I have been to a few "Renaissance" festivals in the United States, and
seriously, did you think that the country that elected donald trump
really has enough people interested in Renaissance music to support
these fairs? What I saw was mostly people getting dressed up in pirate
costumes and indulging in lots of eating (turkey legs are popular)
drinking beer, and as much bawdiness and depravity as possible.
A. John Mardinly, Ph.D., P.E.
Classical Guitarist/Lutenist
On Sep 26, 2019, at 2:36 PM, Frank A. Gerbode, M.D.
<[1]sa...@gerbode.net> wrote:
I went to one of the first Renaissance fairs in the SF Bay Area,
sometime in the late 70's.
I brought my Harwood lute and settled myself by the side of the path to
play, but I doubt anyone could really hear me, as it was outside and
noisy. Still, I suppose the visual was good...
--Sarge
On 9/26/2019 13:44, Christopher Wilke wrote:
One of those "Ye Olde Renaissance Fayres" once made me some easy
money.
I attended with a friend who was a classical guitarist. I was
going
just for the fun of it with no expectation of historical
accuracy. My
friend said, "I'll bet YOU'RE super excited to be here." I asked
why he
thought I'd be so especially enthusiastic about the event.
"Because
you'll get your fill of lutes," he replied. I said I'd be
surprised to
see a single lute. He bet me $50 we would. I had a real nice
dinner
that night.
Chris
[1]Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
On Thursday, September 26, 2019, 10:00 AM, Braig, Eugene
<[2]brai...@osu.edu> wrote:
"Lucky America: having looked through musical performances at
Renaissance Fairs, we see many ensembles actually performing
appropriate songs and dances."
This may be a bit too generous. Some make/made real efforts (for
example, spanning two or three decades, Ohio State University
[OSU]
held a "Renaissance Faire" that strove to book performers of 16th
and
17th music). However, most feature performers in renaissance
garb,
badly aping modern cockney accents, and strumming new songs in
imitation of Irish drinking tunes on modern steel-string guitars.
Even
OSU's went the "fantasy" route around a decade or two ago
andâafter a
total run of 45 yearsâfinally ceased to exist by 2019.
In OSU's ren-faire glory days, I approached a friend who
specialized in
English lute music. I wanted to split a set with her playing
Elizabethan lute pieces (she has a lovely 7-course Watanabe) and
me
playing vihuela music on, of all things, vihuela (pre-Chambure
discovery, mine is based on iconography) to highlight the
"armada"
conflict. It never came together, and I have thus never played
such a
"faire." Not owning a period costume, I don't really have the
incentive any longer.
Eugene
-----Original Message-----
From: [2][3]lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
<[3][4]lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu> On Behalf Of
Tristan von
Neumann
Sent: Thursday, September 26, 2019 9:30 AM
To: [4][5]lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
Subject: [LUTE] Renaissance/Medieval Fairs
So here's something different for a change.
Why is it that in the US there are "Renfairs", all dedicated to
mainly
the 16th century (and some really stretching it by allowing some
fantasy elements), while in Germany we only have
"MittelaltermÃÆärkte"
(Medieval Fairs).
What I don't like about the Medieval Fairs in Germany (though
some are
quite good and only allow painstakingly recreated authentic
stuff), is
the music.
Since we don't know much about instrumental music of the Middle
Ages,
many people take this as an excuse to brutally treat the crowd
with
Techno-like monster beats by huge drums and ear-shattering
bagpiping.
I have very rarely heard "real" Medival Music apart from some
Walter
von der Vogelweide favourites and the occasional Oswald von
Wolkenstein.
Even the popular "Estampies" are rarely heard, and we rarely get
even
simplified versions of tunes from British Library Add. 29987.
If you're not blasted by bagpipes, there will be bawdy songs in
pseudo-medieval folk style, of course played on totally
inappropriate
instruments.
While I think I would love to take my lute to such an event, I
would be
totally anachronistic, and I do not want to join the "Medieval"
musicians presenting 16th century music like Susato or even
Praetorius
as "medieval".
These events have musically corrupted the ear of the common
audience.
Whenever someone hears 16th century lute music they consider it
"medieval"...
Lucky America: having looked through musical performances at
Renaissance Fairs, we see many ensembles actually performing
appropriate songs and dances.
Here's a great example (if the lute player is here: good job you
two)
[5][6]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.yo
utube.com_watch-3Fv-3D-2DRptxRpTiHo&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vY
R0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E
&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=LQ7j04V7PNbRVNFsn3b
lwlpIpWiyqjv8Fi_xzJ9NQjk&e=
Also madrigal singers:
[6][7]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.yo
utube.com_watch-3Fv-3DjYc7AqSTZXY&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0
n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m
=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=-UdvHsh3dvLHFhjDol5l9
P05eqEyBficuY6QRQ7HLTs&e=
Anachronisms are sometimes good fun, as the madrigal version of
Katy
Perry shows, but it seems madrigal singers really enjoy the
original
material like Dowland songs or Italian vocal music.
[7][8]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.yo
utube.com_watch-3Fv-3DCIsHkuVTzDE&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0
n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m
=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=Pjrmd5hkNbz-pyYc7sc85
Fl5F4JvPogP-d2OXI8jzDI&e=
Of course there are some of those folk singers too, but the style
is
more appropriate for the age represented.
So here's the survey - how many of you have at least performed
once at
a Renaissance Fair in the US (or other countries) - or in case of
Germany, at a "Mittelaltermarkt"? (are there attempts to
establish a
Renaissance fair beside the Medieval ones?)
How is the response to actual lute music?
To get on or off this list see list information at
[8][9]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.
dartmouth.edu_-7Ewbc_lute-2Dadmin_index.html&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29
SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpK
ZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=9Qhc9_sQBr
V_ES8CTx8V_g_ko_96Hlb_O0a-cBUpHqs&e=
--
References
1.
[10]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__overview.ma
il.yahoo.com_-3F.src-3DiOS&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4
_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU6618
35IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=9-rrhTC_g4rsILex_Y99d-iAdy46
J4BvH1a-PmKB520&e= 2.
[11]mailto:lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
3. [12]mailto:lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
4. [13]mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
5.
[14]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube
.com_watch-3Fv-3D-2DRptxRpTiHo&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1G
ycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU
661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=LQ7j04V7PNbRVNFsn3blwlpI
pWiyqjv8Fi_xzJ9NQjk&e= 6.
[15]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube
.com_watch-3Fv-3DjYc7AqSTZXY&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1Gyc
N4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU66
1835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=-UdvHsh3dvLHFhjDol5l9P05eq
EyBficuY6QRQ7HLTs&e= 7.
[16]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube
.com_watch-3Fv-3DCIsHkuVTzDE&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1Gyc
N4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU66
1835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=Pjrmd5hkNbz-pyYc7sc85Fl5F4
JvPogP-d2OXI8jzDI&e= 8.
[17]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.dartm
outh.edu_-7Ewbc_lute-2Dadmin_index.html&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQus
p9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBR
t90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=9Qhc9_sQBrV_ES8
CTx8V_g_ko_96Hlb_O0a-cBUpHqs&e=
--
Frank A. Gerbode, M.D. ([18]sa...@gerbode.net)
11132 Dell Ave
Forestville, CA 95436-9491
Home phone: 707-820-1759
Website:
[19]https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.gerbode.net
&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6j
oGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzh
wknzg&s=ieqFbk8eb5IWOyFP1__c8viqKqCHVmEX4Lomc81jtNM&e= "The map may not
be the territory, but it's all we've got."
References
1. mailto:sa...@gerbode.net
2. mailto:brai...@osu.edu
3. mailto:lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
4. mailto:lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
5. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
6.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3D-2DRptxRpTiHo&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=LQ7j04V7PNbRVNFsn3blwlpIpWiyqjv8Fi_xzJ9NQjk&e=
7.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3DjYc7AqSTZXY&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=-UdvHsh3dvLHFhjDol5l9P05eqEyBficuY6QRQ7HLTs&e=
8.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3DCIsHkuVTzDE&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=Pjrmd5hkNbz-pyYc7sc85Fl5F4JvPogP-d2OXI8jzDI&e=
9.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.dartmouth.edu_-7Ewbc_lute-2Dadmin_index.html&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=9Qhc9_sQBrV_ES8CTx8V_g_ko_96Hlb_O0a-cBUpHqs&e=
10.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__overview.mail.yahoo.com_-3F.src-3DiOS&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=9-rrhTC_g4rsILex_Y99d-iAdy46J4BvH1a-PmKB520&e=
11. mailto:lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
12. mailto:lute-...@new-old-mail.cs.dartmouth.edu
13. mailto:lute@cs.dartmouth.edu
14.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3D-2DRptxRpTiHo&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=LQ7j04V7PNbRVNFsn3blwlpIpWiyqjv8Fi_xzJ9NQjk&e=
15.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3DjYc7AqSTZXY&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=-UdvHsh3dvLHFhjDol5l9P05eqEyBficuY6QRQ7HLTs&e=
16.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3DCIsHkuVTzDE&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=Pjrmd5hkNbz-pyYc7sc85Fl5F4JvPogP-d2OXI8jzDI&e=
17.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.cs.dartmouth.edu_-7Ewbc_lute-2Dadmin_index.html&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=9Qhc9_sQBrV_ES8CTx8V_g_ko_96Hlb_O0a-cBUpHqs&e=
18. mailto:sa...@gerbode.net
19.
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.gerbode.net&d=DwIFaQ&c=l45AxH-kUV29SRQusp9vYR0n1GycN4_2jInuKy6zbqQ&r=VLPJ8OE-c_C6joGeE1ftlvxMmQPq9N6mpKZONBRt90E&m=pU661835IIPefVlJoMNYp_RhSiVkK8all-jhzhwknzg&s=ieqFbk8eb5IWOyFP1__c8viqKqCHVmEX4Lomc81jtNM&e=
