[Bards] Songs About Ansteorra

[Laura]

Oh dang, I've never had this recorded! But you can find the melody, and
recordings of it, all over the place, because I put it to the tune of
"Cuncti Simus Concanentes" from the Libre Vermeil. A little awkward in
places where I couldn't get the meter to match the words well, but it
settles in, mentally, once you find a way to pace the phrasing that works
for you. The arrangement I had in mind was by "Alla Francesca" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vusWg5C_jq8 but it's not a perfect match to
the recording.


The melody refrain is just the "Cuncti Simus concanentes, Ave Maria" line,
twice. Verses are that same repeated melody, followed by the higher "Virgo
sola existente en affuit angelus" line, twice.


The reason I'd love to have it go out there is that it's about early
Ansteorran history, and some of the actors in this stellar episode are
still alive. The was so much humor and tomfoolery in the early days! We
still see it in Master Robin of Gilwell's mustache, emblazoned on
everything. More songs should be sung of our SCAdian history, to bring it
alive. Here's what I wrote, using period music, to that end, in case you're
interested:

THE GREAT BUTTERFLY HUNT, by Meighdlin "Lark" Astreighl (mka Laura Perry)

Melody; Cuncti Simus Concanentes, Llibre Vermeil du Monstserrat, 1399



Listen well my Lords and my ladies an Ansteorran tale to gain.

When Lord Bjorn was Baron of Namron, of Bjornsborg taxes he claimed.

Baron Bjorn said, “You must pay me, lest I come and take your lives.”

Baron Jan said, “We’ll not obey thee; for these taxes come and try!”



Wars may come, and wars may go, friends, but this thing I can say;

When Namron rode to battle with Bjornsborg, butterflies won the day.



So Bjorn led his warriors to Namron for the tax he said they owed

Meanwhile Baron Jan won the kingdom, and now the crown he did hold

Jan said “Bjorn, what’s this I see here?” Bjorn could see he’d lost his
cause.

“Sire, ‘tis but a… but a… butterfly hunt, ‘gainst which surely there’s no
laws.”


Wars may come, and wars may go, friends, but this thing I can say;

When Namron rode to battle with Bjornsborg, butterflies won the day.



Home rode Bjorn his head still intact, for to King Jan fealty he’d sworn

King Jan’s reign continued in peace then, e’en though in strife it was born.

Heed well what hist’ry  teaches; choose your battlefields with care;

If your foe becomes your king, then sheath your swords and words prepare.


Wars may come, and wars may go, friends, but this thing I can say;

When Namron rode to battle with Bjornsborg, butterflies won the day.

On Fri, Jan 26, 2018 at 9:16 PM, Rick Massey <seafox at gypsyheir.com> wrote:

> Greetings to my fellow bards,
> I'm looking for audio recordings of songs written about our kingdom. The
> goal in this is to arrange them for 2-5 voices so the Ansteorran choir can
> work them up for Ansteorran 40th year. So, what do y'all have? Either
> contrafacta or fully original works will be of interest, though with
> post-period melodies I'll of course true them up to earlier rhythmic and
> melodic practice. I'll also include instrumental versions as needed, both
> in
> instruments only and also in ensemble accompanying solo voice.
> So, what y'all got?
> Herr Marcus il Volpè
>
>
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