Not a ton to report. These pieces aren’t super new to me outside of my own composition and the new lyrics to Miri. The day felt good and I’m not ashamed of my performances. They weren’t perfect but they were solid.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
A and S championship- Iron Bog
Blank scrolls are hard. Do with this what you will.
In the shadowed embrace of this night of specters and enchantments, we, the honored Baron and Baroness of Iron Bog, do joyously recognize the luminous brilliance of [Recipient’s Name]. With artistry and grace that transcend the ordinary, your creation, [specific item or artwork], has enchanted our senses and captured the very essence of our eerie revelry.
Through the whispered tales woven into your work, your skills’ splendor shines like a beacon in the twilight. Your dedication to the craft and your ability to conjure beauty from the mists of time have earned you this distinction.
May your creative spirit continue to soar on the wings of inspiration.
Given this [day] at Ghosts, Ghouls and Goblins, AS 59 by their Excellencies Andre l’Epervier and Genevra d’Angouleme.
The Spirit lives on…Bardic Champs 2023
It was finally time to step down. Although I have been serving as Consorts Bardic champ since only May, it still had a major emotional impact on my life. This is not a negative reflection serving as champ, but quite the opposite.
When I was chosen to serve as consorts champ, I was overwhelmed with pride and plans. I was going to make a change and I was going to change the world, minds, judgements. I was going to make people feel welcome. New Bards, Old Bards, those who didn’t like Bards and those who loved bards. I had plans.
I put out monthly challenges, trying to inspire folx to capture the history of our kingdom, to capture to memories, to challenges themselves and stretch themselves and mayhap try something new that they hadn’t done before. I taught classes in whatever capacity I could. I ran the ad hoc choir, I ran impromptu rounds circles. I taught privately and I shared my knowledge with anyone who would have me and would listen. I served on the A and S team and I showed the deep breadth of knowledge and information that went into preparing a single piece of performance. I performed at their majesties whim and I filled time in court. I continued to run EKCoP (East Kingdom College of Performers) events and helped established a budget for the college so we could spread our reach. I took a new student.
I created a rubric to support the kingdom and have a more fair overview of bardic judging and how to be fair about the review when comparing apples to dolphins.
With all this, I hope I did enough.
I traveled down ahead of time with my best mundane friend, Jena (Going by Faelinn in the SCA). In introduced her to Rein’s, in Vernon, CT as a treat. Unlimited pickles and just a gosh darn good sandwhich. She was originally going to compete, but health got in the way. She still went down with me to support me. We may have also stopped at the fabric mecca, the $2.99 fabric store.
After the drive was completed, I spent the next few days with family. My sister lives about an hour from the event site, so I spent a few days of quiet with my Sister, B.I.L, nieces and their elderly dog, Beaujolais.
Friday night, Wolfgang (Husband) flew down and I picked him up from the Philly airport. He wanted to support me running the competition and stepping down. He’s a good egg that way and the best partner I could ever ask for.
The next day came….
It was time to turn over the sash. I worked diligently with my co- champ, Leyli Shirazi to concoct a fair competition. I worked with her on the wording and we split up the work to spread the word. I worked with the amazing Event Steward, Alison Wodehalle and she made sure the performers would everything they needed and more.
Day of, it was time for the sash to go. Had I done enough? Had I served my kingdom enough?
I was in my wedding dress. It fit a lot better now since it has been taken in 4 clothing sizes. I had transformed since I had taken this job. Physically and mentally. My hair was gone, I had seen things but I had my armor. I think I was ready for the day to begin. My best friends and my family surrounded me. The Bardic community is that. Family. We are not in competition, we are there for one another, all just trying to get the same job.
About 2 weeks prior, my friend… my -dear- friend, Isabeau was taken from us. It hurt. She was going to be there. She was going to sit beside me… us… and help us bring in the new kingdom champs. She was taken from us. It wasn’t fair. She was too good to have been taken. The world still needed her music, her gentle beauty, inside and out. I was anxious trying to find a way to serve her memory.
At the end of court, I spoke these words… This… this is what happened.
Greetings your majesties, highnesses, excellencies and all in attendance. Welcome everyone to the 2023 Bardic Championships! I want to thank each and every one of you for joining us today. Although this is a day of competition, this is also a day of celebration. We are a community of music, story, theater, magic and pure joy. Today will be a day in which we continue our legacy and find the newest successors for the crown. As we support our community, I am saddened to note that we are without one of own. Mistress Isabeau d’Orleans was taken from us a couple weeks ago and the loss of her music and joy is felt amongst us all. Isabeau was a pillar of the music community in the East Kingdom and beyond. She served as Consorts Bardic Champion in 1996 and always there to be found performing, teaching, and sharing music. With the permission of the competitors, I would like to dedicate the day to her.
In addition to the dedication, instead of a moment of silence, I think it would be more befitted to Isabeau to have a moment of song. I’d like to ask everyone to join me in singing for Isabeau. Dona Nobis Pacem is what I would call the summoning of Bards. Feel free to sing a long.
I figured if I had read it aloud, it wouldn’t be real and I could get through it.
The room was full of song. It started and ended naturally. Did I do enough? I hope so. She deserved the best.
We had 11 competitors. All of varying skills. We had singing, poetry, stories and magic. Pieces ranging from Eastern to Western Culture and from early to late period. Every performer shared a piece of their hearts and was vulnerable. We were all vulnerable that day. Performers are vulnerable because not only are they working hard on their craft, but they are sharing a piece of their heart with you… a stranger, friend, in between. I didn’t want to have to cut anyone from the competition. Each individual who competed would have made an excellent champ.
For the final round of judging, we, the non royal judges, recused ourselves and let the royals pick their final choices. I didn’t want that responsibility. I’m glad they agreed with us and allowed me to just listen to the final competitors for who they were.
Left to right
Aneleda, Leyli, Estgar, Ian, Eithne, Myself and Taliesan
We had recommended that their majesties and highness choose a challenge based off the competitors resume so if there is something they wanted to see each of them do that they hadn’t seen yet, they had that option.
Estgar was given the task of boasting the outgoing champs. See the video below:
Before the last court I finally got to sing with my people. We had an impromptu rounds sing along. People swarmed in like a flurry of … flurried things to sing. We sang old rounds and new ones.
Court began, I held the sword of state one last time (I had the privilege, 3 times during this reign, to do so) At the end of the day, Estgar was named Consorts champion and Taliesan was named Sovereign’s champion.
At that point I thought the day was over. I got to rejoin my husband, sitting in court, my friends who were not on the Dias and friends I had not met yet. I was sad I didn’t get to see the new scrolls given out in court. I was always so overjoyed when I got to see the scrolls as they were being read. I got to hear the speech between the recipient and the royal and now I would be sitting back with everyone else. It was really nice feeling special and seen for the last 9 months. I still got to pop up to greet those in the orders I was a part of, but somehow, it wouldn’t be the same.
Court was soon coming to a close and then something strange happened. My name was called. Maybe an additional thank you for running the event? Who knew?
Her Majesty, Corotica, who I had known since about her time moving to the East started speaking about my term as her champion and still, nothing sank in. You can see how still I am sitting in the video below as I am trying to listen to every word she is saying. Heck, maybe she is giving me a cypher. Usually those happen at decoronation but you never know.
This is the aftermath:
This has been a long journey for me. One I never thought I saw despite how much love and passion I put into my music. I love my art. It is literally what has kept me alive for all these years. It gives me the adrenalin. Brain weasels are a thing as well. Do I belong in this group? Some day it will settle in.
All I really remember from that moment was Audrey reminding me not to cry on the scroll. I was greeted with a flurry of hugs. It was incredible to say the least.
My friends came all the way from New Hampshire to be there. To support me. Baron Keziah, Ástrídr Sægeirsdottir, Alric the Younger, Wolfgang (husband), Agnes (from MA), Damhan (from MA) Audrey (from MA), Cecelia (from MA), My student, Eithne to compete (Also from MA), my apprentice cousin Adelisa and my Pelican, Rowen. All to support me. My poor Laurel, Sabine would have been there as well, but this stupid plague got her.
Dinner and camaraderie afterwards and then the voyage home. I have the best people in my life. (Also, look how cute my emotional support husband is!)
I’m sure there is a lot more to process and a lot I missed, but this is what a couple days and coffee have gifted me for brain.
Returning Home
Gnew has been and likely always will be my favorite event. Yes, it’s hot but you know what? It’s home. This year the plan was to take it easy. I am still re-learning my body as I am going through changes as I continue to lose weight and see how my instrument is working. Minor other health issues but nothing to bring up here.
Since I had earned consorts champ, I have been trying to put up monthly challenges, serve as a mentor and teach. I chose to provide 3 classes at GNEW as I would not be fencing.
My first class was Friday for 12. I was presenting my ad hoc choir. This was not the best time for this class to be successful, but beggars can’t be choosers. We had a mixed skill level group but not much for vocal variety. Click below to listen to the group perform the piece they learned day of!
Sheet Music-Edi be thu, heven queene
Later in the day, I met with several performers who had an interest in the Bardic Arts. Aalina and I hosted a Bard round table to discuss questions, stories, fears and all in between. We had the full gambit of questions and I feel like the new generation of performers is strong and ready to flourish.
From there it was off to teach my son about the joys of service in the SCA. He is 9.5 so doing for others if somewhat foreign to him still. I ran off to retain with Their excellencies Stonemarche. I was given a plate of delicious items to share with the Deed gallery. There was nor formal gallery this year so tasty treats for all!
Saturday I started my day in morning court, seeing folks celebrated and then off to my final class. I did my rounds class. This class had originally been inspired by Aneleda Falconbridge. I had taken it over when she was elevated to Laurel. It had started as her labor of love and I have been continuing it. Inspired by this I have been putting together a book of all period rounds. It is a work in processes, but I hope it will continue to be a tool that folks will use to keep singing in a safe space.
Rounds Book compiled by Solveig Bjarnardottir
Here is a small recording of the folks singing in my group. This song is originally in German, but I am using the English translation with my students.
The rest of the time in between was a blur until court. Previously, I had been asked if I would serve as an alternate on the A and S team. This was an absolute honor. I didn’t put much thought into it, but it has really kick started my desire to go into further documentation with my pieces. However, look at this group of amazing folks!!!! I am so excited to do this. Look out Pennsic. More to come on that post Pennsic.
Last but not least, for Saturday, my love was to be recognized in court and become a Lord. Wolfgang was to receive his silver brooch. I have a mold of the silver brooches I had made before. if you look back in past posts, you can see what they look like. However, this time, to make his special, I enameled it for him so it represents the heraldic picture of the award. That night, my house mate was being being apprenticed and I had the joy of heralding him and wandering camps to sing and do Bardy things. Just a good ol’ shennaniganless night. Irish coffee without the irish and songs for old and new friends.
Sunday was pack up day. The saddest day of all. Sure, it was hot and gross all weekend, but this is where my heart lies. As I was packing up, some old friends from Malagentia asked if I would mind mentoring their child in Bardic Performance. I was honored and moved. I have watched this amazingly warm human grow and nothing would give me greater honor. I cried back in camp. This… this was my passion, my joy. To bring bardic to the world, be safe and be a teacher. I cried for joy. We drove home…. washed off the GNEW tan and that was the end of this tale.
This year was different….
This year was different. I just couldn’t get out of my own way. 2 years of virtual performance just aren’t the same. I hadn’t been focusing on my music as much as I should have and the passion for competition didn’t light the flame underneath me. This was the first year I just didn’t feel like competing, but I knew it was good for me. So, I continued on. I had originally picked my repertoire, believing that this year would be like the last 5 where I would have to do 1 piece that was SCA appropriate, 1 piece that was period and the final round would be the crowns whim.
It was announced 6 weeks prior to crown bardic that there would be a theme. “War”. War was not really something that was comfortably in my repertoire. Sure, I like to make people sad like anyone else, but the war in the Ukraine had really put a damper on my soul. I needed to rework my plans for competition this year.
My head had tossed and turned about my first round piece. I wanted to tell a story. Folks don’t really know me for my story telling skills. They mostly know me as a singer. I had originally thought about telling the story of beginning the great unification of Japan. Our King, Ryou, based his persona off of Oda Nobunaga, who was one of the 3 unifiers of Japan. I thought that may be really neat. However, my addled brain just couldn’t bear to add new repertoire to it. Also, finding the right way to keep Oda Nobunaga in a positive light was evading me. So, I chose to tell a humorous tale. It wasn’t period, but it was SCA appropriate. I told the story of “How I caught the red dragon”. It was a strong way to start/finish round 1 and vastly different than anything my other competitors would be doing.
I chose for round 2 to do a completely persona accurate piece. I found a landsknecht piece called “Unser Liebe fraue”. My persona is a Trossfrau who would have traveled with the soldiers as they marched off to mercenary jobs.
The final round would be up to the crown.
The weeks passed and every day I asked my husband if I should still compete. It would put a damper on our house remodeling and also would limit my ability to care for our son at events. Every day he encouraged me to continue on. So, I did.
The bardic community is tight here in the East. We are all friends and there is no ill will towards anyone. We spoke often and I would see who would be joining me at Roses. The numbers were low. It was tough hearing the numbers that low. Daily they ranged from 3-7. Would it feel awful if I didn’t win? Would I feel awful if I did win? Did I deserve it? It’s so many feelings rushing through.
Day of came.
I had my community behind me. Again, nothing seemed like it was as it should be. I donned my German, which was my armor and off I went. My husband was trying to MIT for archery so I went alone.
I saw familiar faces. We hugged. We chatted. I found a new face. I welcomed her as I had never even met her before. She was one of us today. I don’t care what her skill level is. She would be one of us.
The day started with Anne de Basillion heralding us in. It was so cool to feel special. To feel like our championship, though small as it was, mattered.
Round 1 went off with out a hitch. A minor hiccup, but nothing I would call a mistake. I was pleased with my story. It’s not for everyone, but I made folks smile.
Round 2… thats another story. I had forgotten half of the words. I didn’t stop. I made them up as I went. This was a skill I picked up in college. Fake it till you make it. No one seemed to notice. Not even the judges who I had presented a copy of the text and translations to. WHEW.
The finals. We all went to the finals since there were only 5 of us. TRM picked my Ladino piece. I got to geek out and talk about my deep knowledge of ladino, a dead language and sing a beautiful piece of love and loss. I got to chit chat about batties and the macabre. I got to feel a bit more whole about my love.
The day was long, but over. I missed my Bardic family. I missed Agnes who was home with Covid. I missed the hugs and camaraderie that is our community. It was small, but we protected one another during each round. We were family.
We were each gifted a favor from HrRM and Agnes sent us all bracelets. I did not receive one from my sister. She only sent 4 and there were 5 of us. I was gifted a special one from Aneleda Falconbridge. This had a history.
Then… court happened. Sovereigns champion was named as Leyli Shirazi. This was the new to me bard. New to our community. She was magic and it was an absolute delight seeing her called up.
Then, this happened:
After my name was called, I stood there, dumbfounded and hid behind the court banners for the rest of the night. This was something I had been working towards since 2015. It finally happened.
Meddlings of the Minnesinger 