The Great Balloon Festival, 2016

The Viking invades Auburn, again! A teensy bit tardy this time, because she’s overcommitted. #shocker, right?

It’s time to make the music again! But this time, instead of heavylift gear, I brought things to stab people with. I had heard over the winter that rapiers made for sexier bards, so I decided to try it out. # +4tocharisma, am I right? Bard book in hand, the filk that had started last summer would be coming to life. Mwahahaha!

My repertoire had grown twice over since last year, so I was lucky enough to have more of a variety to pick and choose from. This time, instead of staying in Bardic Grove, I wandered throughout or medieval town. I channeled my inner Miss Piggy and hammed it up. See what I did there, hehe?

Again, after hours of singing, I decided that it was time to go play on the dark side of things and go stab my friends. After all, what is better therapy than stabbing those you play board games with? I think my favorite part of fencing demos is it’s just like being in stage at a B-rated play. I once again channeled my inner Bruce Campbell, a la Army of Darkness, while alive, and my Paul Rubens, a la that horrible Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie that even Joss Whedon admits isn’t canon (shut up, Karen! I like that movie!) when dying. The night came quickly, and I was off like a light, because mundania yelled at me that I had to go apartment hunting — stupid mundane life!

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The Great Northeastern War

O cantare, O solo mio!

A few months prior to the war, I was approached by the A and S minister, Lord Frederick Vandeveer, about giving a concert at the event. Excitement and anxiety rushed over me, you might say it came in like a wrecking ball!

I eagerly accepted, and had thus sealed my fate. After allowing this information to sink into my brain, I realized that, while working a standard 40 hour per week job, my skadian career, modeling, cosplaying, fencing, and an overwhelming need to satiate a need for social connection, an hour-long concert would be a little bit of an undertaking to attempt on my own.

So I decided to call in a life line and make this a tag-team Super Friends concert.

Thus, the birth of Lady Solveig and Friends!

I reached out in a frantic… I mean “composed” (yea, we’ll go with that) fashion to all my talented friend base of performers. The super list included Mistress Analitta Falconbridge, His Excellency Jean Du Montagne, Lady Eva Southerland, and Lady Nuala McKensie.

I had asked all except for Eva to have 2-3 pieces of diverse style to perform. Eva was local to me and would not only be performing her own pieces, but accompanying me on guitar as well. I had also asked everyone to include the titles and duration of their contributions. I should note this was my first time ever organizing a concert.

Eva and I got together many times to rehearse up until the day of the concert. The concert was scheduled for Saturday after court, which seemed to run on forever. To be fair, most GNE courts do. Originally the concert had been scheduled in Bardic Grove, however, due to the copious amounts of rain that had fallen, a more apt title at the time may have been “Bardic Lake”. Therefor, the concert had been moved to the barn.

8:30 or so, I hauled ass to the barn, trying to stay as dry as possible. I was blessed to have heralds announcing the concert, or I fear no one would have come. Circum 9:00, we had about 45 attendees, but 2 of my performers were still missing. But, alas, the show must go on!

I sat on the stage in front of the audience and had a casual conversation with them to warm up the crowd, and perhaps to calm my own quickened heartbeat. And after about 5 minutes of this, only 1 of my 2 missing performers had shown up. Jean De la Montagne, with his 21 Charisma (+5 modifier!) strolled in with his infamous hat (with admirably long plumage!). He offered up this hat to me, and it seemed to have magic powers. The hat bestowed upon its wearer (now me) a new sense of bravado and confidence. At this point, the concert began.

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Songs wove between the first 4 performers until the 5th had finally shown. There was no competition between the performers. Our only battle was against the rain, with its tapping against the roof a constant backdrop to any music we sought to perform.

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At one point, I was so bold as to entice the audience to join in the song. I taught them the round, “Rose, rose”, and had them sing in 4 parts. On top of that, I added another layer of “Poor Bird”, and, finally, Mistress Aneleda added an addition layer of “Hey Ho”.

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About an hour later, the concert was over, and the rain had let up. This whole concert seemed to be in perfect harmony, and I had earned some new followers. All in all, a rather positive experience.

The Birth of Ravensbridge

This piece was composed for the the incipient shire of Ravensbridge. They has put forth a challenge to compose a Song/Story/Poem about their inception. This was my response. Recording to come.

Down by the swan-road we soar on the wing
and from our hearts a song we did sing
Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge
about the birth of Ravensbridge

Trapped between rivaling nations we stand
This place was not home, no not on this land
Together as people the plain that we spanned
to make a home not written in sand

Down by the swan-road we soar on the wing
and from our hearts a song we did sing
Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge
about the birth of Ravensbridge

We searched for a center, a place to call home
Two strongholds that stood, both we did roam
Endewearde, headland of swords north fair
Malagentia lit South, by the light of Sif’s hair

Down by the swan-road we soar on the wing
and from our hearts a song we did sing
Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge
about the birth of Ravensbridge

Our men speared-din worn, our people lost drive
‘til an outstretched arm lent our kinsman to thrive
A spot between moon and shield to be shown
Our wound-hoe, blood-ember and arms soon to be grown

Down by the swan-road we soar on the wing
and from our hearts a song we did sing
Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge
about the birth of Ravensbridge

Nameless the many who wandered are we
A name and an image we’re proud to be seen
In honor of friends and this place that we stand
The Raven and Bridge is our chosen brand

Down by the swan-road we soar on the wing
and from our hearts a song we did sing
Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge
about the birth of Ravensbridge

Huginn and Munnin

Write me like one of your french women.

Huggin and Munin was taking flight and the Riding of Ravensbridge was starting to take shape. As a growing community not quite yet official, it was time to begin recording their history. Ravensbridge is an incipient Riding of Malagentia and as a resident of Malagentia, I felt the need to help document their history.

I spent the next few weeks reaching out to the founding members to find out exactly how this group came to fruition. Of combined efforts, I was able to piece together this viking village and their bright birth.

Below is the entry I composed:

 

Down by the swan-road  we soar on the  wing

and from our hearts a song we did sing

Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge

about the birth of Ravensbridge

 

Trapped between rivaling nations we stand

This place was not home, no not on this land

Together as people the plain that we spanned

to make a home not written in sand

 

Down by the swan-road  we soar on the  wing

and from our hearts a song we did sing

Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge

about the birth of Ravensbridge

 

We searched for a center, a place to call home

Two strongholds that stood, both we did roam

Endewearde, headland of swords north fair

Malagentia lit South, by the  light of Sif’s hair

 

Down by the swan-road we soar on the  wing

and from our hearts a song we did sing

Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge

about the birth of Ravensbridge

 

Our men speared-din worn, our people lost drive

‘til an outstretched arm lent our kinsman to thrive

A spot between moon and shield to be shown

Our wound-hoe, blood-ember and arms soon to be grown

 

Down by the swan-road  we soar on the  wing

and from our hearts a song we did sing

Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge

about the birth of Ravensbridge

 

Nameless the many who wandered are we

A name and an image we’re proud to be seen

In honor of friends and this place that we stand

The Raven and Bridge is our chosen brand

 

Down by the swan-road  we soar on the  wing

and from our hearts a song we did sing

Over the mountains it rang o’re the ridge

about the birth of Ravensbridge

 

As a side note, this was my first attempt at composing using kennings. Ravensbridge is a viking based group, I tried to be authentic in composition style and true to their heritage.

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After the performances were completed but before their winners were announced, music needed to be made. I did what I do best and I pulled out rounds and found any willing to sing to join me. It was then announced that I was the first winner of their Bardic competition.

 

Malagentia Winter Feast

When I was your age, I used to walk to school uphill, both ways, barefoot, in the snow!

Because, winter!

Winter Feast was my first event in Malagentia, WAAAY back in 2011. I can remember it back in the Grange hall, and the warm feeling of families feasting together. Since then, Winter Feast has always been a special event in my heart.

With my passion for the feast, I made sure I would attend this year. The Malagentian Bardic Group had been on the newer side of things, and was looking for an opportunity to perform. With their numbers small, and my need to be a ham, I quickly raised my hand to be part of this production. It was discussed at the monthly bardic brunch that they would be performing a piece about the local champions; with my connection to Stonemarche — being my second home after all — I quickly volunteered to play their champion, because Viking, right?

Feasting and festivities filled the night, as well as food, fun, friends, family, and [fr]alcohol — hey, I tried! I was lucky I didn’t go comatose after the copious amounts of food I consumed, after all, a sleepy champion wouldn’t make much of an impression upon the stage. We even roped in unsuspecting volunteers — poor Sir Ivan, what a good sport.

We had made cue cards for our volunteers, as well as actors who might forget their lines; we had makeshift costumes, and fun props as well. You might say we gave ourselves “mad props” for our props, yo. Hey, I’m a bard, this is what I do.

The bad word plays were plentiful, as were the laughs. I even got my Paul Reubenesque death, which was all I really wanted. This was the first real experience for the Malagentian Players to perform, and it would be the birth of their stage performances.

The Great Northeastern War

War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!

Except pillaging afterwards! And bling!

This is my goof off year at GNE {NEVER GNEW!!!!} It was hot, I didn’t fight, and I definitely went swimming. I was in charge of a thing, Oh Odin, Oh Thor, aw hell!

Guess my ideas about Partying and shopping have to be curtailed a bit, because my home away from home this event would be: Gate!

I had organized over 80 volunteers to fill 40 different shifts give or take. When I wasn’t at Gate, I spent my time perusing merchants. I’m not really sure I slept the entire event. Because after all, what better way to spend GNE, right? After all, I was showing my Malagentian pride and getting my shopping war points, since I wasn’t fighting…

PARTY!! SHOPPING!! WOOT!

What does a true Viking do, but hang out with the likes of Thunder? The real challenge is walking home when you’re done. Especially if they’ve laid out the glow-sticks… My companion and I were heading back to our campsite, when we heard music coming from the Endeweardian encampment. Who else could it have been, but Aneleda Falconbridge?

Like a sailor to their siren, I slunk into their encampment, thankfully missing all the tent ropes. At one point, Aneleda Falconbridge, Jean de la Montagne, Master Lucienne, and Mistress Dreda had decided to perform one of my favorite quartets: Ave Verum Corpus by William Byrd. However, they seemed to be struggling in spots. I knew this piece like the back of my hand, even in my cups, as it had been my final in my conducting class in college. At one point, Aneleda asked the audience if anyone knew how to conduct, because she decided they clearly needed a conductor. I raised my hand sheepishly, not knowing what I was getting myself into. I was handed a copy of the score, made a few quick notes to jog my hazy memory, and quickly analyzed the situation.

Once I figured out where the hiccups were occurring, the derailed train was now back on track. What had been a struggle was now performed with ease, and we made it to the end as a team. At that point, the group started to dissipate, after all, it was 2am. Before leaving, the quartet approached me, and asked when we could do this again. I was star-struck, having four talented performers ask lowly little me, who didn’t even have her AoA when we could make sweet, beautiful music again.

#SpoilerAlert   I got my AoA the next day!

 

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Winter Feast

Home, Home at the Grange,

Where the knights and the laurels all play…

Where Bards are all heard

Not a discouraging word,

And our plates are all covered with food!

 

This feast almost didn’t happen. The autocrat was a last minute decision, as was the location. But this didn’t take away from the delicious potluck feast which dwelled on the bottom floor of the grange hall. Scadians are terrible at famine. And I’m terrible at not eating Scadian food. An incident with a near-comatose Viking — though I promise I survived, or else these would be post-mortem stories…

Earlier this year, I had taken on the responsibility of becoming the musical director of Voce di Sonata, the vocal group of Malagentia. We rehearsed bimonthly, at different homes in Portland and Saco. We had been working on general medieval music as well as holiday themed medieval music. It was decided that we would perform at Winter Feast, to give us a goal to work towards.

When the food dissipated, and people were mingling, it was time to present what we had been working towards. It was interesting, because half of my group was sick, and two of my three bases canceled last minute. Eh, we could handle it.

One of my friends from Endewearde happened to be in town, and also happened to be a professional musician! She offered to join us, and would have no problem sight-reading the music. So we gathered in our typical horse-shoe choir shape, and let the music flow. This had been my first time conducting since I graduated college in 2009, and it was just like getting back on a bike, as long as you put the training wheels back on.