Drake OranwoodToday I want to share the opening track on Hidden Gold. Though it was included on the latest Knowne World Bardcast, I hadn’t planned to put it in the opening spot–I sometimes think of this as “the little song that could”. I perform it less often than most of my other original pieces, for reasons that have little to do with its merits as a song.
Now that Pennsic is over (and it won’t compete with the CD sales) I’ve lowered the price of digital downloads on CD Baby. It’s now $10, comparable to iTunes and other outlets. I realized it doesn’t make sense to price it higher than that, since that just encourages people to go to the other outlets. Buying directly from CD Baby has advantages for me and for listeners. CD Baby takes a much smaller cut than iTunes and other services, and pays out promptly (rather than months after the fact). And some listeners who want better quality will enjoy the option of getting FLAC files instead of MP3s, which they can only get from CD Baby.
It came a bit late (the last day of the war), but Hidden Gold has gotten (dare I say it?) a rave review in the Pennsic Independent from Maestra Sol la Cantor. Check it out!
For those of you heading to The Pennsic War, know that you can find Hidden Gold for purchase at Camelot Treasures (Merchant Booth 30) or Master Kenhelm (Booth 95).
Remember, all proceeds will be donated to early intervention programs for children with special needs. See you there!
One final share as we all do our packing for Pennsic. I do have a new song for the war, and it’s the title track from the album: “Hidden Gold”. Yes, I’ve finally written a song with a repeating chorus you can sing along to.
It’s a very personal piece, and a reflection on the Society’s emphasis on mentoring and learning, as well as its values. Enjoy.
As we get ready for Pennsic, I find myself reflecting on what it means to be part of the SCA. Of my songs, the one that speaks to that the most powerfully is “Lady of the Rose”.
This is the first, the last, some think the best. Certainly the darkest of the tales in Hidden Gold. It was the first one we recorded for the project–and then we came back round at the end and re-recorded pretty much the whole song, applying everything we’d learned from the experience. I think it shows.
Fans of The Knowne World Bardcast have already heard this version of “The Bastard’s Tale”, but I’ve been told it’s worth replaying. If you like it, I hope it’s worth sharing with your friends.
Enjoy. (But watch your back.)
As folks get ready for Pennsic, a reminder: There is a tradition, originating from Calontir, to let entertainers know they are welcome at your camp! All you need to do is… Mug Your Gate!
Lady Sophia the Orange of Atlantia asked me a few weeks ago to write an article for the Atlantia Performing Arts blog about my experiences creating Hidden Gold. Today she published it, and you can read it here if you like.
I want to thank everyone who has helped us support the JCC Therapeutic Nursery through this project. This preschool provides early intervention to bright children with special needs, including our son. All proceeds from the album are being donated to the Nursery.
This track from the album was inspired by our experiences coming to terms with parenthood playing out differently than we had expected it to. If this piece touches you, I invite you to share it.
Drake Oranwood