Category: Miscellany

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Aneleda’s works…

This is the website for Læri-móðir Aneleda Falconbridge, as she is known of in the Society for Creative Anachronism. It contains scroll text, lyrics, original songs and poetry, musings, and occasionally even instructions!

Aneleda lives in the Barony of Endewearde in the East Kingdom. While she may mostly be found by following the noise, she’s often sighted at her desk writing scroll text, tunes and lyrics; playing with (or at least encouraging) the Northern Army; singing and middling through songs on her harp; cooking weird things; and attempting, with futility, snail husbandry. (She is not a “gross things Laurel” but gets closer every day!)

Aneleda in the woods
Her mouth is open in most pictures, except this one. 

Aneleda enjoys camping with her early-period (ish) collective, Noorden Bruggen. Their membership is primarily Norse, Saxon, Celtic, and Mercian, with a smattering of other times and places thrown in.  The collective enjoys historic cookery, music, discussion, and modern beverage alchemy.

She is a Companion of several Orders — the arts Orders of the Laurel and the Maunche and the service Orders of the Pelican and the Silver Crescent. She is also a member of the Order of the Troubadour, a Companion of the Burdened Tyger, one of the Company of the Pennon of the East, and a Baroness of the Court of Gregor and Kiena.

She has been playing in the Society since 2002, her first event being the Great Northeastern War and her second event being Pennsic 32. Aneleda was an apprenticed to Mistress Mira Fennor of Argyll and is a member of Thanet House of the lineage of House House Ainissestor.

Her CD “I Am of the North” is available for purchase at https://aneledafalconbridge.bandcamp.com/ 

Her latest musical projects can be found at https://falconbridge.bandcamp.com including “By the Weight of the Chain.”

Aneleda Falconbridge in garb, rocking hand horns, mouth wide open as if yelling
A fairly normal representation of Aneleda Falconbridge

Aneleda’s modern counterpart, Monique Bouchard is a wife and mother, self-proclaimed nerd, SnowCon gaming convention founder, church cantor, and a marketing professional, content writer, and communications consultant.

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Contents of My Bard Book

Because I’ve been asked more than once about the contents of my bard book, this is what’s in the latest incarnation. This is what’s in the book I carry with me, not my books at home or binders. I wear this volume (well, one very similar to this. This includes pages I just have sticking into the one I wear, which is leather with several signatures sewn in, each representing new additions. It’s a bit haphazard, but I seldom keep it out of my reach.*

It’s often worn on my belt, and I like having something for pretty nearly every occasion at my easy reach, should I be asked. It has served me very well. 

A Blacksmith Courted Me traditional
A North Country Lass or Northern Lasses Lamentation Broadside, Northern Lasses lamentation, / OR / the unhappy Maids Misfortune
A Song For King Gregor’s Private Ears Aneleda Falconbridge
A Young and Henpecked Husband’s Complaint anon c. 15c.
All in a Garden Green John Playford (1623-1686)
Alysoun anon middle English (1100-1250?)
Amarilli Mia Bella Giulio Caccini (1546-1618)
An Ode to Boorish Critics Everywhere Aneleda Falconbridge
Angus, Build a House For Me Aneleda Falconbridge
Anthem For Malewerdia Aneleda Falconbridge
As the Chain Holds Many Links Aneleda Falconbridge
Ave Tigris Regia Text by Judith FitzHenry, Fiana of Clare, & Alexandre d’Avigne, Melody 13th Cent. anon
Beloved Aneleda Falconbridge
Blou Northerne Wynd! anon. c. 1300 (Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. the Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900)
Bonny Portmore traditional
Bow to the Crown Lyrics Heather Dale
Broom of the Cowdenknowes traditional Scottish, Child #217, earliest pub 1651
By the Weight of the Chain Aneleda Falconbridge
Caledonia Dougie MacLean
Called the Captain -A Song For Cedric of Armorica and the Eastern Unbelted Champions of Pennsic Xl. Aneleda Falconbridge
Can She Excuse My Wrongs John Dowland, No V from First Booke of Songs or Ayres (1597
Carmen Orientalis Text by Wendy Gale (Sabine de Kerbriant). Medody: In Taberna from the Carmina Burana, 13th Century
Come Again Sweet Love…the Parental Version Aneleda Falconbridge
Come Again, Sweet Love Doth Now Invite John Dowland, the First Booke of Songs or Ayres (1597), No. 17
Coronation Feast From Hell Emil Allzuwissender
Corpus Christi Carol anon, middle English
Cruel Kate Rusby
Dance the War Away Aneleda Falconbridge
Death and the Maid tradtional, tune from 1729 is Broadside 107, late 16th century
Death Holds a Rapier Aneleda Falconbridge
Ever Comes the Sun Aneleda Falconbridge
Every Man May Be a King Aneleda Falconbridge
Excelsior Sir Diomedes Sebastianus
Fair Lady Atlantia (Lady by the Sea) Master Efenwealt Whystle (Scott Vaughn)
Farewell My Bonny Aneleda Falconbridge
Fighters of the Center of the Realm Aneleda Falconbridge
Fill the Cup Oh Merry Barmaid Aneleda Falconbridge
Fine Knacks For Ladies John Dowland, No. XII from Second Book of Songs or Ayres (1600)
Fire If You Expect Admiring Thomas Campion, 1601
Flow, My Beers Aneleda Falconbridge
Flow, My Tears John Dowland, 1600 in The Second Book of Songes (No.2)
Fly on Whitened Wing, a Poem For Dziuginte Stickbait Aneleda Falconbridge
Follow Me Aneleda Falconbridge
For Master Kraken Gnashbone, Fifteenth Tyger of the East Aneleda Falconbridge
Forsaking All Others Aneleda Falconbridge
Four Green Fields Tommy Makem, 1967
Gaudete, Gaudate 16th century, possibly earlier
Good People Gallowglass
Green Groweth the Holly Henry VIII, d.1547
Hardian’s Town / to the Hadchester Coast You Should Go Aneleda Falconbridge
Harvest Lisa Theriot
Health to the Company traditional
Here Comes the East Aneleda Falconbridge
Hold Fast Me Boys Aneleda Falconbridge
Hweat! Celowyn Aneleda Falconbridge, filk Neil Diamond
I Am My Mother’s Other Daughter Kudrun Pilegrim
I Am of the North Aneleda Falconbridge
I Care Not For These Ladies Thomas Campion, #3 in a Book of Ayres for the Lute, Bass Viol and Voice 1601
I Fight For You Aneleda Falconbridge
I Have a Gentle Cock anon 15th c. Sloane
I Have a Yong Suster anon, based on John Fleagle
I Know What Summer’s For Jean du Montagne
If I Die An Old Maid in a Garret Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
If I Were a Black Bird traditional
If I Were a Poet Kermit the Frog, Music by Stephen Lawrence / Lyrics by David Axlerod, 1982
Introverted Spouse Aneleda Falconbridge
I’Ve Gone to the Tourney on a Horse With No Name Aneleda Falconbridge, filk America
Jack and Joan Thomas Campion, the First Booke of Ayres. Contayning Divine and Morall Songs (about 1613
Joan’s Ale broadside, c.1594
Kingmaker and Valkyrie Aneleda Falconbridge
Ladies Revolt of AS 44 Written on the Occasion of Her Majesty Marguerite’s First Court Aneleda Falconbridge
Lady Isobel and the Elf-Knight Lisa Theriot
Leaves As Red As Love Aneleda Falconbridge
Lifeblood, a Viking Drinking Song Mistress Wyndrith Berginsdottir
Love Fights the Good Fight Aneleda Falconbridge
Love Song For the Poetically Challenged Aneleda Falconbridge
Maiden in the Moor anon, middle English, based on John Fleagle
Maleweardian Anthem Aneleda Falconbridge
Martin Said to His Man (Fie, Man Fie!)- Thomas Ravenscroft, Deuteromelia, 1609
Merie It Is middle English, Theodore Silverstein “English Lyrics Before 1500” (1989)
Monument Aneleda Falconbridge
My Heart Is offered Still to You Orlando di Lasso, 1560
My Lemman Doth Give Me Joy! Aneleda Falconbridge
My Mother’s Savage Daughter Mistress Wyndrith Berginsdottir
Neuer Ic the Ne Yeve Away Aneleda Falconbridge & Sir Richard Rollings
No Gentle Lamenting, a Lullaby For Daughters Aneleda Falconbridge
Northern Love Aneleda Falconbridge
Northguard! Aneleda Falconbridge
Now Springes the Spray – lyric anon. c.1300, tune Aneleda Falconbridge
Ode to Endewearde Aneleda Falconbridge
Ode to the Eastern Army Aneleda Falconbridge
Oh Rise Up My King Aneleda Falconbridge
On Christmas Day Aneleda Falconbridge
On Courtly Love by a Modern Troubador Aneleda Falconbridge
On Recognitions Aneleda Falconbridge
One of Us Heather Dale
Only Thl Lucia Elena Braganza
Over My Mountain Dougie MacLean
O’er the Hills (and follow Kenric) Aneleda Falconbridge, filk traditional
Parting Glass traditional
Passetyme With Good Companye Henry VIII, d.1547
Please to See the King traditional (popularized by Martin Carthy)
Raise Up the Sword, a Poem For Julien Aneleda Falconbridge
Reynardine traditional, Fairport Convention
River-Bone Warrior, a Song For Talen Aneleda Falconbridge
Robins m’Aime Adam de la Halle ca. 1284
Sailor’s Vigil Andrew O’Brien
Sainte Nicholaes English Mystic, Godric of Yorkshire, c.1065-1170
Saturday Night Up in Asgard Aneleda Falconbridge
Savage Father by Master Fiskr Hamondsen
See the Fires of Endewearde Aneleda Falconbridge
Sellinger’s Round/Under the Greenwood Tree William Byrd, 1591
Shield My Kinsmen Mistress Windryth Berginsottir
Song For the Bare Blade Tavern Brawl Aneleda Falconbridge
Song of the Shieldwall Words: Malkin Gray (Debra Doyle) Tune:Peregrynne Windrider (Melissa Williamson)
Stalk Like the Tyger Aneleda Falconbridge
Stands a Warrior Baroness Emma MacMinn
Stone Soup Healther Dale
Sweeting Carolyne Aneleda Falconbridge, filk Neil Diamond
The Book of Love Magnetic Fields
The Brigantia’s Lament Aneleda Falconbridge
The Broken Towers Aneleda Falconbridge
The Burning of Auchindoun traditional
The Call of the Drum Aneleda Falconbridge
The Cardinal Ordained, For Master Julien De Lapointe Aneleda Falconbridge
The Clean Song traditional shanty
The Compleynt of Anelida the Quene Upon Fals Arcite Chaucer, c. 1340–1400
The Drum and the Sword (Mylisant’s Song) Jean du Montagne
The Eastern Tygers Roar Aife ingen Chonchobair in Derthaige
The Favored One Aneleda Falconbridge
The Fight Aneleda Falconbridge
The Good Man traditional
The Hern anon, based on John Fleagle
The Keeper/Among the Leaves So Green-O collected by Cecil Sharp 1909, traditional
The King’s Man Aneleda Falconbridge
The Lady Reynardyne Aneleda Falconbridge
The Links of Virtue Aneleda Falconbridge
The Love Story of Turi Mackinnon and His Marguerite Aneleda Falconbridge
The March Home Aneleda Falconbridge
The Minstrel and the King Aneleda Falconbridge
The Minstrel Boy Thomas Moore (1779–1852), set to Irish air, The Moreen
The Northern Star Andrew O’Brien
The Quiet Joys of Brotherhood Fairport Convention
The River Ran Red Aneleda Falconbridge
The Sad Thistle Aneleda Falconbridge
The Tale of Jaden’s Shield Aneleda Falconbridge
The Tale of Spring Crown Tourney, As46 Aneleda Falconbridge
The Tale of Titus Aneleda Falconbridge
The Three Ravens Ravenscroft
The Veil Garraed Galbraith
The War Song Countess Maguerite (Katheryn Journay)
The Warlord Sits Upon His Throne Aneleda Falconbridge
There Was a Bard in London Town Aneleda Falconbridge & co.
This Endris’ Night I Saw a Sight c. 1475
This Worldes Joie middle English circa 1300, Aneleda Falconbridge tune
traditionalitional Irish Love Song (He Died, He Died, He Died) Aneleda Falconbridge
True Love’s Kiss Aneleda Falconbridge
Twa Corbies traditional
Unrequited, Unrequited Aneleda Falconbridge
Vade Mecum Ad Honorum Aneleda Falconbridge & Jean du Montagne
Vivat, the Dream! Warjna Waleska Katzjmjr (Varina Suellen Plonski) 1992
Wait For the War to Be Over Aneleda Falconbridge
Warriors of Endewearde Brian A. Hubbard/Lord Gwillim Kynith
We Be Three Poor Mariners Thomas Ravenscroft, Deuteromelia, 1609
We Wear the Purple and Gold Aneleda Falconbridge
Where the Bard Sings Aneleda Falconbridge
Wind That Shakes the Barley Robert Dwyer Joyce, Ballads of Irish Chivalry,1872
Wir Zogen in Das Feld (German and English) Georg Forster, Fresh teutsche Liedlein 1539-1556
Women of the Northern Army Aneleda Falconbridge
Word Burned Allies Aneleda Falconbridge
Wordles Bliss anon. 1265, after John Fleagle
Worms of the Earth Sir Volodomir Kambionets, OL (Bob Esty) (c)1986
Worms of the Earth (duplication) Sir Volodomir Kambionets, OL (Bob Esty) (c)1986
Þis Feste Is Ine Myne Stomak Aneleda Falconbridge & Yo Gabba Gabba

*The only time she’s been away for a night was after the Yukka Party at Duchy Von Drachenklaue one Pennsic. Billy Fish took good care of her and brought her back to me in the morning. (I was lucky that I brought home my own name that night and he didn’t have to bring that back to Thanet House too. Oi! Good times!)

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Maybe fame and probably not fortune…

Just in case anyone thinks the money and fame may go to one’s head, I’m posting my earnings from CD Baby. 😉  Some of the amounts are fascinating. As you can see, artists are brutalized by the pricing of their works on Google Music and iTunes, which make a big difference.

Support an artist through their own website, and you’ll generally help them be able to make more music. <3 (Studio time is expensive, and it’s hard to do that when iTunes pays half of what you charge on your own website.)

Of course, I am grateful for anyone who has purchased my music, or even listened to it in a streaming venue, as the pennies literally add up, but this might show a little what it’s like to be selling music in the modern, digital age.

$10.92 for album download of Aneleda Falconbridge: I Am of the North
$10.92 for album download of Aneleda Falconbridge: I Am of the North
$10.92 for album download of Aneleda Falconbridge: I Am of the North
$6.37 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$6.37 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$6.37 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Apple iTunes
$5.92 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Amazon MP3
$2.55 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Apple iTunes
$1.86 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes-Canada
$0.64 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Apple iTunes
$0.64 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Apple iTunes
$0.47 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.38 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.30 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.24 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.18 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$0.13 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$0.11 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.09 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.08 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.08 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.08 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.08 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Locker
$0.07 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.07 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through YouTube Music
$0.06 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.06 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.05 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.05 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.05 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.05 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.05 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.05 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.05 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.04 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes Match – Americas
$0.04 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.04 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.04 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.04 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.04 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes Match – Americas
$0.04 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.03 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.03 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.03 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.03 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.03 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.03 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Locker
$0.03 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Locker
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.02 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes Match – Americas
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes Match – Americas
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes Match – Americas
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes Match – Americas
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Google Music Store
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through Spotify
$0.01 for DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION SALES through iTunes – Apple Music – Europe

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You Never Know

I was elevated this past weekend to the Order of the Laurel. I’m overjoyed and I’ll probably start writing about all of my thoughts as they come but first, I will give you that which was, seriously, the most frequently given piece of thought given in my vigil, because it’s relevant to all of us. It’s basically a distillation of the “PLQs” — Don’t Be A Jerk.
 
While that last word varied, the sentiment was the same.
 
The other thing I want to share is this:

You Never Know.

I was given a tiny frog with a charm attached to it, which read “You Never Know.” Those words came back again and again in their relevance and reflection on the day – and I want you to have them.
 
There was one story that came up on a few occasions in my vigil – one story more than any others. The nature of it surprised me because it was not about a success, a triumph, a great work, but about a very public failure.
 
I entered a Bardic Champions event two years after I’d served in the role of royal bard. I was singing a piece that was meaningful to me, that I’d written. I’d practiced my fingers off to create a harp accompaniment for it. I knew and respected all the judges, loved the sitting royalty, and while it was an exhibition for me, it was important. And the performance was in honor of a friend who couldn’t be there. I was well respected, I had a little mythos around me after my time as Champion. People knew who I was.
 
I tanked. Spectacularly. My fingers failed to find the notes. I was sweaty and lost confidence. I lost my key. Then as I desperately tried to correct, I started forgetting the words. It was like losing control of a jet, then when you try to regain control, you pull off the steering mechanism instead. Then looking back, you see the tail is on fire and the wings are falling off. I could have ejected but instead, I laughed the laugh of the damned in the middle of the song, girded my loins, and the rode that performance straight into the ground where I buried it in twelve feet of mud and when done, I crawled out and stood on its smoldering wreckage. It was so terrible that my friends just stared in disbelief, trying to look more polite than horrified. There was video, but it was so bad that the videographer wouldn’t even share it privately with me, saying that some things are better left alone. It was actually the worst performance of my life. (And I’m not even kidding.)
 
After my bow, I walked off the stage and started laughing. It was just so amazingly horrible. It was so bad that people didn’t even pretend that it wasn’t to be polite. (I’m laughing now so hard that my eyes are watering.)
 
It was that performance, above all my other (solid, good performances), which affected people who were there the most.
 
Why? It was an inadvertent ode to failure and risk. It went from tragedy to lesson because I laughed. It was so far from perfect – the polar opposite. But it was a reminder for me to not take myself seriously and I laughed because really, what else is there to do in the face of failure?
 
You Never Know.
 
I didn’t know until my vigil how many people reflected on that moment when they were undertaking something new, something they felt unconfident about.
 
That failure proved inspirational. (!) Because I could fail (ha! often! just not so publicly!) and that at the end I laughed at myself. Bearing witness to that spectacle gave them permission to go ahead and try something and if it failed – it’s ok. If it’s not great at a contest – it’s ok. If it isn’t taken seriously – it’s ok. Even if people give you a little pity for it – it’s ok. Just do the thing.
 
At the end of the day, it’s about you and your art and what makes you happy.
 
So, my friends, share your process and failures. Show others what you’ve learned in those failures. They’re possibly more important than your successes – because that’s how learning goes.
 
And also…
 
You Never Know.
 

 

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Viking Games

I’ve been sliding into the past of the past, embracing more and more a Norse-persona, Ǽhleða (aeth-letha). She’s been fun to play with and I’ve found great joy in Norse writings, culture, and clothing.

However, I’ve REALLY loved the idea of rough play that’s present in Norse culture. It’s violent. People die (though it was noted that when people die in any game at any time, it’s totally that which we talk about, rather than the hundreds of thousands of games that are played in which nobody dies or loses an eye.)

I’m assembling a series of games so I can have Ǽhleða’s Winter Games in the snow this winter.

A big fire, games, and shennagans. That’s gunna happen.