This piece was created for Anonii, Prince of the Mistlands, and his Princess, Helga. Antonii is a friend and has been an Eastern Unbelted Champion, and it was my desire to have a song for him during his reign. It is in celebration of the Mist-Cyguna War which happens every spring.
O the mighty wall of whitened cloud
Around the swan doth turn.
The mighty host of the brave Mistland
Will stand without concern
And ever there, throughout all time, no battle waged so fair
L’ouseau – a modern chanson de’ toile based on the “Laustic” of Marie la France by Aneleda Falconbridge 2016
From the first moment I read a summary of this story while researching, I was captivated. It was such a perfect summation of the themes of courtly love, in many ways. A woman is married to the wrong, often tyrannical, husband, likely for political reasons. She sees a nobleman (or vice versa). They woo from afar, maybe never speaking –the vision and imagination of each being enough to sustain a “love” which ultimately is discovered and brings about an end of the romance, typically with tragic fallout.
As a performance piece, it’s a challenge – it’s a long work, yet it needs to be for the fullness of the story. It’s also terribly sad, so the “right” moments are rare. After performing it at Ymir in Atlantia, I was encouraged to record it since some folks apparently want to sing very long songs that make people cry. It was recorded in February 2020 to that end. The recording is included in this post.
Salve Draconis, based on the Gregorian Salve Regina, for the Midrealm coronation 2015.
My friend, the Honorable Lord Andrew Blackwood, was about to complete his term as the Royal Bard of the Midrealm. He had a plan for music for the coronation, a processional for his Regents. He’d asked me if I could help get the music for a particular Gregorian chant, the very traditional Salve Regina.
I sent him some sheet music and didn’t think about it much. This is what the piece is like:
However, soon enough it was deeply fall and the event was coming. Andrew was about to work on the piece, when he experienced a death in his family and had to travel for several days. Hearing his desperation, I offered to take a stab at adapting the piece.
The Salve Regina has been chanted daily by the Cistercians since 1218 – it’s a very old piece of music. It’s a hymn to Mary, and it’s very….Marian. Exceptionally holy. And therefore, and interesting challenge to secularize.
Salve, Regina, mater misericordiae:
(Hail, Queen, mother merciful:) Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
(Life, sweetness, and hope of ours, hail.) Ad te clamamus,
(To thee we cry) exsules, filii Hevae.
(Exiles, children of Eve.) Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
(To thee we sigh, morning and weeping) in hac lacrimarum valle.
(in this tearful valley.) Eia ergo, Advocata nostra,
(Quick then, Advocate of ours,) illos tuos misericordes oculos
(those thy merciful eyes) ad nos converte.
(to us turn.) Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
(And Jesus, blessed fruit of womb thine,) nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
(unto us, after this exile show) O clemens: O pia: O dulcis
(O clement: O loving: O sweet) Virgo Maria.
(Virgin Mary.)
Adapting the piece would be a challenge – it had to
be about the Midrealm
be appropriate to our SCA experiences
keep the same feeling as the original (and respect)
have appropriate scansion and end vowels whenever possible
make some kind of sense to someone who isn’t me
I took to the text of the piece carefully. I’m not a Latin scholar. This was very outside my comfort zone and it had a pretty quick turnaround time – just a few days before it had to go to the people who would create an arrangement of it and learn it for the Midrealm Coronation.
The Process
I took the piece and looked for a concept to adapt. Fortunately, some of the Peerage oaths of the Midrealm are traditional and have supplied translations.
Hic fidelitatem et ministerium promitto / I here swear fealty and service Coronae Mediterranae / To the Crown of the Middle Kingdom. Semper Coronam ditare / To ever enrich the Crown. Talento et ingenio meo / With my talents and abilities. Artibus diversis favere / To promote the diverse arts, Institutionem discipulorum meorum continuare / To continue the instruction of my dependents, Gloriam Mediterranae augere / To increase the glory of the Middle Kingdom, Et digna serto quod gero esse / And to be worthy of the Wreath I wear… Sic promitto, <<Name>>. / thus swear I, <<Name>>.
Hic fianciam juro et humagium ago / I here swear fealty and do homage Coronae Regni Medii / To the Crown of the Middle Kingdom Coronae servire in omnibus rebus / To serve the Crown in all things Meminisse comitatis et benignitatis / To remember courtesy and kindness Aestimare justiciam ante lucrum privatum / To prize justice above personal gain Laborare in bonum commune / To labor for the common good Locupletare Regnum et Societatem / To enrich the Kingdom and the Society Ut floreant et crescant / So they may flourish and grow Et dignus esse titulo Pelicani / And to be worthy of the title of Pelican. Hic per honorem et manum / Here by my honor, my hand Et cor meum juro ego, <<Name>>. / and my heart swear I, <<Name>>.
I used this for inspiration.
I also looked through a lot of common Latin phrases, mottoes, and other chant texts. I used a Latin verb list as well, to try to have some hope to get the right tense and use. I knew I wanted to use the Midrealm motto (of sorts) of “Draco Invictus” in the piece because of its strong connections to the people. I also wanted to be sure this was a balance between Regent and People (I am Eastern after all!) but to have it come from the voice of both. I did not name specific regents in order to make it useful on the longer term.
Salve Draconis, Coronae Mediterranae
Hail Dragon, Crown of the Middle Kingdom Vita, dulcedo, honoro—- Salve!
[Hail] our life, our sweetness and our honor! Ad te clamamus,
the thee we cry Coronam qui meruit feres
Let he who won the crown bear it Ad te suspiramus, labore et honore
to thee do we send up, our labor and honor in hac pia publicae
in the dutiful desires of the republic Eja ergo, justitia nostra,
quick then Our justice Illos tuos aeternam oculos
those eternal eyes ad nos converte.
(to us turn.) in fidem, benedictum, vox populi tuis
in faith, blessed voice of your populace nobis, post hoc exsilium ostende.
unto us after this honor show O justice: O pia: O Medii
O justice: O loving: O Midrealm Draco Invictus.
The piece was performed as the reigning King and Queen, Ragnvalder Jonsson and Arabella Silvermane, processed into the hall toward the thrones. You can see the final format here, with transcription and arrangement by Cailin mac Aindréis and Siri Toivosdotter: Salve Draconis – New Words Only.
Because when you hear that your king was singing the original from the back of a truck after fighting the Pennsic woods battle, you just have to answer that call in period.
When icumen in,
I cannot starte to ken
But then I ken strong it groweth
Merie the spring,
after springe cometh sumer
who wolde ken thou shoulde come to me?
Hand toucheth hand
reacheth out,
toucheth I, toucheth thou
Sweeting Carolyne (fa la la!)
Gode times neuer seem’d so gode. (so gode, so gode, so gode!)
I hath been inclined (fa la la!)
to believe they neuer wolde
Look, there is the night.
It seemeth not so lonely,
With twa we fill
we hath filled it with but two.
And when I hurte,
Hurt runneth from mine shoulder,
whilst I hold my lemman, I am not sore
Warmth, toucheth warmth,
reacheth out,
toucheth I, toucheth thou
Sweeting Carolyne (fa la la!)
Gode times neuer seem’d so gode. (so gode, so gode, so gode!)
I hath been inclined (fa la la!)
to believe they neuer wolde
Sweeting Carolyne (fa la la!)
Gode times neuer seem’d so gode. (so gode, so gode, so gode!)
