Honnora brought these pics she’d taken of me back in um, January. I think I’m learning a dance called Korobushka – which has lots of turning and clapping. This is a good shot of my crocheted cap. Thanks so much, Honnora – these are great. Continue reading Greet Dancing
Here’s a crummy picture of several of the people I danced with. As usual, click to enlarge.This was taken on the Known World Ball night. From the left, closest to us is (please comment and correct my spelling if you see yourself): Thorin, Palfi Jozsa (good Romanian name, backwards) then Duchess Katrina of Iron Mountain and her apprentice Lord Runolfr, then Lord Edwardus with Rose Eriksdottir in pink, and turned away from us is Count Sir Corwin (duchess-tosser) and Francesca dei Rossi with beauteous furry garb. (updated 6/7/07, after Kingdom A&S – thank you all for your help.) Hey, here’s … Continue reading GW: Dancing!
15th century Italian Dance Intrigue This is the soap opera part of the SCA dance floor. Frankly, these dances rely more on your ability to flirt, and act, and remember detail, than on bouncing around energetically. Your preference may vary greatly depending on who’s out on the floor with you. Lots of flirting built into the choreography here. Amoroso – Ambrosio/Gugliemo, 1475 (Edwardus calls this "two ways to leave your lover", which is a good mnemonic) A: 12 Pive (Peevah – like a chassee’ or gallop or skip forward)B: M leaves F: 2 steps, 1 piva, then 3 steps, stop. … Continue reading GW: Dance classes-2 of 2
Both of these were taught by Lord Edwardus the Wise, of Trimaris, who is a lovely dance partner as well as a patient and clear teacher. ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING We got the message that English country dances always have three distinct parts, that are very nearly always in the same order: Walking, Siding, and Arming. This helps the memory a great deal. I’m going to replicate some dance text that you can find elsewhere, but that’s because I want to reinterpret it. Dance is hard to describe in print, and I figure you can use as many different points of … Continue reading GW: Dance classes-1 of 2
I just went over to the Gulf Wars site looking for an A&S classes lineup, and instead found a schedule of dances for the nightly balls. Woohoo! Except I don’t know hardly any of these. I have learned so far, a pavan, Korobushka, and the Black Nag. As I expect I’ll throw myself madly into learning dances, I figure I’d better take notes. The Black Nag. Here’s a cheat sheet. But what do all those terms mean, "slip" and "siding" and "hey"? "Slip" – is what a ballet teacher calls "chasse’" – even little children do these gallops around the … Continue reading The Black Nag
Okay, I’m getting a little bored with All-Minor-All-The-Time, Ye Olde Medieval Sad Ballades, so I’ve been messing about with happier tunes. "A Lusty Young Smith" is not minor, musically speaking. It’s certainly upbeat, and there’s only three chords to it, so I can play it up to tempo. Trouble is, it’s not minor in a social sense either, and though it doesn’t say anything inappropriate explicitly, relying on puns and innuendo, I have NO IDEA when I might play it in a place where other people might actually hear me. At least without giggling. We’ll all have to accept that … Continue reading Non-minor songs?
Medieval music mystery solved! Here we go a wassailing, among the leaves so green… Why, if wassailing is caroling from door to door in a CITY, are the leaves green? Can’t just mean holly decorations, can it? Wikipedia is wrong!! Wassailing is (rurally) the practice of maintaining and celebrating an apple orchard, traditionally performed on either Jan 6, Old Christmas Eve (Julian calendar) or Jan 17, Old 12th Nite Eve. Which was yesterday. I learned about it first from Wiggly Wiggler’s Xmas 2006 podcast that I reccommend heartily, anyway. Heather and Phil Gorringe live in rural Herefordshire, on Lower Blakemere … Continue reading A Wassailing
I’ve pretty well got this one down now, if the music is in front of me. So far I can do: Auld Lang SyneGreensleevesMary HamiltonGeordieScarborough FaireThe Trees They Grow High I have quite a bit of music, thanks to Alicia and Elspeth, and my uncle lavished cd’s on me that I haven’t yet had a chance to listen to! They are: Shakespeare in Song: Charles Bruffy and Phoenix Bach ChoirNutmeg and Ginger: Spicy Ballads from Shakespeare’s LondonElizabeth’s MusicThe Lady and the Unicorn: John Renbourn Sorry, I couldn’t find an Amazon link for the Elizabeth’s Music. It’s by Dorian Recordings. Continue reading Greensleeves
Okay, okay, I’m way late on posting these, but I gave my camera to someone else to take pics, and she went a bit nuts. I had so many to go through, it got put off, and fine, I’ll just post the pics. Of course we felt a little silly.That’s me, Liz, Elspeth, and Angel. We attracted a bit of interest. Look beyond Edwin, there.We’ll practice this at odd moments, like in the grocery line. Hips we got. You can see Alicia, our teacher, here. And here I try to shoulder roll out of my chemise, while Deb looks on. … Continue reading Bellydancing!
Yup, I’m feeling the pain. Picked up Guitar For Dummies at the library over the weekend, and have started learning chords. The authors recommend practicing 30 minutes daily – I can’t bear more than about 15 minutes, at present! No point pestering anybody for any lessons yet, I fear. I am picking the guitar up twice a day, trying to make some progress. Just when I’m sure the chord won’t stick in my head, it does. I suppose this sort of frustration is very good for me. My new quickie crocheted guitar strap works great, though. Continue reading Guitar callouses