On the Æthelmearc Facebook group, it was asked whether Æthelmearc has a theme song.
Some Kingdoms do have theme songs — Calontir uses The Song of the Shield Wall, while Ealdormere uses Rise, and the Debatable Lands has its own theme song in Marce Baroniae — but Æthelmearc has never settled on a single song. Instead, we have a wealth of songs from which to choose, many of which are available online at the bardic website: www.aebards.org
One good candidate for an Æthelmearc theme song is “Banners of Scarlet” by Brehyres Gwendolyn the Graceful, a past Sylvan Bard. Gwen notes: “It might interest the Gazette’s readers that a group of five performers put together a video version of “Scarlet” for the First Bardic War in 2021.” That video, which includes lyrics, is shown below.
Baron Sir Athos participating in the fighting at Pax in 2016. Photo by Baroness Katja.
Pax is happening tomorrow and Saturday!
Over the past four months, nearly all current and near-future events and practices across the Known World have been cancelled or postponed due to the COVID19 pandemic.
The Barony of Thescorre, however, rather than cancelling its annual summer camping event, Pax Interruptus, decided to move it online to offer a virtual event this weekend.
Although there cannot be in-person heavy fighting, fencing, archery, and thrown weapons as the event has boasted for almost 40 years, there will be online classes, some drumming, a bardic circle, a baronial court, and videos to celebrate past Pax events and Thescorre history throughout the day on Saturday. Numerous Thescorreans provided photographs for the nostalgic slideshows.
For those of you desperately missing the opportunity to see friends and hang out as you normally do at the event, there will be open socializing time available throughout Saturday.
On Friday, the Barony will host a concert by the international minstrel group Wolgemut, famous and well loved for its performances at SCA events like Pennsic and Gulf Wars as well as numerous Renaissance faires and events throughout the world.
Further, to support the merchants who normally offer their wares at the event, there will be a virtual merchants row.
The event will take place in several rooms on Zoom.
According to Their Excellencies Eldjarn and Dubheasa:
It’s important for our SCA community to continue having opportunities to interact, even when required to be physically separate. We may not be able to have our usual martial activities, but we can still see, socialize, and learn from each other. It’s a time to reminisce and continue to acknowledge the contributions of our populace. Sharing goodwill and appreciation is critical to the emotional well-being of many while we must isolate away from our friends and family. We would much rather do so face to face, but for the time being at least, this is what we can do safely. Come join us this weekend.
Schedule
Friday: 7 p.m., Room 4, Wolgemut concert
Saturday:
9:00 a.m.
Rooms Open
Rooms 4, 5, & 6
9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
Virtual Weedwalk with Sadira
Room 4
Since we can’t gather at the campground, come join me in my garden and field of weeds – I mean “lawn” – for a virtual weedwalk, featuring food, medicine, and tool plants that can be found in this area! Videography by Nuzah.
The revised handout that would have been used for Pennsic 2020 can be accessed online here.
Several poison plant handouts, originally intended for child care students who wanted to open home day care centers, which may be handy for parents in this time of “crisis schooling,” are here and here.
10:00 to 10:50 a.m.
Wash Your Hands! with Gwenhwyvar Thredegold
Room 5
Making a felted wool soap ball. If you want to play along, you’ll need a bar or two of your favorite soap and some wool roving or felting wool in whatever colors you want.
This is a kid-friendly project!
11:00 to 11:50 a.m.
14th Century Parti-Colored Cotehardie with Gwen Cooke
Room 6
14th century parti-colored cotehardie history and construction. Have you ever wanted to know a bit about the history of those lovely multi-color dresses we see folks wearing at events? Ever wanted to display your heraldry in an absolutely stunning fashion? Ever wanted to hide geeky references to your favorite things in some of the most comfortable garb you’ll ever own? Come on over to the cotehardie class!
Creating a parti-colored cotehardie with handmade fabric buttons may be just the project you need to undertake. We’ll chat a bit about the history and documentation behind the construction of a parti-colored cotehardie and then I’ll walk through the steps in constructing the garment and how to add little bits of heraldry or other fun moments into your garb (like my Gryffindor-themed red and gold cotehardie). I’ll happily talk through the process as well as how the steps of construction of the dress can also be used to create a parti-colored tunic as well.
The class will discuss history, documentation, the steps to create, and even the hand-sewing techniques that will help your clothing hold up for years of events.
Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Their Excellencies Eldjarn & Dubheasa Sit in State
Room 5
An open time for gentles to speak with the Baron and Baroness of Thescorre. Their Excellencies will speak to individuals or small groups in turn, so please be patient while waiting in the queue.
1:30 to 3:00 p.m.
Middle Eastern Drumming & Dancing
Room 5
Raven Raqs Beladi, Thescorre’s longtime drumming and dancing troupe, will hold a casual circle/hafla. Gentles are welcome to listen, dance, or drum along, but please silence your microphones. Chat will be available.
4:00 p.m.
Baronial Court
Room 4
Their Excellencies and Baronial Herald Andrew will address the populace.
6:00 p.m.
Thescorre Fighters Video
Room 6
An entertaining video created by the Barony’s fighting community that they hope you will find amusing and touching.
6:30 p.m.
Pax Through the Ages – A Slide Show
Room 5
A compilation of photographs of various activities and gentles at the event over the past several decades.
7:00 p.m.
This Is Thescorre – A Slide Show
Room 4
A compilation of photographs celebrating the Barony and its people over the past several decades.
7:30 p.m.
Bardic Circle
Room 6
An open circle for singers, storytellers, and poets to perform.
Open Socializing
In addition, Zoom rooms will be available for free chatting and hanging out at various times throughout Saturday:
Room 4, 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Room 5, 11:00 a.m. to Noon
Room 6, Noon to 5:45 p.m.
Room 5, 3:00 p.m. to 6:15 p.m.
Merchants Row
Finally, the pandemic has taken a huge toll on merchants throughout the Society for Creative Anachronism, many of whom make a majority of their livelihoods at spring and summer events each year. In order to support them and provide visibility, the Barony is hosting a virtual Merchants Row.
Links and business information for various merchants will be available here. The page will go live this weekend and be available through to the end of July (when Pennsic would have occurred). Please support SCA merchants if you can.
Login Access
No login information will be released through any public social media channels in order to prevent scammers from joining the Zoom rooms.
If you are not on Thescorre’s email distribution list and wish to attend the event, please email Thescorre’s webminister, Baroness Nuzha bint Saleem, at webminister AT Thescorre DOT org.
She can also be reached via direct message on Facebook Messenger at “Melinda DeHollander.”
The Zoom rooms will have waiting rooms associated with them. Baroness Nuzah will admit you as soon as she is able, based on what is happening in the room.
Also note that the login info for Room 4 is different for Friday night than it is for Saturday. Please use the correct info for the correct day.
More Information
For more about the event, please see Thescorre’s website here and the event Facebook page here.
For more about Wolgemut, please see their Facebook page here or their website here.
Reporting by Baroness Katja Davidova Orlova Khazarina (Chris Adler-France)
Greetings from Dagonell the Juggler, the Known World Symposiums Advertising Deputy, working under the Society MoAS! Good gentles we have not one, but two KW Symposiums coming up on Labor Day Weekend!
Here is the first!
The Middle Kingdom and the Shire of Shattered Crystal invite the Known World Cooks, Bards, Brewers, and Vintners to the 8th Known World Bardic Congress and Cooks Collegium, to be held at Camp Dubois, Wood River, IL, (near St Louis) on Labor Day weekend 2019 (30-Aug-2019 – 02-Sep-2019).
Site:
Camp Duboise
198 North Main Street
Wood River, IL, 62095
Go to http://tilted-windmill.com/kwcb2019/ to see what classes are already planned; sign up to teach; suggest classes that you’d be interested in taking. Teachers still needed. Register Now!!!
Registration available by PayPal or by mail. PayPal link and registration form for mail-in available on the website. http://tilted-windmill.com/kwcb2019/
Make checks payable to SCA – Barony of Shattered Crystal. Send reservations to:
Kenda Mc Cormack
Attn: KWCB
4711 Culp Ln
Bethalto, IL, 62010 kenda.mccormack@gmail.com
Lodging Options: We anticipate that most attendees will choose to camp. There is plenty of space available. There are no fees for camping. Bunk Space: We have a total of 32 bunks available (16 top and 16 bottom) at $5 each for the weekend. Pre-reg for bunks with paid registration fees. Hotel options listed on the website. http://tilted-windmill.com/kwcb2019/
Accessibility: This is a primitive site. The indoor bathrooms are handicapped-accessible. Beyond that, we’re working under 1800s-like conditions.
Electrical Availability: Electricity is in very short supply. The entire site runs on two breakers. There are plans to augment that slightly with a small solar farm. This should help out with recharging small electronics – cell phones, camera batteries, and the like. We do not expect to be able to charge Larger devices such as CPAPs, marine batteries, or laptops on site.
Lady Scholastica Joycors, the Dean of the College of Performing Arts for Pennsic 47-50, bring us the schedule for the performing arts pavilion! Enjoy this inside sneak peek at all the great performances to be seen!
The Pentathlon Literary Entries deadline is coming!
LITERARY ARTS
Entries in Literary Arts must be received electronically or postmarked by March 1, 2019 .
Entries may be sent electronically to Mistress Cori or via hard copy in the mail. If you do not receive a confirmation email that an electronically submitted entry has been received within 24 hours of sending it, contact me. Please contact me in advance for the address if you are sending hard copy.
Lit1: Research paper
A research paper may be written in any style which the entrant chooses (EG Chicago, ALA, etc.) The judging of the paper is to be focused on the research presented, and any theories or conclusions presented. The entrant is strongly encouraged to be consistent in the use of the style they choose.
Note: The Festival of the Passing of the Ice Dragon is on April 13 in the Barony of the Rhydderich Hael. More information about the Pentathlon is available here.
All are Welcome on this day to enjoy music and song and dancing, good food, and good friends!
What is a Debatable Lands Twelfth Night like? Here are the top 12 things to do!
1. Bring some food to share. Our event is free, even the food! It’s a potluck. All kinds of food are welcome! (Mmmm, cheese balls)
2. Bring and/or taste some cookies! A perennial favorite, Master Urho runs our favorite cookie competition of the year. Bring some to enter, or just munch on the entries and vote for a populace choice winner!
3. Bring your A&S project to display! The event features the Debatable Lands’ Arts & Sciences Championship and Display. There are no limitations, bring your projects, old or new, finished or in progress, to display. You can even request feedback from our top artisans. And if you’re from the Debatable Lands, enter the competition!
4. Bring some beverages. Wet site. Nuff said.
5. Snowball fight! Jasmine of Clan Tarn has her elves working overtime making stuffed “snowballs” for an epic tourney for young and old alike!
6. Get ready to laugh. The Best Commedia dell’Arte troupe in the Knowne World – I Genesii – will be *cough* performing *cough* …multiple times. Don’t miss the most beloved court of Misrule.
7. Bards welcome – the Debatable Lands Bardic Championship is also taking place. Only Debatable Landers are eligible for the Championship, but all are welcome to perform. The theme is the Old and the New.
8. Speaking of performances, the Barony’s own Debatable Choir will perform at 5pm. Let their dulcet tones wash over your ears and hearts.
9. Stuff and cash, cash and stuff… our Twelfth Night Auction of Forgotten Treasures ™ will delight you with the garb, gear, stuff and do-dads available at this silent auction. Have stuff you don’t need? Bring it to donate! But wait, there’s more! We also have a few fine merchants.. peruse their artwork, chainmail, and more!
10. Courts and vigils and courts, oh my! The event features Mistress Graidhne’s vigil and induction into the Order of the Laurel, as well as many other awards, Kingdom and Baronial.
11. Stay for the dancing! After evening Court, our event always has one of the best dances of the season in the entire Kingdom. Don’t worry, we’ll teach you!
12. Bring a donation for Paladin’s Pantry! The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank needs food items, blankets, and more. Read more here!
Good greetings to the wonderful bards of Sylvan Æthelmearc! Their Majesties desire a competition be held at Kingdom XIIth Night to choose Their new Bardic Champion. The rules are simple: Anything goes, with two exceptions. The songs titled “Song of the Shield Wall” and “Born on the List Field” will not be considered. Tune your instruments (if you use them) and learn the words! So saith William.
The Pentathlon Literary Entries deadline is coming!
From Master William de Montegilt, Kingdom Bard: