Bardic banter

[Amy Wilson]

Greetings to you all, from Catelin the Patient --


I'm new to this list myself, and it's wonderful to see a lively discussion
going.  Thanks Gregory, for providing this forum to us!

Since I'm a new voice piping up here, I will give you a bit of my background. 
:)  

I'm a singer (contralto-mezzo), a classically trained pianist (though woefully
out of practice), a wicked sight-reader, and I noodle around on the recorder,
alto recorder, fiddle, and harp (in descending order of proficiency).

I've done all kinds of choral work.  I sang with an a capella early-music
ensemble in San Francisco, and performed for several years with a madrigal
group at the Northern Pleasure Faire in the Bay Area.  

Having moved East (Pittsburgh area) last summer, I haven't yet found a musical
"home" for myself.  I'm fairly new to the SCA as well.  However, having
stumbled upon this thing called "bardic," :) I think I'm going to find my
niche here.

I'm not "book-larned" in music history, but I've collected a lot of medieval
and Renaissance-era works through my singing, and I'd be delighted to share
any knowledge or resources that I have with any of you.  I'm more
knowledgeable on actual period music than I am on SCAdian music at this point.
 

I also am always looking for new things to perform, and you'll see me post
here with questions about "does anybody know [X]...?" and "where can I find
[Y]...?"

So... HI EVERYBODY!! :)

   
Moving on, I wanted to add to the responses to Vivian's request.  She wrote:

I am new to this group and am interested in singing.  However my 
problem comes in the I don't know any bard really in the SCA and 
although I can read music and play several instruments I don't own 
any so sheet music does me little good.  Does anyone know where I can 
purchase or get tapes with period songs/music on them?


I reply:

Baltimore Consort has already been mentioned, and I agree that they're worth a
listen.  Two CDs that should be fairly available to you are "The Art of the
Bawdy Song" and "Watkins Ale:  Music of the English Renaissance."

Other people have made suggestions that I would also second.  One group that I
don't think has been mentioned yet is -- are? :) -- the Cambridge Singers. 
Check out their CD "Flora Gave me Fairest Flowers:  English Madrigals."  All
of the pieces on this CD fall between 1588 and 1618.

I think I ordered these through the Columbia Record Club, but if you can't
find them in your local record store, you can try calling Dorian Recordings
(for the Baltimore Consort, at least), at 518/274-5475.  The Cambridge Singers
disk I have is published by Collegium Records (no phone number, but their
address in the US/Canada is P.O. Box 31366, Omaha, NE, 68131). 

Anyway, enough from me for now.  Looking forward to hearing more from all of
you!

Splendid day to you all --

Lady Catelin the Patient
"joyful noise"