This is my documentation for the A and S Team. Please see my blog post for more indepth feelings and responses from Pennsic 2022.
Know World Courtesans Performance
Digital performance is still new grounds for me. I don’t have much space in my living zone right now. Covid has made it worse and using a web cam with a nice microphone is weird. Ideally, I’d have a backdrop or be outside. This is a performance where I am comfy sitting in a chair in my garb. There are ways that I am able to provide good timber, but the lack of a live audience really changes the mood. I don’t have too many thoughts on this at the moment, but i wanted to share that digital art can still exist.
Well, well, well… What do we have here?
Vermont! Here I come. One of the smaller, but favorite events I get to teach at is Mimir’s well. This is a Viking descriptive event which is all about classes and an A and S display and contest (some years). I tend to offer up on the Bardic track because there are a lot of folks who enjoy performance but not a ton who teach. That’s ok. Not everyone teaches, but I love doing it. In addition, I was asked to teach a class on pewter casting. I have been making tokens for the last year or so as well as award medallions. The Event Stewards wanted to get more folks into doing it since it was as far spread in this part of the Northern Region. I happily agreed.
I had decided to challenge myself. I have a really big fear of putting my own work for the general public. Not only that, I never feel like my polyphonic works are good enough. I was inspired by their Royale Highnesses to compose them a processional. His Royal Highness crown winner has an early roman persona. I pulled from the texts of Augustus. I used a small portion of the texts that I felt would represent our Royalty
Bella terra et mari civilia externaque tóto in orbe terrarum suscepi3 victorque omnibus veniam petentibus4 cívibus pepercí. Externas gentés, quibus túto ignosci potuit, conserváre quam excídere malui. Míllia civium Rómanorum adacta sacrámento meo fuerunt circiter quingen ta.
Wars, both civil and foreign, I undertook throughout the world, on sea and land, and when victorious I spared all citizens who sued for pardon. The foreign nations which could with safety be pardoned I preferred to save rather than to destroy.
Below, find the MP3 and the recording I made during rehearsal. Sheet music to follow. I chose to teach this during the ad hoc choir that I run. It was a dream group because I had a pretty good balance on all voice parts. Everyone learned it quickly and took direction well. Again, everyone was excited to perform this during court while THR processed. TRH were banished from the room while we rehearsed because I wanted this to be a big surprise.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1xSn0BGTbBZfLUvubdQLD7hwQkYXfbw8J
Pewter casting came later. I went through all the different forms of casting materials from clay, cuttlefish bone, soap stone and sand. We went over the materials I use in my anachronistic process (which you can see in my post for making the tokens for Ozurr and Fortune) and then, everyone who gave a donation could bring their own piece home. I had made two molds, one a Mjolnir and one a Viking brooch replica. I wanted to keep with the mood of the event. Also, this is the first time I’ve ever let anyone use my supplies or cast in front of me. I made sure to bring safety equipment to make sure everyone was safe and was ready to have my first vict-.. first student attempt this as HRH walks in. I of course offered him the chance to cast and he took it. A perfect pour! It wasn’t the first time I’ve ever had royalty attend my class, but it was the first time they were ever actively a part of it.
Everyone had gone home with their own, personally casted piece. There were no injuries. Only a few broken rubber bands and my mantra (NO PAPERWORK) seemed to work.
If you’re curious about the site tokens I made (all 200 of them) here is a picture of the completed tokens.
The rest of the day I got to enjoy classes. I had my Partner with me and his son, in matching garb (which was cute as heck!). It was also his son’s first event. He got to calligraph, make an LED lantern, chainmail and even got a token from TRH. You could see the magic in his eyes as he entered our little village and made new friends. He felt right at home. This is a huge deal because he doesn’t have a lot of friends. They say he’s weird (Honestly, he’s a normal kid who really enjoys Pokémon and telling you about it. Also, wicked smart at math). If you have been part of our village, these are qualities we all share.
The end of the day was here. Court! My partner loves court and he’s only been to one. It’s not the gift he got (both times) but the celebration of people and the pomp and circumstance that goes with it. I got to explain the awards people were getting, the vocabulary we were using and what was what and who was who.
It was my turn in court. I am one of the officers for EKCoP (east Kingdom College of Performers). I serve as Chancellor as well as Deputy Chatelaine for the Northern Region. I had been given the Travel journal to pass on since the recipient was sick (with the world being like it is right now, we don’t want any of your flu/COVID-19 crud). I asked if I could present it in court. It’s a cheesy way to get the college some recognition and make the recipient feel more special. As I was about to sit down, their royal highnesses told me to hold on.
What had I done? Did they hate my song? Wha I being Banished because I’m an obnoxious and loud Bard? No.. they were doing a thing.
I was inducted into the Order of the Silver Wheel. This is an armigerous level award for those who do community service. I never expect to get awards for what I do. Sure, I dream about them like anyone else, but I do what I do because I enjoy it and want others to enjoy. I was literally dive tackled by 2 of my peers in the order… who also happen to be in the Free Company of the Stella Maris. With teers and joy I entered the order.
Please see this BEAUTIFUL scroll done by the hand of Kenneric Aubrey. Text is based off of L’homme Arme (The Armed Man)
Here is a copy of the sheet music for the processional:
Here is an MP3 of it, at a fast tempo, This should be performed at a marching tempo and militantly timed.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hvby7YD2y9oJRj0biix5tQtXn3OoN_Fh/view?usp=sharing
It’s the most wonderful shopping of the yearrrrrrrr!
Birka. If you have read any of my blog posts, you know this German/Viking loves bling. Birka, besides Pennsic is my favorite shopping event. The vendors are always changing and bringing new and wonderful wears.
This was also my newest partners first Birka. “I can show you the world! Shining, Shimmering, Splendid!” Also, his first event. I don’t bring them in gently. He seemed to do well with the 90 million people he met in a half second, including Her Royal Majesty, who had given him his first token in the SCA. You could see the magic happening… as far as you can have in a hotel.
He was excited to show off his first garb. I had taught him to sew the week prior. He’s a quick study and eager to create. HE even made himself a haversack. None of these had a pattern. I showed him how to pattern off his previously made clothes as a gentle way to bring him in.
He met 90 million people in 30 seconds but he was happy as a clam. He is far more social than I am.
First court of the day for us was Baronial court. Although I wasn’t currently living in Barony, Stonemarche has always been my home. I often offer to herald or perform for them.
When court came around, I showed him the joy of other’s getting awards. I was on queens guard, but made sure when I wasn’t guarding he has someone to keep him company or something to do. He was surrounded by those willing to give him information and he was also keeping his hands busy with his newly learned hobby of crocheting. He even got to hear one of my scrolls going out.
This was based off Beowolf
Delight, praise of the prowess of people-kings
of sword-armed Halfdan, skilled in combat,
we have heard, and what honor this Saxon brings!
Oft foes fought with feuded feats,
from a large tribe, Stonemarche, the bear-pits tremble,
the echos called. Since ego laid down
friend, a feat, fables reclaim him:
for he waxed under weights, in western battles fought,
Pennsic, shoulder to shoulder, far and near,
who wisdom was vast as whale-way, heard his mandate,
gave him recognition: a wealth of reason!
To him minds-worth laid before,
a son in battle, an elder to books
to favor Grímnir’s lip-streams, meeting their flights head on
the Wielder of Wonder, with world’s renown.
Mighty Queen Margarita, glory-filled, awards you arms
this day, A market day at Birka, AS 54 in the Barony of Stonemarche
After court was all said and done, I was off to do my most favorite thing at Birka… THE BARDIC CIRLE! This was my 4th year running it and every year I learn new and different exciting pieces and meet amazing new performers. I task myself with trying to support newer performers, performers who are shy and taking others under my wing. This year was no different.
However, these was something new to me. I had always considered a content warning for age restrictions; however, I had never considered a content warning for triggers based on language or images. This was a new idea to consider. I think it’s important to consider our audience. We aren’t stopping our performance, but we are allowing them to have an opportunity to leave should they have triggers to the content. Even my partner, who doesn’t have faith in his own singing was brave enough o perform. We had a wide variety of performers and skill levels. I can’t wait to see what else comes from these folks.
Great-Great-Awesome-Granddaughter…
Karen’s back, back again!
Oh, sorry…
I’m my Own Grandma….
I cut myself open to bleed out the black demonic blood, to transgress into the Elizabethan Phoenix.
Why am I doing this?
Why would Solveig, after spending countless hours, dollars, and BLING, change her super awesome amazing sweet viking kit and go late period velvet and brocades? I hear that stuff itches, and boning isn’t that comfortable. But… never mind!
As you may have noticed, the title of my blog went from Steps of the Skald to Travels of the Troubadour. Throughout my bardic path, I have had much duality in my stage presence. What you’d see is tall, bold, shield maiden; however what you would hear was dulcet melodies of late Elizabethan songs.
It was time to stop confusing the audiences, and maybe even myself.
You would think, Solveig, what does it matter that your kit doesn’t match your performance?
And I would respond, The Bard is the whole package.
It made very little sense for a viking to be singing late Elizabethan songs unless it was a “costumed” performance. So I made the decision to become one with the performance.
My first gripe was garb. Because who doesn’t like to be uncomfortable and unable to breathe in 100+ degree weather with 99% humidity? What do I do with this thing on my head? I’m already tall enough! How do veils go? Why do I have three sets of sleeves? Why do I have NINE skirts? Does this corset go on the inside or the outside, and which way makes me a hussy? Where the heck do I put my sword? What do I do with my hair? Wait, I have to lace myself up? Do I need a handmaiden? Where the hell is Karen when I really need her? Oh yeah, helping with blogs…
My next concern is the second biggest: bling! You can take the viking out of the girl, but you can’t take away her bling. All these conquests, all these jewels and pearls, pearls, pearls! Okay, I guess I can make this work, I think I have pearls here and pearls there and pearl earrings and pearl brooches, and pearls are Elizabethan, right? Right?! I guess I’ve got this jewelry thing handled.
My final and most concerning concern: you guessed it, the booze! Wait, does proper late period mean no booze, or hidden and more flavorful? When did the prohibition start in England? I can’t be a proper bard without booze. You can’t spell bard without booze, right?
I mean there ARE some positive things to this whole late period mess, don’t get me wrong. This means I get to openly be a pervert. Look at Shakespeare. Willie S. is my spirit animal. And those codpieces! We also get to enjoy cross-dressing, fencing is period, and oh my god, Landschneckt! All the colors and poofy pants and Landshneckt! And big feathers! Because Landschneckt.
So I suppose this isn’t so bad after all. But it will be a process learning to walk like a late-period lady and not strapping my sword on everyday. But don’t worry Brunnhildr — I mean Solveig the Elder — will make an appearance from time to time.
Have faith my friends.
Meddlings of the Minnesinger 