Medieval Dunedin

Dunedin's Renaissance Man

2011-06-19T20:38:00.001+12:00

Jonathon features in the Otago Daily Times:

http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/164948/renaissance-man-relishes-dunedin

The Town Cryer

2011-06-19T20:23:00.004+12:00

Download a copy of "The Town Cryer" with news about Medieval and Renaissance Events and Groups in Dunedin from:

http://dunedinblog.co.nz/docs/TownCryerWinter2011.pdf (670kb)

Concert: Friday 17th June

2011-06-16T07:29:00.003+12:00

Playford Dancing

2010-08-15T20:41:00.002+12:00

Playford Dance Practices are held at 5 pm on the first and third Sundays of the month.
Downstairs at the Carnegie Centre, 110 Moray Place.
Come with a partner or on your own.
Phone Jonathon 4531947 for more information.

Music and directions for the English Country Dances that we practice, can be found here.
Doing a search on Goggle, or YouTube, can also find useful material.
Dancers on on YouTube may do the dances slightly differently than us, but the videos do give the general idea.

Current Dances:
Rufty-Tufty
Heart's Ease
Black Nag (not on Del web-site)
Merry Milkmaids
Grimstock
Cuckolds All In a Row (YouTube)

DScene "Join Our Club" Article

2010-07-09T22:26:00.002+12:00

Dunedin Medieval and Renaissance Society

The Past
The Dunedin Medieval and Renaissance Society was formed in early 1209 – sorry,
that’s 2009 -by a group of early music and dance enthusiasts who wanted to explore the
rich cultural resources of the medieval and renaissance periods in a fun, inclusive and
community-oriented way.

The Present
The Society has quickly evolved a number of active interest groups, including the Rare Byrds
early music ensemble, the Playford Dancers (a seventeenth-century dance group), and a
renaissance rapier fencing school. Our current membership is around 30 regular participants
plus a rapidly-growing list of people interested in specific events.
Each year in June, the Society hosts medieval midwinter festivities with a concert of early
music and a programme of talks and demonstrations. This year the theme was Choreomania
(“dance madness”) and the concert featured medieval, renaissance and baroque dance
music performed on period instruments such as recorder, viol, spinet, harpsichord, and an
amazing Swedish string instrument called the nyckelharpa. Our concert is always followed
by complimentary biscuits and the one medieval culinary item most essential to a Dunedin
winter: mulled wine. The associated programme at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery included
dance classes, a puppet show of Jonah and the Whale, and guest speaker Sandra Clair, who
gave a fascinating presentation on renaissance herbal medicine, complete with a chance to
view a rare sixteenth-century medical compendium, the oldest medical book in New Zealand.
Past events have included a Celtic pilgrimage to Quarantine Island, a Christmas Revel/dance
party, and a puppet play of Christopher Marlowe’s Dr Faustus. The Society strongly believes
in engaging with other community groups, and we have formed good creative partnerships
with the musicians of Panache, dancers from Les Belles Vilaines, Jack Frost Morris, and
the Ceilidh Club, and the puppeteers of the Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School. The Society
welcomes participants of all ages and interests, whether you are keen to wield a rapier, or
prefer to dance an elegant pavane, or just want to sit back and take in the period atmosphere.

The Future
Upcoming events include a community radio presentation on alchemy, due to air on Toroa
Radio in September and a Christmas Feast and Playford Ball in December.
If you would like to join in one or more of our activities, if you want to be kept informed
of our events, or if you belong to another group which would like to do something in
partnership with the Dunedin Medieval and Renaissance Society, please contact Jonathan
on 453 1947 or email ignatius@dunedinblog.co.nz. Though we have our reservations about
the modern world (especially computers, which are clearly demonic), we reluctantly concede
that technology has its uses! You can check out some of the Society’s recent events by visiting
our blog at medieval.dunedinblog.co.nz, or just google “medieval Dunedin.”

Rare Byrds

2010-06-13T15:53:00.005+12:00

Clockwise from top left:
Simone Petrich (nyckelharpa)
Ana Good (mezzo soprano)
Aart Brusse (recorders)
Alan Edwards (spinet)
Jonathon Cweorth (recorders)
Helan Edwards (alto)
Anneloes de Groot (recorders)
Jo Fielding (viol)
Chen-Yee Chan (percussion)

Medieval Midwinter Programme Saturday 19 June

2010-06-11T08:04:00.000+12:00

Dunedin Public Art Gallery Conference Room
Free admission
All welcome!

10.30am Workshop: French folk dancing, including medieval dances
(Kate Grace, Les Belles Vilaines)

12.00noon Renaissance Puppet Show: Jonah and the Whale
(Medieval Society and Steiner School Puppeteers)

12.15pm Presentation: Renaissance Herbal Medicine and Modern Health.
(Sandra Clair)
Includes a rare opportunity to view a sixteenth-century herbal treatise, the oldest medical book in New Zealand

1.15pm Recital: Dunedin Rudolf Steiner School Recorder Ensemble

1.30pm Workshop: English Country Dances of the seventeenth century
(Jonathan Cweorth, Playford Dancers)

2.30pm Workshop: The Idiot’s Guide to Morris Dancing
(Jules Mann, Jack Frost Morris)

Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque Concert 18th June

2010-06-10T20:53:00.018+12:00

The Dunedin Medieval and Renaissance Society
proudly presents

CHOREOMANIA

A midwinter celebration of Medieval. Renaissance and Baroque dance music.
Includes works by Nicholson, Praetorius, Strozzi, and Purcell.

Friday 18 June
St Paul’s Cathedral Crypt
7.00pm
Door sales $12/$10

Featuring Panache, Rare Byrds, Les Belles Vilaines, Jack Frost Morris, the Playford Dancers, and Martin Takac.

Belles Qui Pavanent (Thoinot Arbeau, 1589)
Les Belles Vilaines and Playford Dancers

Reading: The Social Uses of Dancing,
(Arbeau)

The Black Nag (John Playford, 1623-1687)
Playford Dancers

The Jewes Dance
(Richard Nicholson , 1563-1639)

Pavane dan Vers (Anon., 1599)

Slovakian Dance Suite (Traditional):
Odzemok
Valčik
Polka
Frišká

Two Slovakian Midwinter Carols (Traditional)

Princes qu’en mains tenez
“The princes who hold us in their grip”
(Traditional Breton)
Les Belles Vilaines

Reading: Choreomania (Dancing Plagues)

Ductia (Anon., 13th century)

Tourdion (Arbeau, 1589)
Les Belles Vilaines

Volta Francese (Bellerofonte Castaldi, 1622)

Dance Suite (Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621)
Spagnoletta
Courante
Bouree

Harpsichord Dances
Almand
Round O Minuett (Jeremiah Clarke 1674-1707)
La Volta (William Byrd, 1540-1623)

Reading: Against Dancing
(The Lawes and Statutes of Geneva, 1643)

Lillibulero (Traditional)
Jack Frost Morris

Gigue pour deux clavecins
(Gaspard Le Roux d.1707)

Chi brama amore “Love’s Forgiveness”
(Barbara Strozzi, 1619-1677)

Reading: Dancing Queens

I attempt from love’s sickness to fly
From The Indian Queen

Chaconne for two recorders
Canon from Diocletian

Sing, sing while we trip it
From The Fairy Queen
(Henry Purcell, 1659-1695)

Belle qui tiens ma vie
“The beauty who holds my life captive”
(Arbeau)

Rare Byrds To Play In Museum : 14 Feb

2010-02-07T21:12:00.003+13:00

Members of Rare Byrds performed at the Dunedin Theosophical Society opening in 2009. L-R: Aelred Edmunds, Anneloes de Groot, Jonathan Cweorth, Simone Petrich; Seated: Jo Fielding

Renaissance Revel

2009-11-18T22:15:00.003+13:00

Greetings, my lords and ladies!
We most cordially invite you to help us celebrate the Feast of St Nicholas with a Renaissance Revel in St Paul's Cathedral Crypt. There will be plenty of medieval and renaissance carols, live music, convivial company, and lots of period dancing from a dazzling array of local dance groups. There will also be an informal class before the event for anyone wishing to learn some simple period dances - beginners welcome, and encouraged! Non-dancers are also very welcome to just sit back and enjoy the music. Feel free to dress up in costume, or come just as you are.
WHEN: Friday 4 December
WHERE: St Paul's Cathedral Crypt (through the carpark at the back of the cathedral to the large wooden doors on the left hand side of the building looking towards the Octagon)
WHAT TIME: Dance class 5.30-6.30pm (come along and have a go!)
COST: $10 for adults, $5 for performers (i.e. members of Rare Byrds, the Playford Group, Jack Frost Morris, Les Belles Vilaines and the Scottish Country dance group). Children free and most welcome. We ask that everyone bring a small plate of finger food to share.
WHO CAN COME: Anyone who likes the idea of a renaissance party! Feel free to bring family and friends along.

Dunedin Medieval and Renaissance Society

English Country Dances on Sunday

2009-10-20T21:52:00.002+13:00

Just in case you have time to spare on Sunday, we are holding a dance practice to look at some Playford English country dances (circa mid-seventeenth century). What better way to liven up a long weekend? The venue is the small exercise studio on the top floor of OUSA Clubs and Societies in Albany St, 2pm, Sunday 25 October, and we will have live music courtesy of Anneloes.
Hope to see you there!
Regards,
Jonathan
Dunedin Medieval Society

Nyckelharpa

2009-09-01T20:39:00.005+12:00

A nyckelharpa (literally "key harp”) is a string instrument. Its keys are attached to tangents which, when the key is depressed, serve as frets to change the pitch of the string. The nyckelharpa is more closely related to the hurdy gurdy than the fiddle. It is traditionally played with a strap around the neck, and stabilized by the right arm.
The oldest depiction of the nyckelharpa is a relief from about 1350 near one of the gates to Källunge church on Gotland showing two fiddles – presumingly nyckelharpor of European origin. Murals from 1450-1550 show angels playing the nyckelharpa, which is seen as evidence that the instrument was well-regarded.

The Swedish province of Uppland has been a stronghold for nyckelharpa music since the late 16th century, and during the 16th and 17th centuries, the ’Schlüsselfidel’ was known in Germany. Nowadays the nyckelharpa is best known in Sweden but is also used to play medieval music all over the world.

The Viol

2009-09-01T20:26:00.001+12:00

The viol (also called viola da gamba and lira da gamba) is any one of a family of bowed, fretted, stringed musical instruments developed in the 1400s and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Spanish vihuela(a guitarlike plucked string instrument) and the lira, a bowed instrument developed in the Byzantine Empire in the 9th century.
Viols most commonly had six strings, although many 16th-century instruments had five or even four strings. Viols were (and are) strung with low-tension gut strings, unlike the steel strings used by members of the modern violin family. Gut strings produce a sonority far different from steel, the former generally described as softer and sweeter.
Viols are fretted in a manner similar to early guitars or lutes, by means of movable wrapped-around and tied-on gut frets. Unlike members of the violin family, which are tuned in fifths, viols are usually tuned in fourths with a major third in the middle, mirroring the tuning employed on the vihuela de mano and lute during the 16th century and similar to that of the modern six-string guitar. Alternate tunings (called scordatura) were often employed, particularly in the solo lyra viol style of playing, which also made use of many techniques such as chords and pizzicato, not generally used in consort playing. There is a vast repertoire of viol music, some by well-known composers such as Marin Marais, and much by anonymous ones.
Much viol music predates the adoption of equal temperament tuning by musicians. The movable nature of the tied-on frets permits the viol player to make adjustments to the tempering of the instrument, and some players and consorts adopt meantone temperaments, which are arguably more suited to Renaissance music. There are several recognized fretting schemes in which the frets are spaced unevenly in order to give "better-sounding" chords in a limited number of keys. In some of these schemes, the two strands of gut that comprise the fret are separated so that the player can finger a slightly sharper or flatter version of a note to suit different circumstances.

The Bagpipe

2009-09-01T20:22:00.001+12:00

It is likely that the Scottish highlanders developed the bagpipe at a very early date, independently of other forms of pipes (e.g. Roman). Illustrations and carvings from as early as the 14th century show an instrument that we can clearly recognise as a true bagpipe. It often had only a single drone. The smallpipes, a variety of bagpipe, are a true Scottish folk instrument and their history can be traced well back into medieval times. They are also known as ‘parlour’ or ‘fireside’ pipes as they are suitable for indoor playing.
Unlike the well-known highland bagpipes, or war pipes, the Scottish smallpipes were never adopted by the army and so were not banned by the English authorities at the time of the Jacobite rebellion in the 1740s. Still, their use gradually declined until, by the mid-1970s, they were almost extinct. However, the Scottish smallpipes have gone through a huge revival in the last ten to fifteen years. There are now many configurations of smallpipes available in a range of keys.
This instrument used by Rare Byrds was made by a local craftsman, Yuri Terenyi, and the scale/fingering is that of the Scottish instrument. However, there are two differences:
the configuration of drone and chanter parallel comes from the now-extinct French Chabrette smallpipes and allows all of the sound to be projected forwards;
there are note extensions that allow for the playing of some medieval and renaissance music.

The Spinet

2009-09-01T20:15:00.002+12:00

The spinet is closely related to the harpsichord, both in construction and sound; it is smaller, cheaper to build and is limited to a single keyboard and one string per note.
The oldest surviving spinets are Italian, from around 1610. The 'bentside spinet' seems to have been developed by the Italian Girolamo Zenti in the 1630s. It became popular throughout Europe and especially in England, where from about the 1680s it rapidly replaced the larger, rectangular (and 'plummier' sounding) virginals.
The instrument used by Rare Byrds is based on one built in 1770 by the Belgian Albertus Delin; the original is in the Brussels Museum. It has been assembled from a kitset designed and made by Marc Ducornet of The Paris Workshop.
The case, like the original, is of poplar, sealed with linseed oil. The keys are covered in maple, with the sharps and flats in cherry wood. The 3mm-thick soundboard is spruce, sealed with shellac. Oak and beech are used where hardwoods are necessary.
The strings are of red brass, yellow brass and very mild steel coated with tin; they replicate the types of string traditionally used. Each string is plucked by a tiny 'plectrum' made of a very precisely shaped piece of special plastic (originally the quill of a crow's feather was used). The plectrum sits in the 'tongue' of a wooden 'jack', which is pushed up when a key is depressed by a finger.
The instrument is currently tuned to a 'temperament' believed by some scholars to have been that normally used by J S Bach.

The Recorder

2009-09-01T20:08:00.002+12:00

The recorder is a kind of duct flute (a wind instrument with a built-in windway). Duct flutes are relatively simple instruments to make and play, and examples can be found depicted in European art from the 11th century. These were often made from a single piece of bone or wood, and most have between three and five fingerholes. The earliest surviving examples of recorders date from the 14th century, and again, the number of fingerholes vary. By the late 15th century, the recorder had six finger holes and a thumbhole. Extra holes were gradually added: in Renaissance France, the instrument was called flute a neuf trous (‘flute with nine holes’). The term ‘recorder’ is English.
By the Renaissance the recorder was often played in consorts of various sizes rather than as a solo instrument and was popular in court circles. A quartet of recorder players dressed as wolves performed at the marriage of Charles the Bold to Margaret of York in 1468, and Henry VIII of England was an avid collector of sets of recorders (he owned many cased sets of 4-9 instruments). The fifteenth-century Flemish painting Mary Queen of Heaven shows three angels playing soprano, alto and tenor recorders. Polyphonic vocal music of this period was frequently adapted for recorder consort.
The instrument was popular with amateur groups throughout the 16th and 17th centuries (Samuel Pepys resolved to learn the recorder, “the sound of it being, of all sounds in the world, most pleasing to me”). In the 18th century, the recorder was an established part of the orchestra and was scored for by Bach and Handel. Yet at this time, it was supplanted by the transverse flute which has better dynamic range and pitch control, and the recorder largely vanished from use.
It was revived in the early twentieth century by early music pioneer Arnold Dolmetsch who made his own recorders in order to play authentic period music. The instrument underwent many improvements, and mass production of plastic recorders enabled it to be widely adopted as a teaching instrument in schools throughout the Western world. Modern masters of the recorder have included Franz Bruggen, David Munrow, Michaela Petrie, Marion Verbruggen and Genevieve Lacey.

Concert Programme

2009-07-05T22:02:00.003+12:00

Star Feature on Mid-Winter Events

2009-06-28T09:37:00.001+12:00

Star Feature on Mid-Winter Events

2009-06-21T18:50:00.001+12:00

Mid-Winter Rapier

2009-06-14T20:16:00.001+12:00

SIXTEENTH-CENTURY RAPIER:
Open class for anyone interested in trying out Renaissance rapier techniques.
Beginners welcome.
Practice swords provided.
Saturday 20 June
2.30-4pm
Dunedin Public Art Gallery conference room.
Free admission

Mid-Winter Events

2009-06-13T16:15:00.003+12:00

MID-WINTER CONCERT
An evening of early music and poetry including works by Gabrieli, Barbara Strozzi, Philip Sidney, Monteverdi and Purcell, plus a mummers' play, and a Morris dance. Performers include Rare Byrds, Panache, Yuri Terenyi and the Jack Frost Morris dancers. Complimentary mulled wine will be served. All welcome.
Friday 19 June
7.30pm
St Paul's Cathedral Crypt
Admission $10 .

TOUR OF MEDIEVAL MYSTERIES
In conjunction with Dunedin Public Library and Public Art Gallery, we will view some of the best medieval manuscripts held in the Library's surprisingly rich collection, and take a behind-the-scenes look at a renaissance Madonna and Child at the Art Gallery. A light lunch is included, followed by a presentation on renaissance alchemy at the court of Emperor Rudolf II. This presentation includes a performance of three of Michael Maier's alchemical fugues.
Tour cost: $5. Places in the first part of the programme are limited, so book soon!
Saturday 20 June
11am -11.45am Medieval manuscripts at Dunedin Public Library
11.45am-12.20pm Zanobi Machiavelli's Madonna and Child at Dunedin Public Art Gallery
12.20pm-1pm Lunch in Art Gallery conference room.
1pm-2pm Presentation on renaissance alchemy and the court of Rudolf II

by Jonathan Cweorth, Phil Philpot and Rare Byrds ensemble,

Art Gallery conference room.

To book, please contact Jonathan on 453 1947

Kate's Dance Video Links

2009-06-07T21:40:00.013+12:00

These dance links are from Kate Grace of the NEV Community Programme:

Rondeau

Bransle d’escosse

Scottish

Valse ecossaise

Laride 8 temps (Bretagne) - actually these guys are the ones I was with in France not long ago...nice to see them again...

And a waltz for the holidays :0)

Andro (Bretagne) and this

And here is the “gavotte des montagnes” 3 parts: ton simpl/tamm kreiz/ton doubl

The 2^nd part (the rest part) looks quite organised in this video, what I have seen in bals is often “slacker” than that.

Mazurka

ah romantic vision of France!... here

That’s what you can do when you are completely at ease with the dance... maybe not next week

This is a performance of a “gavotte de l’Aven” by a “groupe foklorique” in Brittany

This is actually what happen in “bals trad” (Ivoirine second piece in the video)

I really hope this will happen here too.

One day.

Kate

St Kessog AGM

2009-06-07T16:10:00.001+12:00

The College of St Kessog held it's AGM on 5th June and the following officers were elected:

Seneschal: Daniel Stride/Mielikko
Chaterlaine: Clare Wilson
Reeve: Tasha Derrett/Eyd?s
Captain of Archers: Ivan Barczak
Web Wright: Clare Wilson
Constable: Sean Clemenger

Minutes of the meeting will be put on the St Kessog website once they're typed up.

Tasha Derrett

European Traditional Dancing

2009-05-19T08:06:00.000+12:00

"Les Belles Vilaines"

Popular dances from various regions of France, Northern Europe and from the Balkans - chain dances, circle and partner dances,mazurkas, gavottes, waltzes with 3, 5, 8, 11 times, polkas, bourrees, and some medieval dances like bransles and rondeaux.
Discover or find again the fine dance repertoire of French popular "bals."
No partner needed, no experience required, just the pleasure of dancing together.

North East Valley School Hall, 248 North Road, Dunedin
Wednesday 6:30pm to 7:30pm

Postal Address: 22 Montague Street, North East Valley, Dunedin
Phone: (03) 473 6488

St Martin Pilgrimage : 2nd May

2009-03-22T18:32:00.004+13:00

There is a typo in the poster for the St Martin's pilgrimage: Helene's phone number is 455 8172

Rare Byrds : New Early Music Group

2009-03-22T18:30:00.002+13:00

The Rare Byrds first performance is at 1.30pm, Sunday 12 April in the Otago Museum atrium as part of the Museum's Passionate About Performance series. The concert is free and will feature a range of early music including works by Zanetti, Tomkins, Dowland, Byrd and Purcell. All welcome.
Rare Byrds are happy for contact from other interested instrumentalists or singers.

2009-02-28T20:13:00.000+13:00

Canterbury Faire

2009-02-15T21:50:00.001+13:00

Wynflaed got to get her gear back on while Emily had a blissful escape from reality into SCAdia for a few days. I found Canterbury Faire much too long last year - it is mainly about fighting and I didn't have enough to do to not feel guilty about what I was not doing, and I don't do well after multiple consecutive nights of sleeping badly - so this year I only went for about a third of it. Got up to Chch on Wednesday, spent Thursday and Friday at Faire, came home today (Saturday). I won't bore you with a long narrative, but here are some pics (more in the SG gallery).

The signboard for The Mong (the Scadian pub) and the heavy fighters all lined up for their tourney.

William Tell archery shoot - they had to hit an apple on the top of a mannequin's head. Waterhole.

Folks looking swanky.

More swank. Ball.

Market day. Hafla (Turkish feast).

Heavy Fighting at Canterbury Faire

2009-02-10T21:28:00.002+13:00

Greetings good gentles
I took this video at the Fighter Auction tourney (believing myself about
to witness the final battle) and thought I would put it up on the web and
pass on the link for general edification.

YIS
Wynflaed

Castelburn Treaty with Jack Frost Morris

2008-12-18T21:34:00.002+13:00

At the Black Swan Revel a Treaty was signed between Castelburn and the Jack Frost Morris:

School of Defense

2008-12-16T21:20:00.006+13:00

At the Black Swan Revel, Lord Emilio di Battista proposed a School of Defense:

To the people of the Canton of Castelburn and the College of St Kessog do I,
Lord Emilio di Battista - Journeyman of the Lochac Royal Guild of Defense,
Champion of Defense for the Barony of Southron Gaard, Lord of Villa Silviati
and Guardsman for Their Excellencies Batholemew and kathrine, Baron and
Baroness of Southron Gaard, do I send walm greetings.

It has been almost one full year since I first journeyed to the colder
climes of the highlands of Southron Gaard in order to teach those among you
who wish to know the mysteries of the arte of defense. In that time what I
have seen has brought me much pleasure. Your fencers have proven to be hardy
and diligent, learning and improving without a teacher nearby. These
qualities are much desired by teachers of any arte and they move me to make
the bond between us stronger.

As such I will now name as my students those lords or ladies who desire it,
and form a School of Defense that they might study the arte and science of
fence under my tutelage. I ask that those who wish to be known as part of
the school, be that as a fencer, a herald, a bringer of food and drink or in
any other manner, now to rise.

Several gentles rise.

I make to you you these commitments as your teacher:
- That I will visit the highlands every two months, as God and my Lady
allow, and bring with me new knowledge.
- That I will assist you in study of the Masters of the arte and ensure you
pass the test and trials of the kingdom marshalette.
- That I will listen to your needs and fulfill them as best I may.
- That I will be sparing with the rod if your diligence wavers
- and finally, I give this commitment with the knowledge that with some
small measure of aid soon you will not require a teacher.

In return I ask that while you are a member of the school you turn your mind
to these principals:
- Be disciplined in your training (we talked about the rod earlier).
- Enjoy the arte and engage all activities with a light and jovial heart.
- Strive for excellence.
- Be mindful of your words and actions, as at stake is both my honour and
that of your peers.

If you feel you can abide by these principals please indicate so now.

Several gentles make indications.

Excellent. I Herby name you my students and members of the School of the
Southern Star. (name provisional)
Dedication, Enjoyment, Excellence. (motto provisional)

Long live the highlands of Southron Gaard!

Black Swan Revel : 6th December

2008-12-09T20:48:00.000+13:00

The Back Bays Hall, beside Hooper's Inlet on Otago Peninsula, was the picturesque setting for Castleburn's Second Black Swan Revel. Master Christopher and Lady Clare, candidates for the Barony of the Southron Gaard, were honoured guests. Activities included Archery, Rapier, Music, Dancing, Feasting and a Mummer's play.
A treaty was signed between Gawain, Seneschal of Castelburn, and Karenza, representing the Jack Frost Morris Dancing Group.
Pictures of the event can be seen here.

Download Flyer

Wonkas of the World Unite

2008-11-23T21:00:00.000+13:00

Hi,

It's been some time since I've contributed some work to the list, so I
thought I'd share this short confectionary-themed piece. The style is very
loose alliterative (fourish stressed syllables per line, with alliteration
attached); late period alliterative poetry (such as existed) was less
strict in its demands than the early period stuff. Not even a caesura!

Wonkas of the World Unite

This cruellest of Credit Crunchies has claimed
Sparkles and Snifters, both sweet and honourable.
The Moro tomorrow, or the mutinous Bounties,
Might, with the Minties or Mars Bars, be next.
Where?s the right to a Rollo or red-coated Jaffas?
Is it the final farewell for the Fruit Burst?
The passing of Pinkies or Pineapple Lumps,
Untimely and tragic, would be terrible blows;
The weeping and wailing if Wine Gums died out
Would be life?s great calamity, lead-laden sorrow.
Arm up with ammo should Almonds be axed,
Lace up your liquorice, release all your sugar,
A crisis of chocolaty confidence is nigh:
Keep these tufty-faced toffs from our toffees!

Cheers,

Mielikko (aka Finnr of St Kessog)

Castelburn rapier comes of age

2008-11-11T12:42:00.003+13:00

Castelburn rapier has recently passed something of a milestone as we can now boast our very first shattered sword! The glorious event occurred during a particularly fierce and brutal practice session on Friday 31 October (also Halloween, spookily enough). Hearty congratulations to Ranulf Ironlegs, inaugural recipient of Castelburn's (strictly unofficial and utterly unauthorised) combat award, the Companion of the Broken Rapier, or COBR for short. Ranulf's opponent at the time was removed from the field in a state of near-terminal astonishment and is currently undergoing intensive counselling. We feel this shows the world at large that rapier at Castelburn is progressing fast, if not in skill, then at the very least in raw enthusiasm and martial vigour. Questions are being asked about the quality of swords purveyed by a certain high-ranking officer from Another Group, whose identity will remain concealed for fear of retribution. Watch this space...

The Knights Templar sojourn at the village of Castleburn

2008-10-18T20:40:00.002+13:00

It was a mild and moonlit night at the village of Castleburn. Three figures came into view, bearing stout staves and either clad in tartan or not, and stumbled towards the candlelit gates. “Halt,” cried Gawain, brave gatekeeper-for-the-day. The strangers identified themselves as three Knights Templar, exiled by the Pope and travelling homewards from the crusades. The town’s mayor, Ignatius, looking very swanky in his fine brown velvet robe and jingly chain, invited them to enter. After they had quaffed some cider and had their wounds healed, they partook of some refreshments and their leader regaled the wide-eyed villages with news from their travels. Refreshed from supping, the Knights were sufficiently enlivened to trip their heels with the villagers, until the darkness came down upon them. Toasts were haled to Venus, Jupiter and the Moon, and then quaffing resumed.

Templars Visit Castelburn

2008-10-16T20:48:00.022+13:00

The 13th of October was the date in 1307 on which the Pope and King Philip IV of France raided the Knights Templar across Europe. This is reputed to be the origin of the Friday 13th superstition.
Photos by David O Kane.

A report from Templar Asaka:

It was this date in 1307 that the Pope and the King conspired to the downfall of the Templars.

We are in the lineage of these fine folk, so a meeting with the Society for Creative Anachronism was arranged.
We were challenged, who comes to Castleburn? I answered that we were technically Outlaws by now, and would they listen to our take?
Well received food and drink awaited us. I told them all we were running from the Papal denouncement and were told to reveal as much of the Templar knowledge as we knew least it become lost again forever.
We gifted the folk of Castleburn with a fine Graal and gave it to the safe keeping of Bro Gawain.Some esoteric ideas on the Chalice were given.
Further feasting and tales of the east , before the pipes lead us in some olde dances. I took the bodran and began to dance with the pipes as the 6 dancers paired off in a series of great dances.
Several toasts to the planetes in the sky were made as the sun set, Venus, Jupiter and the Moon. Pan was called again. Boy this made the wind get going blowing the many old trees around.
Some more tales around the "fire" with pipes and other wind instruments before we took our leave least we incur the wrath of the King and Pope upon the village.
Azaka.

Images of the Ball with Baron Emrys

2008-09-21T19:32:00.006+12:00

To complement Lady Fridda's most excellent entry, here are a few images of the ball - and a short vid of us dancing.
The photos are of Lady Maeve receiving her Award of Arms from Baron Emrys, and of her beautiful award certificate. The video was made by Constance on my camera and is of the 'Knowne Worlde Parvane' . Sorry about the poor lighting.
YIS
Wynflaed

Castelburn Bal

2008-09-20T12:06:00.000+12:00

A quartet of early music enthusiasts played on drum, pipes, recorder, viol and spinet at the Castelburn Bal last evening. The company danced with enthusiasm and a measure of gusto and there was a tasty supper to follow by candlelight and the colourful Castelburn banners.

Our trusty supervisor of the kitchen received from the hand of the newly invested Baron of Ildhafn her award of arms entitling her to add the title “ Lady” before her name in recognition of the goodlie service given to the Canton, the Barony and thus, The Kingdom. The populace much admired the splendid calligraphy on the Award granted by Their Majesties. An award richly deserved by the now Lady Maeve, a treasure among cooks. Huzzah !

We were honoured to be among the first to attend Court held by His Excellency The Honourable Don Emrys Tudor.

Fridda of Castelburn

St Kessog Combat on YouTube

2008-09-02T17:25:00.004+12:00

Thanks to Wynflaed :

Domenico vs Meilikko

Lady Eydis vs Meilikko

Domenico fights heavy with the Baron

From the Baron and Baroness

2008-09-02T17:10:00.000+12:00

Bartholomew and katherine to the good people of Southron Gaard,
Castelburn and St Kessog, greetings,

We have just returned from St Kessog's Fimbulwinter III encampment
and, true to its predecessors, it was a weekend of balmy spring
weather, relaxation, new faces and much learning in the martial and
arts areas.

We congratulate the stewarding and cooking team for looking after
everyone so well; it was the kind of event where everyone pitches in
to help which is enjoyable in and of itself, but the behind-the-
scenes work is always very significant.

It was our pleasure in Court to award a Tour d'Or to Lady Eyd?s of St
Kessog and Ignatius of Castelburn. Each is the Seneschal of their
group and both have made great efforts to lead and inspire their
populace, to their benefit and that of the Barony as a whole.

Finally, the super-boffer championship was held as always, and won
this year by Domenico of St Kessog against stern competition from
highlanders and lowlanders alike.

We look forward to seeing our doughty highlanders at future events --
huzzah to all!

Fimbulwinter 2008

2008-09-01T16:48:00.000+12:00

This weekend just passed was Fimbulwinter - the winter encampment of the college of St Kessog (the Otago Uni branch of SCA). The Fimbulwinter is the name for a winter which is the 'worst in living memory' when Loki, the god of mischief, supposedly escapes from restraint and sails across the sea in a boat made from dead men's fingernails to wreak havoc on the land. I'm sure I have this completely wrong, btw, and am more than happy to stand corrected. Thankfully, Fimbulwinter has never lived up to its name and the weather was, again, gorgeous.
We were at Berwick Camp, which is about 30-40 mins south of Dunedin. Despite being relatively close, it feels nicely isolated, and is secluded and quiet - other than birds and cicadas, of course. It is set in a little valley, which made for great acoustics as the clash of our shields resounded against the hills....

Here is Berwick camp:

Friday night was fairly casual as folks drifted in, nested, then settled around the fire to chat and play games. Medieval/Renaissance charades was popular, with the added categories of people, buildings and painting.

The organised programme kicked off on Saturday, with sessions on rapier and archery.

Lessons continued into the afternoon. There was also a session on SCA 10, some dancing, and lots of feast prep.

The Italian themed feast was delicious. First course was chicken and pomegranate sauce, biscotti, bread and salad. Second course was beef cooked in wine, broccoli, carrot, mushrooms, rice, and the fabulous 'lozenge' (sp?) - otherwise known as 'Roman macaroni', made with lasagne pasta but with a cheese and sugar filling. I'm sure I've made it sound disgusting, but trust me, it is fatally delicious. Desert was pears in wine, with squares of flaky pastry (think baklava but with cinnamon sugar instead of honey), and 'snow' which was cream with rose water and sugar.

During the feast, the Baron and Baroness held court. They awarded a Tour d'Or to Ignatius and Lady Eydis, and a bardic prize to Mielikko.

The main event of Sunday was the 'superboffer tournament' - a chance to thump each other with relative abandon. I had to prepare lunch but took the chance to dress up fierce and beat up the Baroness and Baron's lovely daughter. After many bouts, Domenico was declared the victor.

After further repast - mostly deja vu food - all the superheroes turned back into their normal selves and dispersed back from whence they had come...

If your desire for gratuitous photography is not yet sated, more can be seen here: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50205&l=2c1f4&id=561751915

Ribald Latin live onstage!

2008-08-28T20:46:00.000+12:00

Binge-drinking, rampant sex, problem gambling and very loud singing: a particularly torrid night at Dunedin Casino? Illegal student partying in darkest Castle St? No: this is in fact a fairly accurate description of a recent concert at Dunedin Town Hall, attended by a discerning audience of Dunedin's most morally upright arts lovers.

On 9 August, the Southern Sinfonia and no fewer than three choirs performed Carl Orff's Carmina Burana in all its glorious strangeness. Dunedin medievalists may recall Olim lacus colueram, the song sung by a roasted swan, which Carol and I recited at our last Christmas revel. At the concert, it was given a wonderfully creepy rendition by tenor John Murray. Other highlights included lovely countertenor singing by the baritone, Jared Holt; some wildly inappropriate lines sung by the Children's Chorus ("Cupid thus everywhere seized by desire/Young men and women are rightly coupled"); and the famously rousing ode to Fortune, the capricious presiding goddess of this work. Thanks to a very useful book recommended to me by Mistress Katherina, I was able to check up on the pronunciation of the Latin in the performance, which was indeed accurate for a thirteenth-century German text.

Carmina Burana is based on a collection of poems thought to have been written by the goliards, described in the programme notes as "vagrant monks" (and we are not unfamiliar with that particular species. I think you all know who I'm referring to). Carl Orff discovered the poems in 1935 and seized the opportunity to set them to "a music more closely related to speech and gesture and situation." For this performance, the stage was packed with well over 200 instrumentalists and singers, including our much-appreciated spinet player, Alan Edwards, who sang with Dunedin City Choir. Luckily, the hall itself was equally crowded, and the nearly full house responded to the performance with great enthusiasm.

It was fantastic to see how exciting such odd source material can be when it is handled well. These poems could easily have languished in an archive, or a little-read scholarly edition of medieval poetry. Instead, they have been given a new lease of life thanks to Orff's talent and imagination: a very inspiring and highly successful piece of creative anachronism.

August "From the Tower"

2008-08-03T20:54:00.001+12:00

The August issue of FTT is now on-line
at: http://sg.sca.org.nz/docs/ftt/index.htm

Included in this issue:

- two dances for the upcoming Florentine Ball
- "the Wearing of the Garb"
- event information for the Collegium and Ball
- details regarding the St Crispin's Event
- Caidan Scroll Project

as well as the regular features such as officer
columns, Baronial classifieds, Mind Your Manners
and council minutes.

New Monarchs and revised Kingdom Law

2008-07-21T20:42:00.000+12:00

Bartholomew, Baron of Southron Gaard to the populace, greetings,

Be it known that just over a week ago in the Barony of Aneala, King
Berenger and Queen Bethan yielded the Throne of Lochac to Their
Majesties King Siridean and Queen Siban, whose likeness may be found
below:

http://www.sca.org.au/royal/13thCrown/

Their Majesties will be visiting our neighbours for the Bal d'Argent
and Ildhafn Baronial Investiture, to be held in Ildhafn in September.
Therefore please remember to forward to Them any recommendations you
may have been planning to write.

Be it also known that at Midwinter Coronation, a great many changes
to Kingdom Law were promulgated and first of one particular new award
- the Pride of Lochac (a household award) -- was granted.

The new Book of Kingdom Law may be found here:
http://www.sca.org.au/lochac/info/LochacLawsASXLIII.pdf

Congratualtions to Mielikko

2008-07-20T18:28:00.000+12:00

Oy-YouLot Oi-YouLot
(Which was how I started announcements at CollegeWar.)
We started with the forming of alliances for the war.

I gave a long long speech including reference to the relic I produced
from my pouch (a sprig of leafy greenness which sprouted forth from St
Aldhelm's staff having taken root during a similarly long sermon he
gave) and refered to a seriese of communications to and fro between
myself and your first Sen, about the possibility of the war being over
who is the coldest group in Lochac (Whereupon you lot got snowed in for
a week) and both of us fighting for the Blue and yellow (though I said
you were yellow and blue and we were blue and yellow - there is always
next year in Stormhold as St Bartholemew are running ) So St Kessog were
allied to St Aldhelm and the other colleges St Malachy, St Guildas the
Wise, St Bartholemew and St Heironemus (who were also absent but sent
entries) against St Ursula (boo) and St Augustine (also boo).

Your College entry
a Sonnet about Queen Bethan (an ex Ursulan)
by lord Mielikko

was read by Lord Anton de Stott and was
Very
warmly
received

and I am not refering to the warm fireside we sat around while listening
.
-5deg outside.

The sonnet won first place in the written poem competition.
Can someone send me an address to where I can forward an event token and
A&S first prize button (instead of tassle) ?

Well Done Mielikko.
3 Chears for Mielikko
Winner of the bardic competition
Hip Hip
Gabrielle of the Marshes

Sonnet in Praise of the Queen

2008-07-20T18:27:00.000+12:00

In Praise of Bethan

Behold our Faerie Queen of southern lands,
More regal than the jewels of star-lit crown
Her throne so fair endures while Lochac stands;
Across the seas her beauty births renown.
Her wisdom turns most bitter strife to peace,
Yet master is this maid with singing bow:
In battle-storm her aim will never cease
To fell bold knights and bring stout foemen low.
The might of badger-folk is at her call
The strong of Brockwood strive at her behest
While gallant huntsmen thunder round her hall
In fabled song of fateful vulpine quest.
When six-month summer draws to final close
This Kingdom shall long mourn this queenly rose.

(Sonnet type: Shakesperian. Fourteen line iambic pentameter with rhyme
scheme ababcdcdefefgg).

-Mielikko

Persona Development

2008-07-20T17:44:00.000+12:00

From the Baroness:

Greetings good gentles,
There was some interest at Stuff Night last night, as part of Lady
Veronica's most excellently thorough discourse on heraldry, on the nature of
persona and how to go about shaping that.
I can throughly recommend as a very thought-provoking introduction, the
following:
Who Are You? The Art of Persona Development, by Lady Arnora Dunestan

Available from:
http://www.ece.uwaterloo.ca/~arnora/arnora/persona-dev.htm

It's a really good look at how to approach persona play, from the very
beginnings of thinking about when and where and who you are right through to
considering all manner of details of your period life.
Don't feel you have to do it all, by any means, but one of the things that
having a persona story can do is provide some direction for A&S projects,
both small and large.
Something as simple as finding out what coins you would have used can be fun,
as well as giving you a greater sense of connection to a period time andplace.
Check it out -- and remember, it's fun!

Cheers,
katherine

Cockatrice 2008 Publicity

2008-07-06T17:08:00.000+12:00

SCA on local Television:
Castelburn on Channel 9, Dunedin

Cockatrice 2007 Publicity

2008-07-06T16:55:00.001+12:00

Mielikko's Mid-afternoon Reflections

2008-07-04T17:37:00.000+12:00

The Dunedin Public Library was running a little event to encourage poetry
among the public, by providing a little bit of card to submit a poem on
(the idea being that you put the card in a box, so that this weekend it
will appear on a 'poetry curtain'). I took one of the cards to work with
me, and ended up writing the following sonnet on it. Basically, it's a
description of the view from an ODT window at 4:30 p.m. on a typical
Dunedin day in late June/early July.

Mid-afternoon Reflections

Beyond grey battlements and towers' frown
The sleepy winter sun has bade farewell
While night-time rides to claim its starry crown
And interregnum twilight casts its spell.
The wafting currents, land of flags and gulls,
Invade and harry hapless city street:
They pillage inbetween the briefest lulls
And pounce upon the prey they chance to meet.
So far above, the madman's brush-stroke clouds
Are scattered 'cross the sky like battle-slain:
So tugged and torn, these shreds of tomb-grey shrouds,
These phantoms of some long-forgotten rain.
While desk is lit with glint of dusky gleam,
My mind's ablaze with fiery sparks of dream.

-Mielikko.

From Wynflaed's Blog - Castleburn's Cockatrice Weekend June '08

2008-07-01T21:38:00.000+12:00

Finally something to brighten the Bleak Midwinter! Castleburn's Midwinter Festival, Cockatrice, was held in Dunedin city this year to take advantage of/participate in the Dunedin Festivities. This was great for me, as it meant it was cheap to attend, I didn't have to travel, and I could just potter along to things as suited.
Events began on Friday night, with a 'A Midwinter Feast of Medieval and Renaissance Delights": a concert in the crypt of St Pauls'. A lot of people put in a big effort and there was also a sizeable turnout of paying public, which was good to see.
Saturday there were classes all day, which I mostly did not attend as I'd been along when they were first run at Canterbury Faire. I did, however, attend Lord Tristram's Gregorian Chant Class, to learn the Latin song we'd be performing in the lantern parade.
After classes was an encore performance of the puppet play of Dr Faustus, again very well attended. I reprised my cameo as Lechery - and it was just amazing how many boys came up to talk to me afterwards...

Then we headed down to assemble for the lantern parade. I took my chances while we were milling around to take some pics of other groups who would be performing in the parade. The giant lanterns are always a highlight, but there were stilt walkers, dancers, all sorts.

The parade itself was a success as far as I could tell - I was squinting at my songsheet in the dark the whole time while trying not to trip over or run into the person in front of me. After the fireworks had finished, we went off to feast. Another delicious meal in lovely company. The highlights were the 'roast peacock' and an encore performance of the Cockatrice shadow play. I reprised Constance's song 'The Wearing of the Garb'.

On Sunday we met at St Lees for rapier and heavy fighting. I stood by to tend to the slain, but alas, there were none. Ignatius authorised in rapier, and Lady Eydis got started in heavy, which was exciting.

From Wynflaed's Blog - Castleburn's St Patricks Weekend March '08

2008-07-01T21:33:00.000+12:00

Just got back from Castleburn's most excellent St Patrick's weekend camp. We went for Friday night-Sunday early afternoon to Waianakarua - about 50 mins north or Dunedin and 15 mins out of Oamaru. The campsite was based around what I guess was once a big old homestead, but now houses the main camp facilities (kitchen,dining etc) and then there were other prefab bunkrooms/shower blocks dotted round the site.

Here is the main house:

The site was really lovely - trees around the main house and then a big paddock near a river. Only 10 of us actually stayed the whole time which meant we just about each had a bunkroom to ourselves. I know some people still had trouble sleeping on the bedwetter-protected plastic mattresses but I slept pretty well both nights which was a pleasant surprise.

Friday was mostly setting up and mucking around. After soup and rolls we had some dancing outside (by the light of some braziers - too dark to take photos) culminating, naturally, in a period performance of the 'Time Warp'; and an Irish joke telling session that was pretty appalling. Here is our jester, Giome, looking horrifyingly jocund:

On Saturday morning we had the 'hunt for the last serpent in Ireland' in the 'leprechaun forest'. Alisdair found the serpent. Here he is looking smug:

The rest of us found clues and small treasures. After getting fed up with skidding down the hillside in my superslippy leather shoes, I was directed to find a silver four leaf clover necklace that I am most chuffed with. Other people found chocolate coins, a pin cushion, a trinket box and other such bits and pieces.

Midday Saturday we had a most excellent picnic down by the river. Here are pics of the repast and the picnickers.

After lunch we were entertained by a most superlative puppet show of Dr Faustus:

Once upon a time there was a learned man called Dr Faustus. He had conquered all conventional fields of knowledge and considered taking up magic. Here the good angel is trying to encourage him to give up the idea while the bad angel is egging him on.

He decides to go for it and summons up a devil, Mephistopholes, with whom he signs a contract - Mephistopholes will supply him with everything he wants for a specified time after which he will have to surrender up his soul. Here he is with Mephistopholes and with the devil wife he is offered.

Lucifer shows up (the big red guy in the background of the next shot) and the seven deadly sins are paraded for Faustus's entertainment. Here Constance is being pride and waving her fan, Emilio is ready to be wrath with his case of rapiers, and Wynflaed in her mask was Lechery - oh the unjust typecasting! Then Dr Faustus rides around the world on his dragon.

Then he gets Mephistopholes to make him invisible so he can go to Rome and play a naughty joke on the Pope. Here is the Pope and the legates. The joke goes wrong and Dr F kills the Pope and then is cursed by these monks (he is under his invisibility cloak - think Harry Potter).

Around about this time Dr F's time runs out and the devils come and take him to hell.

After the puppets, people practiced fencing and archery while I did some embroidery and waited patiently for them to injure each other - but ah, it was not to be.

All the while, our most magnificent cook, Margret, was preparing the feast. She takes dressing up to a whole new level. Here are a couple of her outfits:

Apparently the long overdresses with gaping holes at the sides were called 'The Gates of Hell'. Gotta get me one of those, sounds like a vital accessory for Lechery anywhere... I

Anyway, we had a most excellent and 'high proportion of green' feast:

After dinner we had songs - including a very clever one written by Constance to the tune of 'The Wearing of the Green'.

THE WEARING OF THE GARB
Historically authentic garb is worn in SCA
I planned to make a stunning gown and show it off today
No more cotton, no synthetics, silk and linen are for me
For garb should mingle elegance with authenticity.

I went to all the fabric shops, I searched all over town
And bought expensive fabric for a grand Renaissance gown
But I spilled my cup of coffee, and it left an ugly stain
Alas for my Venetian gown with sweeping skirt and train

So I made a linen tunic - it wasn't very grand
But at least it was authentic, for I sewed it all by hand
But I used last summer's pattern, and I've put some kilos on
So the tunic didn't fit me when I came to try it on

I still had scraps of fabric so I made a Tudor hat
But when I wasn't looking it was eaten by the cat
No more fabric, no more money - I was tearing out my hair
I couldn't face St Patrick's Day with no new garb to wear

Then up popped a leprechaun who said "Why this distress?"
You already have authentic garb beneath your modern dress
Come, lay aside your needle, and let your spirits lift
Medieval girls wore skin like yours beneath the linen shift."

As you see, my dress is cotton, my shift's sewn by machine
But the layer beneath's authentic, although it can't be seen
It was good enough in time gone by, it's good enough for me
Skin was worn by every body in every century.

From Wynflaed's Blog - Kessog's First Feast March '08

2008-07-01T21:30:00.000+12:00

Things went really well, which was a big relief. Wynflaed was Stewarding the event, which meant being in charge of organising and problem-solving, so it could have been really stressful if things didn't go smoothly. However, we had lots of helpers so had everything pretty much set up by 12 then could concentrate on the cooking. Wynflaed forgot to take a change of clothes to cook in and didn't want to get grease on her party dress so had to cook in her underwear to the scandal of all present. It was, like, practically porn...

The Open Day (afternoon) sessions seemed to go really well with only a few hiccups and folks seemed to have a really good time.

Rapier class:

Heavy Combat Demonstration:

Sewing class:

Dancing:

Unfortunately, my camera battery ran out at this point so I can't show you any photos of the actual feast, but as it was by candlelight pics wouldn't have come out that well anyway. Lord Kotek (and his assistants incl. Wynflaed) prepared a most excellent repast - vege soup with fresh bread and pot cheese (grated cheese and grated butter mixed together - too damn good), a main course of chicken pies, roast beef, beetroot salad, fried onion, mushrooms etc, and a dessert (which I had a lot of difficulty not eating) of homemade nougat/brittle stuff with fruit roasted in honey (tried a little - delicious) and custard.
We had a really good turn out - about 32 I think - and everyone seemed to have a good time. So huzzah!

From Wynflaed's Blog - The Black Swan Revel Dec '07

2008-07-01T21:23:00.000+12:00

Castleburn held it's Christmas party out at Hooper's Inlet by the shores of Black Swan Lake:

Our trusty Seneschal Ignatius and Chatelaine, Lady Fridda, made an immense effort and we had a long day of merriment followed by a most excellent feast.

First we set up and ate lunch - the guys on one bench and the girls on the other (although Finnr bravely ventured into neutral territory by sitting on the porch).

The festivities began with an archery Practice (Not a contest, as a contest would require a marshal and all sorts of official stuff we didn't have, but a Practice), then Medieval Pass the Parcel and Medieval Musical Chairs.

Medieval Pass-the-Parcel involved multiple layers of fabric tied up with ribbons, passed around the circle. Some layers contained tiny favours (Wynflaed received a metre of brown velvet ribbon, Lorraine has something she received on her lap but I can't remember what it was), others contained medieval themed limericks as you can see Alistair [Gawain] reading out here. Although many amusing limericks were composed for the occasion by Constance, Lady Fridda and Ignatius, the most memorable would have to be one by Ogden Nash:

A crusader's wife slipped from the garrison,
And had an affair with a Saracen;
She was not over-sexed,
Or jealous or vexed,
She just wanted to make a comparison.

Medieval musical chairs was effectively normal musical chairs but to bagpipe music.

After games we had some dancing, and practises for the evening's festivities.
The menu for the most excellent feast was as follows:

Starter - mulled wine or pomegranate cordial with hot nuts
Soup - carrot and lentil
Main - potato and kumara fritters, roast pork with apple sauce, roast vegetables, broad beans with garlic and herbs, buttered worts and mushroom pasties.
Desert - flaming plum duff, brownies baked in effigy, muscovite pears (canned pears in vodka).

We had previously booked the hall for the Saturday but so had the brownies (junior version of Girl Guides) and so somehow our booking got bumped which caused much inconvenience, hence we ate slaughtered brownie gingerbread.

Between the courses, we had various entertainments. We played the chickpea game (the first part of which is completely authentic) - each person was given a piece of bread with chickpeas baked in it and had to count how many chickpeas were in their slice (like a very sixpence populated plum pudding). Then each person was asked an embarassing question of some kind, and was compelled to reply only with the number of chickpeas in their slice. So, Constance had given 22 unfortunates the pox, while Wynflaed had been put in the stocks 34 times for lewd behaviour. She should be ashamed of herself... I sang a couple of duets with Giome (The Cherry tree Carol, The Boar's Head Carol), Finnr read his Black Swan poem, and so forth. After dinner we had a most excellent shadow puppet play - this is the cockatrice being chased out of the tree by the weasel.

We managed to get a bit of a Christmas feel to the occasion - these are Margaret's "completely authentic" Christmas earrings, and Ignatius's very cool Christmas tea lights.

Successful Cockatrice Convivium

2008-06-28T12:50:00.001+12:00

Bartholomew and katherine, Baron and Baroness of Southron Gaard unto
the cultured and talented people of Southron Gaard, greetings,

It was our great pleasure to be able to attend Castelburn's second
Cockatrice Convivium over the weekend, a delightful combination of
music, dance and dramatickal performance, workshops, feasting and
martial activities.

The talents, planning and hard work of the people of Castelburn were
obvious throughout. Their efforts were enhanced by significant
contributions from three gentles of the Barony of Ildhafn --
Mistress Katherina Weyssin von Regenspurk, Lord Ludwig von Regenspurk
and Lord Tristan d'Avignon -- as well as support from several gentles
from St Kessog and the Lowlands of Southron Gaard.

In all, well over a dozen folk travelled to Cockatrice to add to the
strong local presence, and we heartily commend it to all who would
consider doing so in future. For those who cannot travel readily --
or who yearn for a taster for next year's event -- plans are afoot to
bring several of this year's highlights to Canterbury Faire next.

A planned side-effect of the event was the level of notice it
attracted to the group (billed, for the sake of media attention
spans, as the Dunediin Medieval Society). Around a hundred members of
the public came to the music and puppet performances, many to the
workshops and martial activities, and participation in the Lantern
Festival parade around the Octagon on Saturday night drew the
attention of much of the local population.

There is sure to be followup in the local media and you can see a
short preview from one source here: http://www.ch9.co.nz/node/9251

Our congratulations to the tireless Seneschal and Steward, Ignatius
of Castelburn, who also distinguished himself on Sunday by becoming
Southron Gaard's 10th authorised rapier combatant. Cockatrice was
quality throughout, and he and his skilled and wonderfully hospitable
team can be justifiably proud.

2008-01-13T23:20:00.000+13:00

A poem written by Aelred on the occasion of Lord Emyrs's visit to the Canton:

Lord Emrys’s encounters:

Italian’s thrusting angle,

Spaniard’s weaving circle,

Stirred Canton muses.

Castelburn, with Fancy’s eyes

Saw no fibreglass rod,

Saw no Warehouse bowl.

All was transformed to Heroic uses.

Daemonomania and sweaty palm,

Hilt long,

Hilt short.

Silvered steel shivers for steel’s balm.

A calling now! A calling!

Five blades true

Mayhap six,

Answering call, and shout empowering.