I’m rather happy with how Pennsic went this year.  Arrived on site first Friday, too tired to get out of camp though. Saturday, unpacking and some practice. Then the bardic activities got going.

Sunday was Opening Ceremonies, which went decently for the first time AEthelmearc has sung in a few years. Gwen, Alianora (Sylvan Bard), Orlando (current Dean of AEthelmearc Bardic College) and myself were planted at the door of the barn and singing our little hearts out. Next year, maybe we’ll get larger songbooks out, but at least the populace had the lyrics to Scarlet. (Note to self, Lorelei has kingdom songs for every kingdom, and I want to get my hands on those for welcoming in the royalty of every other kingdom next year because as hosts, we’re on the field first.) I’m told the back of the line still didn’t know when or what they were singing, so again, note for next year, better and earlier organization. That night, Efenwealt’s concert was a hit. I got 3 pieces in, one of which was Efenwealt’s own Misha. So nice to do that piece for an audience that already knows the audience participation bits. :) Bonus, got some positive feedback on my rendition of Eleanor Fairchild’s Twilight Ride despite the lack of bodhrán.

Monday, Bardic Expo, I ended up doing Warrior’s Wyrd. I need to remember that the restriction to having those lyrics written down has been lifted, but it’s ingrained habit to say it’s not to be recorded and must be passed on by oral tradition. I still twitch seeing the lyrics to that and “Born On The Listfield” (both being by Ivar Battleskald) written out. Overall, I was quite pleased with the quality of the Bardic Expo. Lots of great performances. Monday night, the kiddo (3 and a half) and I hit up the Ramshaven Bardic for an hour or so before his bedtime. Excellent performers and excellent hospitality (which included high tolerance of my little one and chocolate chai latte courtesy of Her Excellency Sibylla, omnomnom).

Tuesday, the Upping Your Game collegium panel was beneficial. Turned into a fair bit of roundtable “Here’s what I did most recently to up my game.” Hit up an hour of Ken and Lisa Theriot’s concert that night (love them), then off to the Atlantian bardic at which this happened. A little history: at my first ever bardic circle (at someone’s house), I heard Efenwealt sing Fair Lady Atlantia, and it was enjoyably stuck in my head for days. I knew I wanted to get to know this person better. At my first event, during the evening’s bardic circle in the post-sunset twilight under an open-sided pavilion, I heard him sing “Heloise and Abelard” and I was entranced. I knew then that I wanted to study with him, and a few months later, he took me on as a student, later as his apprentice after his elevation. We rarely get to sing it as a duet together due to being in separate kingdoms and both having kids, so that link is the only recording I have of us performing that song together in over 15 years of apprenticeship. It’s just from my iPhone sitting on the bench next to us as we sang, but I still treasure every performance we get together. </sappiness>

Wednesday, Home Recording for Bards with Master Philip. Quite enjoyable. I already knew all the technical stuff he had to share, but it was good to hear how easy it is to get *a* recording versus how difficult it is to get a *good* recording. There was also a lot of discussion on potential pitfalls of producing a CD, including copyright issues and the difficulties of mastering. That night, Heather Dale concert, at which Quyn, Heather and I sang a trio arrangement of “The Parting Glass” as performed by the Wailin’ Jennys. It was pretty amazing. There was someone in the front doing video and somewhere there’s an audio recording of it, and once I have either of those, I’ll share them here.

Thursday, took it a bit easy, entertained a bit at the Children’s Party at AEthelmearc Royal (in which half of the entertainment I provided was in letting children touch my harp). Tracked down a gentle at War who gave me permission to include one of his pieces on my CD, and I’m glad I found him in person instead of online as it seems I’m performing it differently than I heard it so many years ago. Meant to hit up the AEthelmearc Bardic circle, but I got too sidetracked after the Commedia All-Stars performance. Cheap plug, they were amazing, highly recommended if they do it again next year.

Friday was mostly packing down camp, but as I didn’t leave until Saturday, there was some song-and-story time (intermingled with social chatter) at the next-door camp. Casual bardic circles like that can be so relaxing.

Now, I have a few bards to track down online, some songs to trade back and forth, and a whole lot of recording to do! Mistress Zsof made the most generous offer to any SCAdian at the Home Recording class to give her professional-caliber feedback on recordings. Mundanely she works for a radio station and her full time job is to listen and evaluate albums for technical quality and content flow. Fantastic resource to have found, and I fully intend to take her up on the offer once I have my tracks mastered.