Category: SCA

This past weekend’s bardic circle at our home in Rusted Woodlands was a great success. We had 10 participants, including a couple of audience members, but everyone contributed at least one song or story (though that’s never required at one of these). We had performers with varying levels of experience, and there was a lot of thoughtful question-and-answer along with the performances. It was a little like a cross between a regular circle and a collegium panel discussion. Thanks to everyone who was part of it.

Next month, we will be holding our next circle on Sunday, February 21 from 11 am to 7 pm in Northpass (Mohegan Lake, NY), hosted by Lilie Dubh and Friderich Grimme. It will be a longer session, to give performers the opportunity to polish pieces they plan to perform at Bardic Champions Tourney in March.

Bards, cooks, and audience members are all welcome. There will be food served. If you aren’t on Facebook and are interested, please contact Friderich Grimme (chaicken@gmail.com) for information about attending.

This Sunday (January 17) there will be a EK Southern Region bardic circle at our home in Paramus, NJ, from 2-7 pm. Those of you who are on Facebook, the event link is here (and the EK Southern Region Bardic group is here, if you’re interested). We welcome performers, audience, and SCA curious and newcomers. Street clothing, feel free to bring a snack or a beverage. For the address, either indicate you’re interested on the Facebook event, or email me (EricNJB at gmail dot com).

Our last bardic circle, down in Southern NJ, was a lot of fun. And for bards who are planning to compete in the upcoming Bardic Champions Tourney in York, PA in March, this is a great time to practice your material for an appreciative audience.

Hope to see you there!

Had a lovely weekend. Saturday, the family attended Bjorn’s Ceilidh in Concordia (Albany), and any time with our Concordian friends is time well spent. I was excited to watch the Baronial Bardic competition this year. (Normally, this is done during Winter Nights, but since that event is no longer exclusive to Concordia, Ceilidh was the logical event for it to happen.) Former champions Rebekah Wallace and Lorita de Sienna both made excellent showings, but to my delight, my good friend and sometime collaborator Cedar the Barefoot carried the day with a pair of outstanding performances. (I was flattered, if a little nervous, to hear that Baroness Lylie was a bit cross with me for not competing. I hasten to assure her that, having competed once, I will compete again, and have every intention of serving my second home as bardic champion if they see fit to choose me, but this year, I’m, ah…keeping my powder dry.)

I’m sitting at my desk and looking at this silver armband that I get to keep for the next year, and there’s this little smile on my face. I’m having a really blessed month.

The Winter Nights bardic tournament is my favorite one-day event that I’ve experienced in the SCA. This was my fourth consecutive time attending. While I have incredible memories of my first time there, this year may have been my favorite–and that was true before I found out I was in a position to win the champion’s armband. I just love this event. It’s a competition, but it’s an incredibly friendly competition. The emphasis is on everyone being able to enjoy performing and seeing others’ performances. It’s a chance for the bards of the East Kingdom to get together and have some extended time to catch up with one another, because this is the one day that’s totally about our thing and nothing else. (The King’s and Queen’s Bardic Championship in the late winter is also focused on bardic, but that spotlight is shared with royalty and kingdom-level glory, and is ultimately about Their Majesties selecting someone to serve them. It’s also a wonderful event, but a very different thing.)

So today was East Kingdom coronation in our second home, Barony of Concordia of the Snows. Their much-loved Majesties Brennan and Caoilfhionn returned to the throne, and there was much rejoicing.

It was a beautiful day. My teacher, Mistress Zsof, had come out from the Midrealm to celebrate our coronation with us (or so I thought).  There was a delicious day board, and at their Majesties’ first court, I got to see my friend Magnus Hvalmagi receive a well-earned writ of elevation to the Order of the Laurel.