I’m excited about today’s East Kingdom Novice Day event, a tourney for novice fighters and fencers. I will be a novice too, trying my hand (or rather my throat) at list heralding for the first time. (For the unfamiliar, imagine the MC at a prize fight.) One more opportunity for the use of a bard’s skillset in service.
Category: SCA
The most incredible part of this project has been collaborating with so many talented people who were so eager to help make it possible. The SCA and musician communities are an unbelievably generous group of people. This isn’t my official acknowledgments, this is just sharing about what a joyful experience this has been.
Not for nothing Wars of the Roses is one of my very favorite events. Yesterday was filled with fun and opportunities to be of service. I taught my songwriting class to a lovely group of 8 students, my shift at gate was a joy, at court I got to watch several friends receive well-deserved awards, and the bardic competition was an absolute blast. Amidst all that, I got the chance to welcome a beloved friend to the East Kingdom, where I know she will thrive, and a few new (and very talented!) bards to our raucous community of performers. Then I got to end the day watching my son embrace his latest SCA passion, dancing (and even joined in for a couple. “Dad! It’s a scoring dance! You have to do it for House York!” “Oh, all right…”)
All that, and for once–NO RAIN. THIS is why Concordia is our adoptive home. This.
This is long overdue, but other things kept getting in the way of posting it. Back at East Kingdom Twelfth Night in January, I transitioned teachers from Maistre Lucien de Pontivy of the East Kingdom to Mistress Zsof Tyzes of the Midrealm. I alluded to an exchange of gifts. I wrote a special piece as my farewell gift to Lucien, and I have been graciously permitted to share it.
As Maistre Lucien de Pontivy of the East Kingdom and Mistress Sofia “Zsof” Tyzes of the Midrealm have now announced, I concluded my year of study with Lucien and began study with Zsof this past Twelfth Night. We had a lovely private ceremony of sorts between the three of us, with family present. Gifts and kind words were exchanged, and there was much embracing. I am incredibly grateful for both of these opportunities, and very filled-up emotionally.
Took a while, I know. But it’s time for the final part of my 3-part reflections from last month’s Pennsic War.
So: “Ain’t We Sexy?” The great thing about Pennsic, as an extension of the SCA in general, is that, like other large-scale events, it showcases collaboration and teamwork, because it requires so much of it for anything to happen. My personal theme this Pennsic, I came to realize, was “belonging”, and I got to experience belonging. I got to see close-at-hand, and participate in, more of the making-it-happen than I ever have before this war. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities to learn from and help to whatever degree all these amazing groups of people.
Ah, the unseemly part of sharing about a major event as a performer: showing off. (Not because I find it uncomfortable–sadly, I really really enjoy it. But I know it’s uncouth to do in excess, especially in the SCA. On the other hand, there’s a long history in period of boasting, so within certain limits it is considered acceptable.) And so, like a cat laying dead mice at your feet, I give you the “Look at Me!” part of my Pennsic recollections:
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My first anachronism assignment
I haven’t checked in around this in a while, but my studies with Maistre Lucien have been a source of constant joy throughout the year to this point. Lucien has been unfailingly supportive, even as he continues to hold me to high standards, with a gently probing Socratic approach.
This last session, Lucien presented me with an assignment to stretch and test my understanding of period music and language, which I enjoyed immensely. He has granted his kind permission for me to publish what I produced in response, and I share it here.
As I indicated in my previous post, I had two performance opportunities at yesterday’s EK Bardic Championships (which were held alongside Novice Schola, a free event for to introduce newcomers to the SCA, its culture, and the sorts of classes that are offered at events). The second one involved an elevation (or induction) into the Order of the Laurel for Ose Silverhair, a part of our extended SCA “family”.
I had a fantastic day at EK Bardic Championships. Paradoxically, I did and did not achieve my goals. I did not make it to the third round, but I gave exactly the performances I was aiming for. I dialed back the overt theatricality I’ve relied on, in favor of something more authentic and allowing connection with the audience. I came here to deliver something richer than they’d seen from me before, choosing to omit swagger and bravado as much as possible, keeping my introductions short and simple.
Drake Oranwood 