how to gauge my body temperature changes. La prima Vez felt new and almost foreign. I interacted in new ways than I historically do. It was so interesting to feel the drastic change.
Sunday… the doom day. I had promised my Pelican that I would not overbook myself. Originally when I had booked my schedule it was only 2-3 things a day…. here we are 5 commitments. Heck. Welp! I started the day bright and early in rehearsal to play in the pit of Romeo and Juliet. This is the first time I have played in any form of a pit since 2004. I’ve been a long time recorder player, but not my main focus. It was like falling off a wobbly bike. I got back on but still wobbled. It was joyous though. My soul -needed- this. I have been dying to be part of an ensemble instead of the solo performer or conductor. I got to play with varying levels of skills and make music. I got to play -harmony-. I NEVER get to do harmony. It made me so happy. Also, my super amazing awesome Laurel, Sabine was our concert mistress which always makes for a supportive and awesome good time.
Shortly after this rehearsal I was speaking to one of the fellow instrumentalists. We we sharing our backgrounds and she had admitted that she was going to be auditioning for one of the Pensic choirs. She seemed nervous. I asked her if she’d like me to find a place for her to sing it to me to get her jitters out. She happily accepted and off we went to an empty A and S tent. As we got there, I asked her what kind of feedback she wanted. I asked “Do you want to hear THATS GREAT or GOOD” or did she want “That was flat” or did she want fixes. I find it’s really important to asked for feedback consent. You can really destroy someone if they aren’t in the right headspace or ready Sometimes folx don’t want feedback at all. Sometimes folx want to hear if it was “good enough” and sometimes they want you to rip them apart as long as you can tell them how to fix it. I was lucky enough that she did want feedback and how to fix it. I was pleasantly surprised by her timbre and skills she came in with. An absolute delight to listen to. I had her sing the piece through and then I gave her 1 piece of feedback each time she sang it for me as not to overwhelm here or give her too much information to process at once. I think we did it 3 times through. She exclaimed that she felt more confident and more ready for this audition. She was thankful and we enjoyed the rest of our Pensic times together.
From there I hustled over to Geoffrey of Exeter’s class. He was teaching basic vocal technique and using this class to teach his piece “The World an Illusion” so I could support him, but also I would be conducting this piece for his procession as he was to be elevated to the Order of the Laurel in court on Tuesday. I wanted to scope out what additional voices we might have and figure out if they would need more Sopranos or Altos (Any other voice part would be out of my very Soprano range).
From there I immediately hustled back to EK Royale as I was running the East Kingdom College of performers meeting. I decided we should be able to include folks from home as it’s not fair that folks who cannot afford or physically make it to Pensic could not have their voices heard. I made a hybrid meeting where we had 2 people remote in and 6 in person. Not bad for a Pensic meeting. They are always hard and there is -never- a good time.
I had a few hours in between there and went to camp where it then began to POUR. I’m sweet but not made of sugar so the rain never bothered me anyways. As the rain let up, Husband and I hauled our way up “The Hill”tm to go speak to our speccy boy, the vigilant. It is my goal, when I speak to vigilants, that besides to present them with a gift (which is usually a composition for them) is to speak from the heart and make them cry. Poor now, Master Speccy Pants, there were tears I tell you.
The final stop for the night was Bhakail Boardgames and Bardic. A glass of “Nerds Wine”… made from freshly squeezed nerds, singing and more camaraderie happened. Bhakail is a second home to me. My Laurel is Bhakaili and my Pelican used to be/still really is Bhakali. Nothing much to note besides heading home for Bog shenanigans.
Monday was more Romeo and Juliet rehearsal for several hours. I then head down to the Casa where my apprentice “Niece/cousin/somehow SCA related because weird things” where we jammed out for a little bit on her brand new citole. Her other one met its demise earlier in the week so this was as good of an excuse as any.
Tuesday was another Song Byrds rehearsal and full run through where we ironed out the details, set list order and set everything for day of. Then, EK court. As I had mentioned earlier, I was concert mistress for Geoffrey’s elevation as he processed. I herded everyone to our performance spot, recruited another singer a few minutes before. We were set… except the court order changed so HERE WE GO. Rapid singing. Not only was I conducting, I was jumping between singing both parts and coordinating the Harpists (who were fab, btw). I am unsure if anyone recorded the performers and if any of you readers find one, let me know so I can add it to here. Geoffrey, amongst all of his emotion said it could be heard from the back of court and was exactly what he envisioned. I’ll take it
Wednesday was the Song Byrds concert. Most everything went off without a hitch. One piece was moved and we added a piece last second because we under scheduled ourselves (which is better than last year in which we had to cut things. Such is life. However, I do want to make another point about our amazing and diverse set of vocalists were all LGBTQIA. So, in a world that is so scary right now for us, we wanted to make a statement. I requested that we all wear some form of a rainbow for our performance uniform. Check out these speccy duds!!!! (Also, Period appropriate hoes/stockings…. just saying)
Thursday was a new adventure for me. I had been asked to serve as a judge for the Pensic A and S. Typically there is a war point involved, but this year, for the safety of all, there were no war points. So, this took some of the pressure off of me as a first time judge. The coordinators/generals provided training on the rubrics and we were given documentation ahead of time to review so we could formulate and ask intelligent questions about the projects. I was given 2 physical items to review. If you have never had a chance to judge an A and S competition, you absolutely should. You get the pleasure of hearing the passion, the process and the whole scope of some ones project in a way you don’t get from a display. I got 40 minutes to hear a shpiel about some ones work for 20 minutes, ask 20 minutes of questions and then feverishly try to score someone. Although this can feel like a pressure chamber, I genuinely got to ask the artist so many questions about their art that I wouldn’t have ever thought to ask. I didn’t ask anything regarding why they didn’t do a thing. I tried to ask questions with genuine intent to learn and clarify items in documentation and creation that I may have missed. All in all 10/10 would do again.
After my brain was fried from new artforms, back to my camp, in the bog to teach my rounds class. This class serves 2 purposes. 1) To sing period music 2) To make a safe space for new and old singers. This is a judgment free zone that should, in theory, allow folks to have a safe learning environment in which they can explore a period topic. I teach this class similarly to when I was teaching youth. Depending on the duration or language of the piece I would do the following process: 1) Sing the entire song for people to hear. 2) If the piece was short enough I would sing it, ad nauseum, until they felt comfortable enough to jump in 3) When the majority started singing I would “chase” them to give them an idea of how the round sounds with it while creating some minor part independence. The only change of process is if the song was longer or in a foreign language I would break the son into smaller chunks. Id do one phrase at a time then connect 2. then the next one and repeat until the song was whole. In this particular session I had a HUGE variety of skill levels and confidence. I had someone who hadn’t sang since high school and never sings in public, I had someone who appeared to have some musical background and finally a music teacher who is going deaf. My assorted camp mates came in and out to sing with us as well which is always a joy.
After my class, the individual who had not sang since high school and never in public approached me. They advised that this was an amazing class. They said they felt safe and secure and that it was a good place for them to make music. They appreciated my corrections being subtle, non aggressive and not pointing them out at all. My heart was overjoyed to hear this. Not to mention that they have a beautiful singing timbre as well.
If you are interested in downloading my book, here it is. Just please credit me for use. With this link you will get updates to my book as I add them.
Friday was the last day. Usually I am leaving on Friday so I can have a nice leisurely drive home for visits with the family. This year I was staying behind to play in the pit of Romeo and Juliet. This was going to be a super unique situation as we were playing “Under The stars”. What this means is a change in light availability as well as sound reverberation (or lack there of). Tent walls are hard and provide additional bounce. Bodies eat bounce and the sky is a nebulous black hole. We were a small but mighty group and we could do it. We got to play through at least the stage warming music. No more than 30 minutes in did the sky open up and we needed to move inside. This again changed dynamics but we made it work. I had forgot to mention earlier all the music I learned for R and J was new to me as well and all period music. We played Heart’s Ease, Amoroso, La Doune Cella, The Hunts Up, Chi Passa Per Strada and Where Griping Grief. Where Griping Grief comes from the original score of R and J and I actually got to sing that instead of play it. I did with Chi Passa Per Strada as well.
All in all, Pensic filled my heart in ways that I wasn’t sure it could this year. I had a leisurely drive home after which included the cutest 11 year old and 4 year old you’ve ever seen, my ever patient Pelican, friends for lunch at the best Jewish Style deli in CT and washing off the Pensic tan.
GNEW has been one of 2 events I have never missed since I started in the SCA in 2010. It has seen me at my worst and it has seen me at my best. This year I was in charge of running -all- performance related items as well as had separately been in charge of all performances for “The Deed of Arms”.
The weather was not anticipated to behave and it was also looking to be excruciatingly hot. I had apprehension about attending, but I know I had duties to complete. I had recruited a deputy to help alleviate some of my commitments as well as additional help for one of the classes I was running, but life happened.
Thursday, Wolfgang, Smöl and I arrived on site to realize we had forgotten some things, so off to ye olde Walmart I went. Upon return, I started with a rehearsal for the Deed of Arms. For anyone who doesn’t know, The Deed of Arms is a 14th century immersion battle scenario, inclusive of a gallery. One of my vocalists had dropped last minute and another did not make it back to site. I had created a contingency plan to make this all work. I was lucky that we worked through several quirks of the music and was able to create a more comfortable situation for each of the performers. The music was all 14th century homophonic or polyphonic and to a level that individuals who were not deeply immersed in music could manage in a short period of time. For vocalists we did “Miri it is”, “Sumer is icumen in”, “Dona Nobis Pacem” and “Ecco la Primavera”. Our Bagpipist played “Douce Dame Jolie”, “Stella Splendens” and “Quant je sui mis au retour” and our poet did a 3 minute poem”. In addition, Aalina sang ” Ego Humilitas” from Ordo Virtutum by Hildegard von Bingen and ” Ut Queant Laxis”, an 11th century Gregorian chant. However, I only rehearsed with the vocalist ensemble.
To help my vocalists prepare, I created learning tracks for each of the songs and voice parts.:
Friday am started with a youth Bardic circle. I only had 2 youth who showed up, but heck did they sing their little hearts out about unicorns everywhere and pandas everywhere.
Rehearsal 2 and I found out that my 4th vocalist who was supposed to double the bottom of Ecco with me was in a car accident and would not be attending for the rest of the day so PLAN B.
A short break and then off to teach my rounds class. I had a women come who asked if she could just listen. I coaxed her to sing with us anyways and she was a very welcome addition. All of my attendees did a wonderful job. One of them was BRAND NEW to the SCA and I got to listen to his beautiful voice as well.
The Deed of Arms came and my amazing vocalists joined me (Plus my student who was fighting in the Deed) and a resounding applause. It seemed we were well received. More planning for next year to see if we can obtain a larger ensemble and more music can be made.
Saturday and back at it. I was not really anticipating anyone would show up to my recorder jam. This was a class to be a supportive measure for newer recorder players and a way to give out resources so they could obtain free music and also music transcribed by other scadians. Much to my surprise, I had 3 attendees. We worked through one of the Carmina Buranas from Al Cofrin’s books. We have varying level of skills in the group but great attitude. This is what we accomplished:
I ran off to Tiffan’s vigil to present them with a Taranus wheel I had made them but forgot to take a picture. Whoops. Oh well.
Then after I ran an adults Bardic Circle in the Barn. This was unusual. We typically imagine Bardic during the night. We wanted to try to create an accessible bardic space. If you think about those who cannot camp, those who have difficulty seeing in the dark, dealing with flickering lights and those with families, bardic at night can be difficult. We had about 10 of us over 2 hours but everyone got several turns, new friends made and all in all a delight!
Over both days I also organized having a puppet show for the youth each day.
Finally! Reprive! I get to sit for court. I knew many people receiving well deserved awards. Little did I know, one of those people would be me. We were getting towards the end of court and the smöl was still there despite me having offered to let him head back to camp. 4 hours for a 10 year old is ROUGH. I was so proud of him that he sat with us. Then, I had lost attention for a breif moment as a friend was asking about Bardic for the night. I had to sadly admit we were heading home because of the weather when my husband started pulling me up to the Dias. My name was called. Why? I missed who was up there. What did I do?
Apparently, it was time to join the order of the Silver crescent. This is an award for your dedicated service to the kingdom. I do what I do because I love this game, the people, events happening and I can’t watch things burn. To hear I was receiving an award for it blew my mind.
Here is the scroll I received:
Now you all know this bard and their song. While hours do go by, I’ll keep you apprised. For the deeds of Solveig should be heard ‘cross the East. Let all hear my words about the service and fight. Let’s sing the bard’s song.
Chatelaines are all work and play, welcome us home. Newcomers will always know her name. But the bards’ service will remain. Her hard work will set the stage where performers play. Their fame lives on due to her service strong.
There’s only one song left to be sung. Tale of a brave bard called before the throne. Now the Order gathers to welcome them near. No one need ask you how they serve the Kingdom. We’ll tell their story.
So is the fame sung of our bard, one Solveig Bjarnardottir, by Ardri Brennan and Ardrígain Caoilfhionn, who proclaim her inclusion into the ranks of the Order of the Silver Crescent. Their words are received by beloved populace and joyous companions alike upon the field of the Great Northeastern War this fifteenth day of July, AS LVIII (58).
Scroll by THL Lily Aubrey, Words by THL Eleanor Grey
Beyond that there was one more item. The medallion I received belong to my mentor, my Pelican, Rowen Cloteworthy. This was his. My first and only legacy piece.
As a bard, this is the best gift you can receive. There is a story. A story is how someone lives forever. Thank you, Jedi, for this most precious gift. The cord, also beautifully and lovingly crafted by the amazing Astridr Saegersdottir. I feel truly loved.
When I met Corotica, they had barely set foot into our kingdom and yet, it felt like they had been here since its inception. I walked into their life and they bounded into mine. They shared themselves, their art and their shoulder. I would see them soaring from working on their art to adorned in full armor as if invisible wings would carry them effortlessly, but with expediency. I saw fire in them around them. The true passion of the artist and the fire of a fighter, emblazoned in battle. The fighter that is the protectorate with the playfulness of a goblin… nay… a cryptid paladin, ready to fight for the downtrodden, the ignored and forgotten. They were ready to fight the good fight.
However, I am not here to speak of Corotica and how truly amazing of a human they are. I am here to speak of the inspiration that Corotica has bestowed. I would be remiss to only speak of my experiences. When you stand on the dias with other champions, you start to build new bonds. One of those bonds is with the person we are championed to. Inspiration is not just about words, it is about actions as well. Ryan MacWhite shares the story of an arrow. It was a super heated match, if you had not had seen it. The only noise was the sound of bows loosing and arrows making contact with the target. Ryan’s second to last arrow shattered into what felt like 1000 pieces. Only a small section survived. When the round was decided, he took the arrow fletching, which had survived, to her Excellency, Indrakshi and the tip to Corotica. He stated “This is just the first of many arrows I would break in your name”. The finals came and another arrow was shattered. This time, Ryan had presented the fletching of the arrow to Corotica to make their arrow whole, so to speak. Corotica advised how this moment of the event had made their day. Later, after safe travels home. Corotica sent a picture of the arrow parts in a vase in their home. Most folks would say “oh, a broken arrow” and throw it in the garbage but it MEANT something to them and that’s just rare and special.
I bring words from the co-populace, Lady Seigne Ruadh, Woman of the SCA, Archer, artisan and friend. Seigne spoke to me as a woman of the SCA. She spoke, with joyful tears in her eyes, of Corotica, who is female presenting. Seigne spoke of Corotica as a fighter who is a voice for women in the SCA. Corotica has spoken out for the underprivileged genders and continues to speak out for them. Corotica has made it known that things need to change for women and those who do not fit the mold for the male gender. Corotica has spoken publically about how male presenting fighters were treated and the disparity of the treatment Corotica received when they said the same thing just a moment before. When Corotica became consort, they stated that a change was coming. That our world would change. That is influence. Seigne states “ I am not a fighter, I but am an archer and I am a woman. I think it’s really important that Corotica made it known that you need to listen to people, not a gender and I appreciate them for doing that. I was inspired to create a coat to make them stand out. I did a large documentable piece of research because they had a stunning personality, a warrior and who would appreciate a warm gift.” This is power. This is inspiration. This is the voice that Corotica has given the populace.
To all those assembled today, Corotica is a Rose with thorns. They are a defender of the weak, inspiration for the artist, muse for the warriors. They have long since been a peer. I, a member of the populace, was given a voice today thanks to Corotica. I can recommend no one more than I do them.
They say idle hands do the devil’s work. However, those who fear no devil and serve the community know not but good tidings and love. Wolfgang tirelessly toils for the company he cherishes and strives to better those around him. Without the generosity of his time and the passion for others to succeed we would not have such rich denizens around us. Thus, at a Market Day at Birka, we Baron Keziah and Baroness Dierde do see it fit today to induct him into our order of the Furisine.
Pray attend and heed the decree of the mighty Brehennis Corotica. For today, a cacophony of mighty words, movements, magic and song were put on display for all of the great eastern populace to behold. Various and a sundry of challenges were presented to the finest performers in our kingdom. Unrelentingly did each Bard compete to hold the sacred title of Champion to our most noble and cherished Consort. It shall be written in the tomes of time that _________ was awarded the title of Consorts Bardic Champion at the East Kingdom Bardic Championship, February 4, Anno Societatis 57.
Meddlings of the Minnesinger 