Tag: Competition

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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.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FthClHAAyJNdolY4QK4H-vLQpjnGJEM5/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=105255312117189439983&rtpof=true&sd=true
Bardic Competition Rubric

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:

Calligraphy by Mistress Collette D’Avignon, Illumination by Mistress Camille des Jardin Words by THL Agnes Marie de Calais
Medallion by Baron Muin maqq Minain
Brooch by Master Roibeard Mac Neil
My one eyed emotional supper jerk and I love himmmmmmm

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.

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Crown Bardic

Delaware is far! I live in Maine, currently. In order for me to get to Delaware alone I need to fly. I don’t really feel like driving 7-8 hours *without stopping* alone so an airplane it is! Shoot, this is school vacation week as well… Cheapest plane ticket round trip is $300 (still cheaper than driving based on gas, tolls, oil change, wear and tear on tires etc). Oh well. Worth it. Usually tickets are around $150 round trip. Oh man! It’s also my Birthday. Welp, what a better way to spend your Birthday than around friends making music. NAILED IT.
I flew down to spend some time with my Laurel 2 nights before. Her advice and mentorship are always invaluable.
I had spent most of the day when I had silence in the house rehearsing my pieces. It was a luxury to have high ceilings versus my small apartment where I can’t even sing out due to this thing called neighbors. I also hadn’t had much time to practice in front of peers except for at 12th night. I ended up skyping with a few of my trusted friends and fellow performers for feedback. Not only on the performance itself but on my intros. Performance is not just the piece itself; it’s about setting the scene. You want everything to flow and be connected.
The night prior to competition I was surrounded by fellow competitors… no.. friends. That is a better word. Sure, we were in competition with one another, but one of the best things I love about my community is the love and support we share for one another. We all possess several special talents and none of us are the same. It’s a gift that we have such a variety of folks to learn from.

mlady
Day of. Up and at em! A hearty breakfast of nothing but protein to make sure nothing would go awry in my stomach. I made to hydrate well. You should always begin hydrating the night before or you will be playing catch up all day. Your bladder may also decide it needs tango lessons. I was greeted by familiar and nervous faces. Stage fright/competition fright never goes away. It’s something we all still cope with from time to time. It’s not even that we are afraid. It’s that we want something immensely and if something doesn’t go perfectly, you may be upset with yourself. I do try to point out to anyone that art should not be perfect. It should never be the same each time. It should never feel the same each time. I always try to find something new in a piece every time I perform it as well.
Anyways, Birthday wishes rolled in and it was time to begin. My first piece I chose was brand new repertoire to me. No one except for those I rehearsed in front of had every heard me sing it. IN fact, although it was a late period piece, most people had never heard of it.
Here is round 1:

Francis Pilkington (ca. 1570–1638) (The First Book of Songs or Ayres of Four Parts, 1605). This was originally set as a Madrigal. Each verse of text consists of the entire musical work, which then repeats back to the beginning with each consecutive stanza. Internal repetition starts with the nonsense syllables “Lulla, lullaby” to create an unbalanced binary (ABB) form. As such, the rhyme scheme, ababcddc, is divided at the “fa-la chorus,” splitting each octave into two quartets. Pilkington also altered meter between these quartets to create melodic and rhythmic variation

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1PhNWh6t2eObdYBc9C2S-TxtNp3VoG3sH
Rest, sweet nymphs, let golden sleep
charm thy star brighter eyes
Whilst my lute the watch doth keep
in pleasing sympathies.
Lulla lullabye, lulla lullabye,
Sleep sweetly, sleep sweetly,
let nothing afright ye,
in calm contentments lie.
Dream, fair virgins, of delight
and blest Elysian groves
while the wandering shades of night
resemble your true loves.
Lulla lullabye, lulla lullabye,
Your kisses, your blisses
send them by your wishes
although they be not nigh.
Thus, dear damsels, I do give goodnight,
and so am gone;
With your hearts’ desires long live,
Still joy, and never mourn.
Lulla lullabye, lulla lullabye,
Hath pleased you and eased you,
and sweet slumber seized you —
And now to bed I hie.
Lulla lullabye, lulla lullabye,
Sleep sweetly, sleep sweetly,
let nothing afright ye,
in calm contentments lie.

Brief biographical sketch of Francis Pilkington in the Grove Concise Dictionary of Music, 1994, Oxford University Press.

 

I never expect anything regarding moving on. You never know what the judges and the royalty are looking for in their champions. Everyone has a different taste to what they like and they don’t like. The first round was over and I swallowed hard waiting to find out if I had made it to round 2. I did in fact make it to round 2.
I chose a new strategy this. I chose pieces that made me happy and highlighted what I liked to sing. I chose a Dowland piece. If you know anything about me, I love to sing dark pieces. I like to make people feel. I chose Flow, my tears.

Here is round 2:
Flow, my tears” is a lute song (specifically, an “ayre”) by the accomplished lutenist and composer John Dowland (1563–1626). Originally composed as an instrumental under the name “Lachrimae pavane” in 1596, it is Dowland’s most famous ayre,[1] and became his signature song, literally as well as metaphorically: he would occasionally sign his name “Jo. Dolandi de Lachrimae”.Like others of Dowland’s lute songs, the piece’s musical form and style are based on a dance, in this case the pavan. It was first published in The Second Booke of Songs or Ayres of 2, 4 and 5 parts.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1PfSHXUg3tdK9qSFg_paP3opxdZHmDlYl

Flow, my tears, fall from your springs!
Exiled for ever, let me mourn;
Where night’s black bird her sad infamy sings,
There let me live forlorn.

Down vain lights, shine you no more!
No nights are dark enough for those
That in despair their last fortunes deplore.
Light doth but shame disclose.

Never may my woes be relieved,
Since pity is fled;
And tears and sighs and groans my weary days, my weary days
Of all joys have deprived.

From the highest spire of contentment
My fortune is thrown;
And fear and grief and pain for my deserts, for my deserts
Are my hopes, since hope is gone.

Hark! you shadows that in darkness dwell,
Learn to contemn light
Happy, happy they that in hell
Feel not the world’s despite.

Boden, Anthony. Thomas Tomkins: The Last Elizabethan. Ashgate Publishing Limited, Aldershot, England, 2005. ISBN 0-7546-5118-5

Deep

Round 2 had finished. I had made it to the finals the year prior so it was possible I could do it again. I was very blessed to be surrounds by folks around me who were able to hold my hand and support me. Then, I heard it. My name was called? MY NAME WAS CALLED. Oh man… I’m so glad I always have my Bard book on me as a quick reference.
What would the challenge be? What would they have me do? Then, I heard it. “Bring your best”. I quickly ran to my Laurel looking for sagely wisdom. We talked through options. What would make me feel best? What can I emote that shows me off the best? I know I have talked about this piece immensely ad nauseum, but it is never too late to bring out an oldy but a goody. I brought out Amarilli, Mia Bella by Giulio Caccini ( 1551-1618). I also made the specific choice to perform all period acceptable pieces. Although the SCA typically cuts off at 1600, music, due to documentation has been accepted as extended through 1650. I gave my heart to the world as I was the first competitor. I sat and listened to my friends do their things.

Finalist
Here is round 3:

https://video-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.9040-2/87452238_1017316311985156_1025122008230264832_n.mp4?_nc_cat=110&_nc_sid=985c63&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6ImxlZ2FjeV9zZCJ9&_nc_ohc=KK8jo3K1gzIAX-WSQc3&_nc_ht=video-lga3-1.xx&oh=570b8b2703a3400853f6cdfca12eec45&oe=5E9A28FD

Again, I was not one of the victors, however, in my heart I won. I learned new pieces, I got to see friends grow, meet new performers and I would say this was the best birthday of my life.

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Harper’s Retreat!- The “Still not enough Harps” edition

This is one of my favorite events in the year. It is closer to home than most of the events I travel and is in the Barony that in my heart is my Barony. This one, however, was much tougher for me emotionally. Not to bring my personal life in to this, but I had gone through a very devastating event about 2 months prior and still had not resolved all my emotions over it. On top of that, the instigator of the event was scheduled to be present. I was lucky, however, to be camping with several of my SCA families, who would keep me safe. I brought a plethora of instruments with me to bring to the instrument petting zoo, including my harp. This was the first time I was going to get to play it in public. There was a harp ensemble present. I learned quickly of the pains harps have in heat/stage lights regarding tuning. This was not something I encountered practicing in the comforts of my mildly lit and frigid apartment. I got to spend an hour playing with other harpists of varying skill level. It was heaven!
From there, I would twiddle on my recorders outside with an impromptu recorder jam. Everything from chaotic melodies, to soothing waltzes. I met new folks, got to try new instruments with no pressure.

That night, at feast, I was once again honored to be part of the feast entertainment. I had been asked by the current baronial bard to perform. I performed my first ever originally composed story about how the children of the east changed Ozurr, storm bringer. It discussed the several events he had been to, inclusive of the crown tournament where the rains fell, the Estrella where it flooded and Pennsic, raining out the Eastern Court. From there, I sang some of my newer repertoire and enjoyed the feast.

Following court would be the Bardic championship. This year, I decided I would try something new. It’s really important to me to show newer performers that I wasn’t born with all skill. I wanted to show them that I was working on new skills. There theme was fortune and misfortune. I had the idea of performing 3 Ravens first and then Twa Corbies with a guitar accompaniment. I was newer at the guitar and this would only be my second time playing it public. I knew Twa Corbies was also not my strongest vocal piece, but I wanted to try something new. I was pleased enough with my performance and called it a night. Where I was not chosen as the new Baronial Bard, I did win populace choice. I’ll take it.

The lyrics to “The Three Ravens” are here transcribed using 1611 orthography.
“The Three Ravens” (Child 26, Roud 5) is an English folk ballad, printed in the song book Melismata compiled by Thomas Ravenscroft and published in 1611, but it is perhaps older than that.

There were three rauens sat on a tree,
downe a downe, hay downe, hay downe,
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
with a downe,
There were three rauens sat on a tree,
They were as blacke as they might be.
With a downe, derrie, derrie, derrie, downe, downe.
The one of them said to his mate,
Where shall we our breakfast take?
Downe in yonder greene field,
There lies a Knight slain under his shield,
His hounds they lie downe at his feete,
So well they can their Master keepe,
His Hawkes they flie so eagerly,
There’s no fowle dare him come nie
Downe there comes a fallow Doe,
As great with yong as she might goe,
She lift up his bloudy head,
And kist his wounds that were so red,
She got him up upon her backe,
And carried him to earthen lake,
She buried him before the prime
She was dead her self ere euen-song time.
God send euery gentleman,
Such haukes, such hounds, and such a Leman.

Written heavily in the Scots language, “The Twa Corbies” probably dates from the 18th century and was first published in Walter Scott’s Minstrelsy in 1812. Child (I, 253) quotes a letter from Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe to Walter Scott (August 8, 1802): “The song of ‘The Twa Corbies’ was given to me by Miss Erskine of Alva (now Mrs Kerr), who, I think, said that she had written it down from the recitation of an old woman at Alva.”.

Twa Corbies

As I was walking all alane,
I heard twa corbies making a mane;
The tane unto the t’other say,
‘Where sall we gang and dine to-day?’
‘In behint yon auld fail dyke,
I wot there lies a new slain knight;
And naebody kens that he lies there,
But his hawk, his hound, and lady fair.
‘His hound is to the hunting gane,
His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame,
His lady’s taen another mate,
So we may mak our dinner sweet.
‘Ye’ll sit on his white hause-bane,
And I’ll pike out his bonny blue een;
Wi ae lock o his gowden hair
We’ll theek our nest when it grows bare.
‘Mony a one for him makes mane,
But nane sall ken where he is gane;
Oer] his white banes, when they are bare,
The wind sall blaw for evermair.

 

Meaning of unusual words:
twa=two
corbies=crows (or ravens)
fail dyke=wall of turf
wot=know
kens=knows
hause-bane=neck bone
een=eye
theek=thatch

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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.

round 2.png

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.

Prima.jpg

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!!!

Finals.png

 

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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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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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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Mimir’s Well — The Quest for More Knowledge

I gave up an arm and a leg — or should I say an eye — to obtain more knowledge, or at least the pursuit there of. The Shire of Mountain Freehold, though small, is mighty. Especially with quenching their thirst for knowledge. This is the second year this event has been running, after many years of hiatus.

The previous year, from what I have been told, had an attendance of 30-40. This year had 87 if I remember correctly. This beautiful church was filled with banners, arts and science projects, a scrumptious day board, and duh, classes. I decided that I would enter an A&S project that was not bardic related. My secondary pastime in the SCA is fencing. Under the tutelage of Don Connor Scamus O’Neil, I was able to craft my own rapier, sans the blade.

This sword is affectionately named Stevie Nicks, because of how many times I nicked her on the belt sander. I left my baby in the anachronistic category, to be judged — I had separation anxiety all day. It was like my baby was in another nest.

I was teaching two classes today: the first would be campfire rounds and the second would be on improving storytelling, a master class.

Before it was my time to teach, I got to attend a class on The Fools. I learned everything from Jongleurs, to the natural fool. I had never thought about the prospective of the fool as a bardic art until I attended this class. Lady Ailiniore shared her vast amounts of knowledge and had in depth discussion, inviting each of us to take part in the class.

Shortly after it was my turn to lead my own class. I did not know how many bodies to expect, because it had been explained to me that there were not many singers in the shire. However, to my gleeful surprise, we had 13 attendees! Holy smokes, Batman! Or, something bardlike.

We sang in English, French, Hebrew, and Cockney. That’s like English, right?

I had mixed levels of skill in the room, and those who I knew were stronger singers were sitting beside those who could use some assistance. We sang songs in two, three, four, and even five parts. I had even done my own individual creation of a combination of Rose, Rose, Hey Ho! and Ah! Poor Bird. See the video below. When the class had completed, I had a few of the Quebecois ask me to come teach this class at their event next January. It was delightful to be able to work with individuals who were not English as a first language speakers, and switching to their native language.

 

 

After dayboard, which was delicious, it was time for my master class. This is my first time teaching this class; my heart was racing as I am just beginning to find myself as a storyteller, and guiding others to do so was a new adventure for me. I once again prayed that no one would show up, but that was not to be the case.

I had four excited students of varying levels; I had one that went to school professionally for musical theater, one woman who was an experienced storyteller, one who was a viscount, and champion storyteller, and a young lady who was just getting her feet wet.

I went over four basic points of storytelling, and then went through each point, discussing each in depth and how they enhance your skills. Next I had each student tell me about a time they were excited about something. The story did not have to be true, but it was helpful.

The first student told a story in persona about how he got his dog. We worked on body language, vocal variances, and levels. Upon second performance, he agreed he felt more engaged with his piece and the audience was likewise more engaged. The audience and myself provided feedback both positive as well as areas of improvement.

My second student, the experienced storyteller, had a unique outtake on her story. When discussing her piece, she said that she felt stuck, so we talked about development of her piece and how to create that vision and how to make her journey more tangible. She felt that her story grew in leaps and bounds and had a greater crescendo and ending due to this experiment.

The young lady who was just getting her feet wet was excited to go, but I noticed that within her performance that she would fidget and have no place for her hands. I realized that this young lady had some sort of neurological, or a-typical behavior. I had to think of how I could gently broach the topic without making her feel uncomfortable in a public setting such as this. She disclosed that she had a form of autism, and what the basis of that fidgeting was. We gave her focus, and choreography to her storytelling dance. She now knew what to do with her hands, so she would no longer pull at her dress or fingers, and she would have intention in her movements and focus with her audience.

We talked about varying gaze, and how to stare at her audience without staring them down. I felt like a proud Mama Bird — from a different nest this time — watching this young lady go from a scared chicklet to a swan proud to show her work, who even preened a little bit under the praise from her audience.

The final student was the well-established viscount. She, without knowing it, had shown every point that I had discussed before she had walked into class just a wee bit late. We finally as a group discussed improvisation, and how imperative it is to be able to do in any storytelling situation. My viscount student was given three words to build a story around, and made up an entire story on the spot with those words given.

At that point the class was over, but I was greeted by the newer students asking for my contact information. Every member of the class said this was immensely helpful and the best version of this class they had attended, so I guess I did okay.

The event was coming to a close, and the autocrats would be announcing the winners of each category for the Arts and Sciences Competition. I am once again proud to say that Stevie Nicks had taken home the Anachronistic category. That’s my baby!

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Ah Weh, Away! (Birthday Bash)

It was time for something completely different. Well, not completely different, but new to me.  I was going to challenge myself to do a new craft that pertained to Bardic, but still new and would help me expand.

I have many friends up in the Mountain Freehold and tend to make my way up there for their events. However, not many folks up there know me and who I am. I was told that their Bardic community could use some growth so what better way to show who I am but to enter their A and S competition.

The rules were that it had to be inclusive/about the shire.

I chose to compose a piece a bout the shire. I wanted to bring it to the next level. Not only did I compose a piece about the shire, I composed accompaniment and I created a scroll and did the illumination for it. The scroll was done in Skaldic poetic style. The Mountain Freehold is a group that is heavily populated by vikings. The melody was mirrored after Scandinavian motifs and the Cello accompaniment was based off the sounds of the Nickleharpa, a widely used Scandinavian instrument.

 

Here is the final Product:

 

And here is the Scroll:

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I am pleased to announce that I won best overall for the A and S competition.

 

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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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