AoA Archives - Aneleda Falconbridge

July 15, 2013July 13, 2015

Jesca de Hunteleghe – AoA

Fair East, heed this throne and hear Our sonorous will, as we, Gregor Rex and Kiena Regina, pray you attend she who kneeleth here, Jesca de Hunteleghe,, who hath for many years now served with ever-pleasant countenance. Surpassing are her many gifts, given oft and generously with willing hand and open heart. A beacon of sweet hospitality at home in Huntly’s highland hills or in travels caring for kin and kith, she ever-bears a basket of delights to refresh the soul. Long did this maid dream o’er the thistle, moor, and cliff of oliphants and orange trees and far off lands fine ladies see. These dreams were heard by Our own ears, now she shall herself a Lady be.

As befits a Lady of Our Court, we do award unto her arms to bear from this day ever forth, vert, an elephant passant contourny and on a chief nebuly argent three orange trees couped fructed proper.

Done by Our hands and given on Our behalf by Our Heirs at the War of the Roses in the Barony of Concordia of the Snows on the 25th Day of May, anno societis XLVIII.

___________________________________

I had the pleasure of meeting Jesca at the EK Bardic Champions event where she charmed me with her kind smile and homemade truffles. Later on when she and her husband hosted me and three members of my household as we traveled to an event far from our home, I was so pleased to get to know her better.

When I had the opportunity to write words for her AoA scroll, I jumped at the chance. Knowing her in person gave me the ability to write about her persona (Scottish) and also some of her traits beyond the write-up. Her arms are evocative and exotic, and add an interesting flair to the AoA, since many AoAs do not have any arms when they become a Lord or Lady of the Court. I also had the joy to see her get this award, since weather pretty much destroyed the event it originally was going to be delivered at. The actual scroll may have a different event listed. (I am not sure…)

July 15, 2013July 13, 2015

Lady Anna Serena – AoA

AoA Scroll by Christiana Crane; Words by Aneleda Falconbridge

All harken to the Eastern throne as we, King Gregor the Good and Queen Kiena the Kind bid you heed our loyal subject Anna Serena of fair Malagentia. She hath inspired us with her great service to the realm, by her bearing the weight of water, and more, yet ever with light heart.

As Eastern sun doth rise upon the sea
Spreading its brilliance all across the shores
Same brightness in this maiden-smile all see
As like the sun she harkens and restores
All who would wilt upon the noble field
Without her ministration so supreme.
From the parching war-winds she does shield,
Cool waters pour forth from her hands serene.
All find her of good cheer and kindest word
Admiring her grace, her poise, her joys
As swiftly she alights, a summer bird,
Her good nature on all that she employs.
Observe her well, this Anna, in Our view,
A Lady of the noblest kind, and true.

Thus do we Eastern Monarchs award her arms, to be borne by her alone throughout the Known World and make her a Lady of Our venerable Eastern Court.

In witness whereof we have set Our hand on this, the thirteenth of July, in the forty-seventh year of the Society, in Our Province of Malagentia at the Great Northeastern War.

May 11, 2011July 13, 2015

AoA – Alessandra da Montereggioni

A Canzone written for Alessandra da Montereggioni by Aneleda Falconbridge

Qual donna attende a gloriosa fama
di senno, di valor, di cortesia? *

Gather and hear, noble people of the Mighty East, of a Lady so kind that Petrach himself would have searched for words, one of such bliss as is seldom seen walking these low and mortal paths.

To those who love service, and too, chivalry,
we speak of a lady, and give our rationale

Of a spirit generous, of great morale
held in high esteem by all who are her friend.

We see this golden creature all around us
extending gentle hand with most noble grace
toward any task requested in this dear place
to see it through no matter how far its end.

She brings the new and kindly helps them to blend
in the crowd of brewers, dancers, sewers, cooks,
and shares the wondrous knowledge gained from her books
Her encouragement lights the paths many wend.

With golden threads she has sewn us up with love,
It is with sad joy we set free this sweet dove.

Thus it is the will of ever-right and kind King Gryffith and our resplendent and gentle Queen Aikaterine that Alessandra da Montereggioni becomes a Lady of our Court this day, the fifth day of the month of love, Anno Societatis forty-five, at the King and Queen’s Bardic Champions in the fair Shire of Endewearde.

(Italian translation) *Doth any maiden seek the glorious fame Of chastity, of strength, of courtesy? – Petrarch

Notes about the piece:

This canzone is written with 11 syllables per line, based on a style used by Dante, who wrote of Montereggioni. Seemed like a good idea at the time…

The scheme is as follows:
ab
bc
deec
cffc
gg

I found these suggestions online:

First two lines: Define your subject and how you will speak with the reader
Second two lines: Convey the central theme, question, or conflict.
Third set of lines (broken into a quatrain): Convey your mood, sentiment, and stance

“Derived from the Provençal canso, the very lyrical and original Italian canzone consists of 5 to 7 stanzas typically set to music, each stanza resounding the first in rhyme scheme and in number of lines (7 to 20 lines). The canzone is typically hendecasyllabic (11 syllables). The congedo or commiato also forms the pattern of the Provençal tornado, known as the French envoi, addressing the poem itself or directing it to the mission of a character, originally a personage. Originally delivered at the Sicilian court of Emperor Frederick II during the 13th century of the Middle Ages, the lyrical form was later commanded by Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, and leading Renaissance writers such as Spenser (the marriage hymn in his Epithalamion).” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canzone)