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bardic

Bardic Manifesto

This evening, in response to a series of discussion threads in the SCA Bardic Arts group on Facebook, I felt inspired to issue something of a bardic manifesto. It was well received, and I think it is worth sharing here in full:

I want to say, as a bard who is not a Laurel…there are bardic Laurels who will defend to the death your right to write your own original SCA-appropriate material (or learn such material that other bards have written), and to perform it at appropriate venues, and that the number of venues where such material is completely appropriate is quite large. There are Laurels and non-Laurels who want to hear more period work being performed in the SCA. Be aware that these include some of the self-same Laurels I mentioned above.

And know too that I am acquainted with at least one Laurel who writes in Old Norse, and can be as fierce a curmudgeon around periodicity as anyone, and that guy writes (and performs) some of the funniest damn filks of Disney songs you’ve ever heard.

It does not have to be either/or. And you are not obligated to do both/and, if that’s not your bag right now.

I will defend to the death your right to perform what pleases you, trusting that (a) you will find others who are pleased by it, (b) you will grow as an entertainer if you want to grow, (c) there will be plenty of folks who will encourage you in valuable new directions over time, and (d) regardless of what people suggest, and regardless of what you choose to do, the Known World will continue to turn on its axis and we will all be just fine.

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concert Pennsic video

Video Up: The Name of the King feat. Efenwealt Wystle

I have one more video to share before you start your weekend, with somewhat better picture quality (thanks, Cedar!): “The Name of the King”, with Efenwealt Wystle on guitar. I’m excited to finally have one of the videos with decent accompaniment from the concert to share. When I review the available options from my friends, I’ll see if there isn’t another video or two we can share with you.

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concert Pennsic video

Pennsic 45 video: A Lusty Young Smith

Here’s video for a piece I’ve never recorded before: A Lusty Young Smith, a 17th-century English song with rather bawdy content (this is the popular tune and lyrics revised by Ed McCurdy in the 1950’s, making the song a bit bouncier and the innuendo a little less on the nose).

I have performed this piece a few times before in the SCA: Most recently at the Roses Bardic competition, and before that (way before that, at Pennsics 31 and 33), it was the first piece I ever performed in the SCA, at Duchess Isabella’s Ladies’ Night. (The less said about that the better–there’s a reason I only consider myself an SCA bard for the last four years or so–but you’ll get a flavor for it from my opening remarks.)

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video

Second Pennsic 45 video: The Binding of Isaac, featuring Spencer!

As I mentioned earlier, my son Spencer Oranwood joined me on stage for the first time at this year’s concert. We performed “The Binding of Isaac” as a duet. Here is the video. (That’s. My. Son.)

 

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concert Pennsic video

First Pennsic 45 video up: “Hidden Gold”

I’ve got my first video up from this year’s Pennsic concert. This is the first time we’ve captured “Hidden Gold” on video. The picture isn’t as sharp as I’d like for some reason. Don’t know if it was the camera focus, or if restoring the video file (which had been damaged) was the cause. It required some effort at any rate, and I was worried about whether we’d be able to recover it at all. I’m relieved that the sound is intact. I’ll be adding the closed captions shortly. Enjoy!

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Pennsic

Top 10 Memories from Pennsic 45

A tradition has evolved of sharing one’s favorite moments on returning from Pennsic. Who am I to stand in the way of tradition? In no particular order, my top 10:

  1. My son, Spencer, made me proud (and humbled me) again and again throughout this war. He registered his name and device (Spencer Oranwood…’scuse me, there’s something in my eye). He mustered every day with Clan Okami (who nicknamed him “Ototo”–“Little Brother”). He performed stories at bardic circles, showing continued growth. He asked me if he could be in my concert, and when I suggested that we could do “The Binding of Isaac” as a father-son piece, he went for it.
    Continue reading “Top 10 Memories from Pennsic 45”
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album Pennsic

The CD is on sale at Pennsic

Last night’s concert was wonderful and challenging (more on that at a later time). It did occur to me after that I failed to mention to people that the Hidden Gold CD is on sale at Camelot Treasures (Booth 030) and John Ap Wyn. If you liked my performances, or missed them and wanted to hear them, it’s an option to consider. (All proceeds continue to be donated through this second year.) Many of our favorite artists, such as Heather Dale, Ken and Lisa Theriot, Efenwealt Wystle, Emer nic Aidan, and Lorelei Skye’s Rhosaleen Dhu, also have CDs for sale, and I invite you to stock up for the trip home.

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concert Pennsic

Concert Update: Last Minute Guest!

So we’re making a last-minute change to the concert set list. I’m adding a new musical guest–my son, Spencer. I’ve long known that he has musical talent, and to my delight he is embracing that this war. We will be performing a contrafact of mine as a duet near the start of the concert. (It was his idea to be in the concert; I picked the song.) Not to be missed.

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concert Pennsic

Update to Concert Guest List

A quick update on the guest list for my concert next Tuesday at 8. I’ve realized that in my zeal to collaborate with some of the SCA’s wonderful performers, I went a little overboard, to the point that it will be a tall order both to rehearse with everyone, and to manage the flow of a one-hour concert with this many introductions to make. 

Knowing that these performers are also busy folks, many of them with their own concerts coming up (see below), I checked in to see if I could turn the scope back down below 11. Emer nic Aidan has agreed to make space and focus on her other commitments. You can still enjoy Emer on stage this Friday at 9 pm, during her “Sea and Fire” concert with Lorelei Skye. 

And while we’re discussing it, let me gratefully plug Efenwealt Wystle, whose concert is Sunday at 8 pm, and Ken and Lisa Theriot, who will be performing immediately after my set Tuesday Night at 9 pm. 

I’ll let you know if there are any other changes. 

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bardic concert Pennsic Uncategorized

Pennsic Performances You Should Know About

Pennsic 45 begins this weekend. Before I head out, I wanted to mention that there are some wonderful friends of mine being showcased this year in the Performing Arts tent who don’t (or haven’t) regularly performed there. You should definitely check these folks out, if you’re wondering how to be profoundly entertained at War:

  • Monday August 8, 8-9 pm: Mar Yaakov HaMizrachi, Tales from “The Book of Delight”
    Tah Sh’ma! Come and hear! Storyteller Mar Yaakov HaMizrachi in performance of his reconstruction of the period work “The Book of Delight” by Yosef ben Meir Ibn Zabara. Zabara wrote this classic work of folk tales in about the year 1200 in Toledo, Spain. Hear how a clever fox seeks to trick a foolish leopard to his doom! Only the leopard’s wise wife stands between our Well Meaning but Foolish Hero and his certain death! In this contest of wit between a loving wife and a cunning foe, whose cleverness shall prevail?
    I wanted to mention this performance first because it’s a late addition to the schedule, and thus may not end up listed in the printed book.

    Continue reading “Pennsic Performances You Should Know About”