pennsicdance: keeping tabs...

[Alexander B. Clark]

At 09:35 PM 8/20/2002 -0400, Judithsca at aol.com wrote:
>7.)  People to host parties!!!  The best job at War, if you ask me. ;-)

At the risk of being suspected of only wanting to do the fun work, I'd like 
to offer to host or organize a solemn revel (Old Measures) and post-revel 
(mainly other dances from the era of the Old Measures: extra almaines, 
country dances, French brawls, the galliard/sinkapace, coranto, lavolta, 
etc., and a few Italians). I could either host the revels myself, or look 
for some suitably aristocratic person do the hosting while I just do the 
planning.

The solemn revel would likely be only about half an hour long. It would 
begin with those dancers who arrived on time processing out onto the floor, 
then doing a short and simple measure lasting about one minute. Escort 
partners to the side of the floor, take leave of them, find new partners, 
form a line, and do another measure, etc., for a total of eight measures. 
The post-revel could easily go two hours or more, and might start out with 
a planned list and then turn over to requests, gradually opening to earlier 
(pre-Old Measures) dances, and eventually SCA-trad., etc.

For refreshments, I've got some nice English recipes for suitable kinds of 
period goodies (Shrewsbury cakes, biscuits, great cake, etc.) though I 
might not be able to preserve them all in good condition long enough. The 
great cake would be especially problematic; unlike some of the others, it's 
not supposed to be crisp and dry. Packaging it in an airtight container in 
a cool, dehumidified room would not be very good for it, especially a week 
in advance. Perhaps someone local could be found to bake it, or there might 
be a bakery near Cooper's Lake that would be willing to bake to order. Is 
there anyone on this list from the Butler/Newcastle area, with any ideas on 
how a fresh-baked cake from a specific recipe could be procured during 
Pennsic? Or does anyone know if someone will be setting up a full-sized 
oven for use at the site? Ideas would be appreciated. Though if all else 
fails, we could have revels without a great cake. :-(

I propose to schedule this on Saturday or Sunday at the middle of Pennsic, 
starting at 8pm or 9pm.

Yours in fun, oops I mean service, ;-)

Henry of Maldon/Alex Clark