Tag: SCA

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Local Choir strikes again

Choirs are a lot of fun, but they require more than you. That isn’t a bad thing, but finding other like minded folks with the missing parts you need can be difficult to say the least. Once upon a time (4-5 years ago) I ran a vocal group in Malagentia called, “Voce di Sonata”. I ran this choir for about 2 years. However, with real life comes member depletion.  I moved a bunch, people got married and divorced, houses were sold and people have this thing called a job. So, as it were, life doesn’t always work the way it should and I let the group dissolve.

About 2-3 months ago, a conversation struck up with one of my old vocalists from voce. She had expressed wanting to sing and make music. Then, more specifically, she and her husband wanted to work on “O Magnum Mysterium” by Victoria.

If you haven’t heard this piece, take a listen:

 

NB) More information about this piece below

 

However, with the 3 of us, we were missing a crucial voice part. The tenor! I was playing the part of Alto, because… why not. (for any of you who know me, I am not an alto, I just play one on TV). We have a local tenor who is also a shoe in and loves to sing, so without fail, he came to the rescue. 2-3 rehearsals in and we have some music going. This is a volunteer group, who meets every 2 weeks, but again, life happens so we’ve maybe met 2-3 times in 3 months, and that’s ok.

This is for fun. (I have to keep telling myself that. I come from a history of professional musicians who come to their first rehearsal with all their music learned if not memorized. Those, who have perfect pitch or at least relative pitch and work without speaking, singing only for 1-2 hours at a time) This is an ongoing learning experience for me. I’m loving every moment of it. It’s absolutely incredible to work with a group of people who’s passion has not been lost. They do this because it’s fun, not work.

O Magnum has been put aside for now so the group can learn some vital things about working together is a very small chamber group. For now, we are working on Belle Qui Tiens Ma Vie ( Thoinot Arbeau 1520-1595) , Ah Robin, Gentle Robin (William Cornish 1465-1523) and  By the Rose (13th century anonymous poem set by Lady Colette la Trouvere).

 

With permission from the ensemble, here are the super duper rough recordings done on my terrible cell phone. The one thing I can’t show you is the immense joy and pride on all the vocalists faces when they got to hear their recordings for the first time. The plan is, down the road to make a real recording for them to compare themselves to.

Belle qui tien ma vie:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MqexQGOtQD0x3adrQyagqbr1FY8Db0sb/view?usp=sharing

Ah robin:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17mWec-NLl-nhZvJgNfZzfSHQGSzv9eoT/view?usp=sharing

 

Latin text
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
iacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Iesum Christum.
Alleluia!
English translation
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the newborn Lord,
lying in a manger!
Blessed is the virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord, Jesus Christ.Alleluia!
O_magnum_mysterium.png

O Magnum Mysterium is a Catholic church chant sung at Christmastime. As part of the Matins (nighttime worship), the text has been around for centuries. While the exact origins are unknown, historians believe the text (and its use in Catholic Mass) has been around since at least the 10th century.

Because the work is so old, there have been many different settings and versions throughout the years. Today I want to share the version composed by Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611), Spain’s most famous 16th-century composer.

The first half of the chant references the animals present at Jesus’s birth, symbolic of God’s mysterious and lowly life as a mortal. This was a topic of great excitement during the Renaissance; people loved the idea that the animals in the stable recognized the birth of Jesus as an important event. The painting demonstrates this idea.

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The second half of the text relates to the words spoken by Elizabeth when she welcomes Mary, the mother of Jesus, into her home:

“And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” – Luke 1: 42-43

Music theory: Victoria’s use of open 5th intervals perpetuates a sense of awe in the music. In 5th intervals, the third of the chord is missing; this crucial note determines if the harmony is major or minor, so open 5ths don’t have any harmonic indication (which leaves the listener in suspense).

The music changes to a lilting triple meter as the choir sings “Allelujah!” This is an unexpected yet exciting conclusion to the piece, and it reminds me of a chorus of angels proclaiming the birth of Jesus.

 

About Belle qui

Thoinot Arbeau” is the pen name and an anagram of Jehan Tabourot, a Catholic priest and canon of Langres.

“Belle quit tiens ma vie” was first published in Tabourot’s 1588 dance manuscript “Orchesography”, which today is a major source of information about Renaissance dance.

This piece is a pavane: a stately dance in slow duple time, popular in the 16th and 17th centuries and performed in elaborate clothing.

Belle qui tien ma vie:

Belle qui tiens ma vie
Captive dans tes yeux,
Qui m’as l’ame ravie
D’un souris gracieux,
Viens tot me secourir
Ou me faudra mourir.		 Beautiful one who holds my life
Captive in your eyes,
Who has ravished my soul
With a gracious smile.
Come to my aid
Or I must die.
Pourquoi fuis tu, mignarde,
Si je suis pres de toi?
Quand tes yeux je regarde
Je me perds dedans moi,
Car tes perfection
Changent mes actions		 Why do you flee, dainty one,
If I am near you?
When I behold your eyes
I am lost inside myself
Because your perfection
[so affects my behaviour].
Tes beautes et ta graces
Et tes divins propos
Ont echauffe la glace
Qui me gelait les os,
Et ont rempli mon coeur
D’une amoureuse ardeur.		 Your beauty and your grace
And your divine ways
Have melted the ice
Which was freezing my bones
And have filled my heart
With a loving ardour.
Mon ame voulait etre
Libre de passion,
Mais l’amour s’est fait maitre
De mes affections
Et a mis sous sa loi
Et mon coeur et ma foi.		 My soul wanted to be
Free of passion,
But love became master
Of my affections
And put under its law
My heart and my faith.
Approche donc ma belle,
Approche toi mon bien,
Ne me sois plus rebelle
Puisque mon coeur est tien,
Pour mon mal appaiser
Donne moi un baiser.		 Come near, my lovely one,
Come near, my [dear one],
Do not resist me further
For my heart is yours,
To relieve my ills
Give me a kiss.
Je meurs, mon Angelette,
Je meurs en te baisant
Ta bouche tant doucette
Va mon bien ravissant
A ce coup mes esprits
Sont tous d’amour epris.		 I die, my Little Angel,
I die when kissing
Your mouth so sweet.
My very lovely one,
With that touch my spirits
Are completely lifted in love.
Plutot on verra l’onde
Contremont reculer,
Et plutot l’oeil du monde
Cessera de bruler,
Que l’amour qui m’epoint
Decroisse d’un seul point.		 Sooner will waves
Flow backwards
And sooner will the moon
Cease to shine
Before the love which conquered me
Wanes a single iota.

 

About Ah, Robin:

This is a secular madrigal

a part-song for several voices, especially one of the Renaissance period, typically arranged in elaborate counterpoint and without instrumental accompaniment. Originally used of a genre of 14th-century Italian songs, the term now usually refers to English or Italian songs of the late 16th and early 17th c., in a free style strongly influenced by the text.

Musical Analysis:

As each voice enters the harmonies expand. Interesting enough the opening sonority begins on a G, adds a B-flat with the other ground voice, and finally an octave G in the soloist. This causes one of the significant part of the piece, the entrance of the third voice, to have a G minor harmony without the fifth of the chord.

This piece is still modal despite the use of F naturals, however, the d minor harmony begins to act as a resting point for phrases. The use of a picardy third appears numerous times through the work at the end of phrases, but not at the end as each voice begins to drop out, eventually making the music monophonic.

Ah, Robin, Gentle, Robin 

Ah, Robin, gentle, Robin,
Tell me how thy leman doth
and thou shalt know of mine.
My lady is unkind I wis,
Alack why is she so?
She lov’th another better than me,
and yet she will say no.
Ah, Robin, gentle, Robin,
Tell me how thy leman doth
and thou shalt know of mine.
I cannot think such doubleness
for I find women true,
In faith my lady lov’th me well
she will change for no new.
Ah, Robin, gentle, Robin,
Tell me how thy leman doth
and thou shalt know of mine.

  • G. Edward Bruner, DMA: “Editions and Analysis of Five Missa Beata Virgine Maria by the Spanish Composers: Morales, Guerreo, Victoria, Vivanco, and Esquivel.” DMA diss., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1980.[facsimile: University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI]
  • Gustave Reese, Music in the Renaissance. New York, W.W. Norton & Co., 1954. ISBN 0-393-09530-4
  • Apel, Willi. 1988. The History of Keyboard Music to 1700. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. ISBN 0-253-32795-4.
  • Arbeau, Thoinot. 1967. Orchesography, translated by Mary Stewart Evans, with a new introduction and notes by Julia Sutton and a new Labanotation section by Mireille Backer and Julia Sutton. New York: Dover Publications. ISBN 0-486-21745-0.

 

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Many Much Tokens! And classes!

Mimir’s well, year 3 was a resounding success. It was really nice to be able to teach and actually have time to take classes as well as socialize.

About 6 months ago, the Autocrat, Eleanor Grey, had asked me to come teach to make sure there was once again a bardic representation at their lovely event. I agreed. Mountain freehold is a great little shire with great people. Last year, I wrote them a song because they deserved it.

About 1.5 months ago, I was also asked if I could make the site tokens. I happily agreed. Mimir’s well is about wisdom. So, I chose to make tiny wisdom tokens. I sent Aegir the image to 3-d model as I had other work commitments I had to manage and he loves to play in fusion 360 (The 3-d modeling program we use). From there we printed and molded the tokens. She had requested that we make 100 of them.  I had also decided that I didn’t want them to look like pristine metal. So, when creating the positive before creating the mold, I covered it in modgepodge and while it was still tacky, took same sandpaper to it to make it appear more stone-like by taking some divits out of the modgepodge.

Here are the final tokens (Though this one has the hole drilled in the wrong side):

 

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From there, off to teach classes! I had a bright eyed and bush tailed class right at 10:00am. I always dread the first class of the day. I feel like no one wants to be there that early and no one is emotionally awake. It’s also the same as first performer stage fright. Always so hard to go on first, however, once the stage is set, everyone is ready to go!

My first class is how to warm up your body to perform. Yes, I taught this class the week before, however it is never the same. Here is the outline of the class so you know more (in a bullet form, what was gone over in the class)

  1. Why do we warm up our bodies?
    1. Athletes
    2. Protection from harm
    3. Emotionally warmed up
    4. Setting the stage
    5. Setting nerves aside
    6. Ready to move
  2. Anatomy of the mouth
    1. Lips, Teeth, Alvular ridge, Hard pallet, Soft pallet
    2. Discussion of how body is connected
    3. Posture- Demonstration
  3. Body stretches and massage
    1. Head/temples
    2. Neck
    3. Head rolls
    4. Arm body crosses
    5. Pliet
    6. Foot stretches
    7. Rag dolls
    8. Group massage
  4. Breathing
    1. Clavicle breathing
    2. Proper way to breath in (order of operations)
    3. Floor breathing
    4. Engaging diaphragm and low back muscles
  5. Breathing exercises
    1. In outs on “Straw”
    2. In outs on “Shhh”
    3. Bubbles
    4. Coughing/laughing
  6. Projection
    1. Talk about notes/polyps/hemorrhaging (Julie Andrews story)
    2. 5 locations to send sound in mouth
    3. Discovering the soft pallet
    4. Lollipops/York peppermint paddies
    5. Eyebrows/yawning
    6. Tongue twisters (Diction is done… Mommy made me…)
    7. Finding nasal air flow spot
    8. Tongue position
    9.  Dynamic projection (Using soft “stage whispers” to speak across the room)
  7. Body tension
    1. Finding tension in your body
    2. Finding good mouth space
    3. What you can do to loosen up your body

Questions:

 

From there, I hung out, ate, made some music with friends and enjoyed. I finally got to sing a few filks I had composed to those who had never heard them and saw the glee as disney and queen were attached to their favorite SCA activities. In addition, I got to see Aegir working in the kitchen, which he had a blast with.

My final class was just us singing period rounds. I just finished compiling a book of about 50 all period rounds (Sans “Le coq et mort”… which is a traditional, but hey, everyone likes to sing about dead chickens… plus I added the german. Morbid…dead..german… chickens). However, what makes my book different, besides it being so long, is I wrote up all the translations, IPA (Internation Phoenetic Alphabet) dictions and newspaper diction. I will be adding my written documentation on this shortly as well as the appropriate IPA charts, however, after the class, all 14 of my students were begging me to publish it now. (it was 25 pages, so I was remiss to keep printing more copies out of my pocket).  I did, however, sell the 8 copies I made for charity and donated the funds on behalf of my class.

Here is the book, documentation to come!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PvID7hHNG2gvJjWctuWdpQiK-OyhmB_GlVLQhHqEcI8/edit?usp=sharing

Finally, Aegir and I displayed our molds and casts we’ve been doing over the last few months. We had a BLAST telling everyone about the process. Again, making everything more accessible. We really want to make our arts accessible to people. I find it to be a gateway drug. If you find an easy/cheap way to do it, you most likely will want to explore how it was done. *GASP RESEARCH*

 

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Getting Medieval with Technology

Recently, there was a call for need of silver level and specialized awards in the East Kingdom. Her Majesty, Vienna, has put out a request and I felt like I could do something to help. My boyfriend, Aegir, and I love to craft and find new ways of making things. So, I put out the idea to him that we should make, or attempt to make, some of these awards.

Without hesitation, we both began to brainstorm. He asked me what were ways of making awards and what was acceptable. I mentioned that it only needed to look period or possibly resemble a period item. We then looked to our 3-d printer and our silicone mold kits and the lights in our heads went off.

Aegir asked me what the awards were and what they meant. I beamed as I got to explain to him the meaning behind the awards and the intricacies that were our tradition and lineage. I bring up lineage due to the fact that a friend of mine, David Poirier de le Loup, was going to be honored at Crown Tournament. I wanted to make him his Silver Wheel. In addition, a good friend of David’s and mine, Anne de Basillion, had mentioned to me that team “Do all the things” was going to pass down her medallion to David. If she did that, she would be without her regalia. That couldn’t be a thing.

So, we worked to get this amended.

EKAWARDS_Silver_Wheel.jpg

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Aegir taught me how to 3-d model while he worked on the designs for other awards. 3-d modeling is not an extremely difficult process for awards, but it was time consuming. I also had picked a more in-depth design to complete instead of the standard silver wheel award. David is part of the Free Company of the Stella Maris, which is a group of Pi-…. Privateers. So, I chose to make it look more steering wheel like. Anne is also a friend of the company so I would make hers to match.

Here begins the process, 3-D Modeling!

2d model.jpg

3d1.jpg

This modeling was done in a program called Autodesk Fusion 360.

From there, we exported the models into a program called Simplify 3d. This is where the data from the 3d modeling was sent for sizing and printing to be completed.

Here are a few of the models we completed:

Lyre.jpg This is the “Golden Lyre”

Wheel.jpg This is the “Silver Wheel”

Silvertyger.jpg This is the “Silver Tyger”

From there, it was mold making time, baby!

We tried a couple different mold processes in the comfort of our own kitchen. Silicone is not the most beautiful fragrance in the world, so I do recommend proper ventilation. Also, marking a proper container to house the mold during it’s 24 hour cure time is key. Chinese food boxes seem to work well for those who are a bit more frugal.

Here you can see Aegir taking one for the team and handling the fumes.

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Here you can see Aegir pouring the mold into our handy dandy takeout box.

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While we wait for this mold to cure, we were trying a new gravity fed two part mold… we may or may not have used a salt lick? (It’s a Himalayan salt grilling block thing… it was cheaper than stone)

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Here is our finished product (with a little bit of sanding/polishing. Flash happens)

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Words for Simona Bat Leon, Silver Crescent

Words by Lady Solveig Bjarnardottir (Based on Psalm 31)

A woman of noble character has been found!
She is worth far more than rubies, she is the diamond of our kingdom.
She lacks nothing of value.
She brings good all the days of her life.
She works with eager hands and brings service to all.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her company and good deeds.
She gets up while it is still night;
she provides for the kingdom
She considers a task and performs it;
She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that the Barony lamps do not go out at night.
She opens her arms to the poor of spirit
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in black and hold.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She does not eat the bread of idleness.
Many women do noble things,
but she surpasses them all
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but this woman is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the East Kingdom Gates

And so, by our hands, do we, Emperor Brennan and Empress Caoilfhionn , see fit to induct, Simona Bat Leon , into the order of the silver crescent. In Addition we grant her arms Per pale azure and argent vetu, a mullet of six points between three bees, all counterchanged, at Falling Leaves, in the Barony of Carolingia, As 53.

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Silver Wheel for Juliote de Castlenou D’arry

She bestows her gifts with a generous hand;
Pausing not for toil and pain for those she keeps silent
Chronicler, wrangler
Weary not through the heat of summer as she serves all ,
Weary not through the cold spring rain as she sings;
But wait till the autumn comes
For the sheaves of golden grain sifted tirelessly for she lives as a warden.
Scatters the seed, and asks not for recognition
So we are moved to do this, We, the East, choose to recognize her this day. We Ivan and Mathilde, Tzar and Tazrina do induct Juliote de Castlenou D’arry into the Order of the Silver wheel on October 28, Anno Sociotatis 52 at The Harvest Festival

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Words for Antonio Giancarlo Nicastri

This was a scroll assignment for the Order of the Silver Tyger

With fearsome might, he enters the list
Keen strength and skills surpass those of peers and Tygers all
What blows are swung with sword, skidded by shield and skewered by spear
May you fear them equally
In front of him, pray you not be
Side by side, a brother at arms to stay
Pennsic Brave, one of five left and still not an ounce of cowardice in his eyes
Honor and Valor drape humbly upon his shoulders
We, the East, are proud to have him armed and ready
In turn, we, Emperor Brennan and Empress Caoilfhionn, proudly induct Antonio Giancarlo Nicastri into the order of the Silver Tyger on this day, April 21, Anno Sociotatis 52 at Balfar’s Challenge

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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.

 

Image may contain: 4 people, people sitting, table and indoor

 

 

 

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Harvest Moon

When the moon hits your eye, like a big pizza pie!

It was time for me to get off my throne and I don’t mean the porcelain kind.  I had the honor of running and judging this years Provincial Bard competition for Malagentia. From the few years I have been entering competitions for Bardic, I learned what I wanted and didn’t want in a local competition. I had been working to build a bardic community wherever I go because my heart aches when I hear people say, “I’m not good enough… I can’t follow HER…. Bardic is hard. This does not make a safe environment for performers. It’s hard enough to get up in front of folks, especially when you never did it professionally or even semi professionally.

This year I made a rubric. It included the following categories:

Were you prepared?

Did you perform well?

Can you be heard?

How well did you know your piece?

Did you fit the theme?

Did the audience enjoy your piece?

Did you provide documentation?

How detailed was your documentation?

I also had a theme “Home is where the hearth is”. I figured it would be a nice and creative way to see how the competitors would deal with it.  Also,  how they would introduce their pieces and explain how their piece fit into the theme. In addition, the competitors would perform 2 pieces in contrasting styles, 1 piece must be period and documentation is required. This would tie into the SCA as but leave enough leniency that it would be fun.

Before the performances began, our Senechal (Who was one of the 3 additional judges I had asked to help with the judging) interjected for a moment. I couldn’t imagine what she needed to announce, but who was I to say no to this amazing lady. I was bestowed the very first provincial honor for Arts and Sciences for my work in the Bardic field. I was surprised and honored to receive… well, this honor! It was only the very first because I needed to leave early to head to a wedding so I was not able to attend the closing ceremonies where it should have been awarded.

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On to the performances! We had 4 incredible performers. All of them were not only incredible performers in all their own ways, but they were also all skilled in a martial activity as well. There were two heavy combat fighters and 2 fencers. I am proud to say I have fought and fenced with each of them. On top of these skilled performers, we had an exceptional young lady perform to compete for the youth bard.  I had decided this year to include this category. I find that we cannot support the arts just as adults, we need to hone their skills at an early age. It’s true what they say, the youth are our future.

The deliberating was difficult. Each was unique and powerful. I was blessed to have the judges I had picked along side me to help me pick. I didn’t want anyone to feel like they weren’t good enough. I had asked each of the judges to talk to all of the individuals privately and provide feedback. I didn’t want critiques, I wanted positive reinforcement. One of the largest lessons I have been learning in life is that you never provide unwarranted feedback or feedback that wasn’t asked for be the individual. I sent my words with the other judges and I also reached out to each of them after to let them know where their strong points were and encouraged them to keep shining like the jewels they are. Though, if someone told me that I’d reply, “ I’m volcanic ash! I don’t shine”

Bards. Keep being you!

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Harper’s Retreat

You must not under any pretense allow your mind (Harp).  To dwell on any thought that is not positive, constructive, optimistic, kind. -Emmet Fox

I think this should be the mantra I focus on. It’s always tough when you put your heart and soul into something and then have your spirit crushed by not obtaining that goal.  

This year was a new year to push myself . To try something new. This year I brought new repertoire. These pieces had never been performed by me for the public.  This year’s repertoire choices were very personal and close to my heart as well.  

Saturday I spent the day fencing, teaching, reveling in good friends and company. What did you teach, Lady Solveig? I taught what’s called a “Master Class”. This class is a safe place workshop where you bring a piece you are polishing or a piece you want to improve on. The format is generally you perform your entire piece all the way through and then you do it again, section by section. Suggestions are made about your performance and how to improve it. This was my first time performing this outside of an academic setting and I was overwhelmed to have three students attend. All of them brought difference pieces and styles to the table. I say overwhelmed in a good way. I never know how performers feel about being critiqued. Not everyone takes criticism well and even when they ask for it, it can rub them the wrong way. This was a great exercise for me in providing feedback but also serving as a bardic mentor for those who were older, same and younger than I was. I monitored body language very closely to make sure what I was providing was well received. When the class was over, I was thanked by the students and was told by two of them that they were now going to compete with these pieces for Baronial Bard and the third was just going to get up and perform for the open mic section. I couldn’t be prouder. I felt like a mama bird, proud that her kiddos are getting kicked out of the nest…. her… viking nest. With spears and fire.

I had set up, ahead of time, for an accompanist to help me with a piece. A few weeks prior, for personal reasons, he had to decline. Luckily, I am surrounded by amazing musicians in my life and another rose from the mist. I went to go rehearse with her but found out she had broken her foot the night before. In addition, she may have injured her wrist (Insert a chain of explicates and rapid swearing/heart beat) Oh wait! Another friend… can you play a thing? Maybe? No. Crap. oh hey, other friend (#4) yeah, I can play violin and make this work if your guitarist can’t.  (Like watching the Bob Ross reruns on twitch where he throws a blob of paint on the painting and you think its ruined? Nope.… SAVED!). We made this work. Awesome.

After the class was over I rushed to get ready for feast and the bardic competition that night. “Ooooo girl, you so fancy!” I would jest with my friend, Ollala, that I was “Installing my weave”. I was quickly corrected that it was not a weave, because they were not sewn in and they were just extensions. I pushed that button a lot over the next few hours. After all, what is a Skald without harassing their good friends.

I made my way over to feast in my finest raizing garb, head weighing a few pounds more, thanks to the extensions and beads. I promise, my head was not full of hot air… that would have made this so much easier to walk. I followed up with a few of my friends whom I knew were competing, and I made sure to speak to them and encourage them. One, specifically said they weren’t even sure if they were going to complete. I did my best to encourage them and even walked over with them to sign up. The rest was all feast and a blur until the competition.   Feast was an immense success as it always ways. The food was amazing as was the company.  #Foodcoma #Wholeroastedpig #liquidcourage #bardjuice

Game face on. No… not vampires. You know, srsbsns.

I mentioned that my repertoire this year was important to me. Several years prior, I had discovered a performer named Owain Pfyfe. If you know me well enough, you know I do not really care for tenors. The bright timbre is not something iI inherently enjoy. However, there was something about his charisma and style that I couldn’t ignore. I was so intent on finding him. He had to be a SCAdian right? After about six months of searching and re-listening to all of his repertoire, I was DEVASTATED to find out that he had passed a few years prior. I then began spending my time learning his music, listening to his humor and trying to take it and internalize it, making it my own.  My first piece would be one of his repertoire and it was my own take on it. I spent time focusing on that.

This year, I started with a mummer like feeling. I sat in the back of the room, covered in a wool cloak and an Italian Renaissance style plague doctors mask. I sat, quietly listening to the other performers, trying not to disturb them, but enjoy myself as well. Then, a friend of mine and fellow Bard, Kara the Mischievous took the stage. She sang a song, in which I have already received from her to add to my own personal book (It was that awesome!). Then, she too, decided to tell a story. She had mentioned at dinner she was telling a Norse story. I listened intently as she started her story, to tell us about when “Thor wore a dress”. My heart hit the floor, eyes widened and all the blood rushed from my body. That was -my- story. What was I going to do? Should I leave? Should I quit? What should I do?!?!?!

I took a stiff upper lip when it was turn, re-centered and let my new “persona” take over. I would not back down. I took the stage from the back of the hall in my mummers kit and my awful mix of European accents. I would crack jokes, get my “unsuspecting” assistants to the stage to help me out and slowly remove each piece. First the cloak (Which was alllll wool) so i weighed more than the world did at the moment. Next, the mask. Facial expressions are very important with physical comedy and the shtick I had chosen at that time. The piece I performed was “Fuggi, Fuggi”. I had the audience sing with me, I sang the Italian and as I explained to the audience, they’d be singing the Latin… ( Falalalala). At the end, it was time to show off my classical training. I arpeggiated my way up to a F above treble clef (One full octave above the top F line) and then gliasando’d down (Slide). A few small mistakes here and there, but ultimately I am very happy with how that piece went down.

Next, it was time for my story. I quickly thought of how I was going to fix this, the debacle, of two of us telling the same story. I opened with, “You may have already heard this story… tonight” and the audience seemed to appreciate that. Thank goodness for me, Kara and I have very different styles of telling stories so, although we told the same story, it was very different. This story was huge for me as I am not a storyteller, though, my friend’s say otherwise. I rely on my fast paced wit and vocal technique to entertain with. This was also important as this was my first true to persona piece I had done. Win or lose, this was my own victory.

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At court on Sunday, I was not announced at the victor and my heart sunk. I had several folks approach me, telling me how much they enjoyed my piece, how much they loved my voice, how excited that I was going to be their champion again. I think this was devastating to me only because this was told to me. Had I not had so much stake in this at this point I think it wouldn’t have been as much of a letdown. However, their new Baronial champion is a shining star. She is just starting to really get her feet wet into Bardic. She has such talent and skill. I cannot wait to watch her grow and support her. My job in Stonemarche is done.  Their community is growing strong and supportive. I will never stop supporting them, I will never stop being a part of their community, but they are not my focus any more. I need to find another group who needs my help just a tad more. You could say, “I’m a Wizard, Harry” and “A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.” And I will go precisely to where I am needed next.

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Pensic Pity Party

Pity me on my pilgrimage to Loch Derge!

As in the aforementioned post, I could not make the journey to the holy land this year. Next year in Jerusa—– Pennsic.A few folks had created a small circle in the middle of the lawn. Garb, fencing, thrown weapons, food and archery were all surrounding this (safely at distance… the marshalls all checked! I watched). Music started. I sat and listed to the dulcet tones of these strangers. There is nothing more comforting and home than music.  One gentleman asked me if I sang or played anything or if I was just there to listen. I responded “Both”. They asked me if I would share.  Who was I to say no. I was honestly there to just listen, but denying someone music is the worst crime of all.

I pulled out a tune I knew well and suddenly new friends were made. We jammed for what seemed like hours.  I harmonized with the other performers, I noodled on one of their guitars, sang by myself, had them harmonize with me. It was heaven. Now I just need to figure out how to make this happen in Malagentia. To the drawing board!