Mark wrote: >I wrote: > >>These comments here touch on a what is for me a very crucial part of what >>I, as a re-enactor wish to bring to the organization I work with, the SCA. > >I wish you luck in your endeavours, but expect a great deal of resentment >from the musicians who play on these fairs. >A couple of years ago, at the wedding reception of a friend of mine I met >one of these "bards" and his in his own words authentic medieval cittern >called "nelly". Five courses, tuned to a C major chord, it was in fact an >early 20th century model. >I had my renaissance guitar with me and after I opened the case, his first >words were "good job, you don't play the lute, an awful instrument, it is >so quiet".
Thank you. Your comments above are why I don't perform at Renaissance Fairs, but instead play in the SCA. For anyone not overly familiar with the difference, in the US Renaissance Fairs are tourist attractions that hire folks whose sole career would be busking on street corners playing Irish music on a variety of instruments from fiddles to hammered dulcimers. These buskers found a home at the fairs where the theme is usually the end of Henry VIII to Elizabeth (usually excluding Mary). Otherwise they bear no resemblance to anything historical. I've never attended the European counterpart to these fairs, but from what I'm told places like Italy and Germany actually celebrate historical activities or events, and while they are tourist attractions designed to make money they are more than just a guy dressed up as Henry VIII or Elizabeth I surrounded by a bunch of modern performers playing music that may not even be Renaissance in period. The SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms) is a totally different organization, not generally open to the public, though non-members may attend SCA events as long as they obey the one rule, to make an attempt at pre-17th century clothing. The focus of the SCA is in pre-17th c. history and culture, mostly Euro-centric, though over time Middle and Far Eastern cultures have impacted the SCA in much the same way they impacted European culture over the approximately 900 years the SCA covers. The organization is world wide in scope and membership from Europe to the Pacific Rim countries. In the US we are listed as a non-profit, tax exempt educational and historical organization. Some of us tend to put much more emphasis on the educational and historical aspects than others, but as I stated above the only rule is that one make an attempt at pre-17th c. clothing. Otherwise, pick a period, culture, and if you really want to go that deep, a persona. I prefer to play over the whole gamut, which opens up an incredible amount of research for me, so I don't limit myself to one culture or period. It's what I consider fun and others consider way too much work. But that's me. As such the SCA caters to a wide variety of interests contained within it's 30,000 plus paid members. We have a fair number of academics and laymen interested in history and a lot of just plain folks whose only interest is in a purely Victorian image of chivalry and courtly romance. >A quote from the american renaissance faire magazine "Renaissance" about >this subject > >"Almost little music used on faires is actually period, but the music does >not damage the illusion of living history, because it "seems" period. The >case could even be made that music is an instance in which an anachronism >is actually necessary, for if a faire presented only period music, the >patrons would most likely be bored by it" > >This is the attitude you will have to fight against. Unfortunately yes it is, both inside the SCA and at the Ren Fairs. This is why I don't do Ren Fairs except as an occasional tourist. It's not worth the high price of admission for me to attend something so blatantly out of period when I can attend an all day SCA event and perform in period and end the evening with a sumptuous period feast for as little as $20 US. >I have the feeling that quiet instruments and the magick quality of "hip" >renaissance music is what we need in these times of mass consumption and >media brainwashing. I would agree with you there. I'm doing my bit. :) Regards, Craig
