I like it when children sing but recognize that it can be a challenge to find good “SCA” music to connect them to. This is why I love rounds! There’s lots of support and everyone can play together.<\/p>\n
I was asked if I had suggestions for a class for bardic performance for children and I’ve done some spontaneous work with littles at events, and thought it would be fun to make a more organized class out of it. It’s a lot of what I’ve done “in the field” but with more structure.<\/p>\n
Start with introductions and talk about music a bit in period. Ask questions like<\/p>\n
What did people do for fun? Talk a bit about how we make music now.<\/p>\n How is it different? <\/strong> Medieval people sang about a lot of things. They sang about God and saints and about people they knew. Music was important because it was available to everyone.<\/p>\n Sing common children’s rounds to get warmed up and comfortable. Do them in this order if possible.<\/p>\n Twinkle Twinkle Little Star\u00a0<\/strong> Which song is a story?\u00a0<\/strong>What is the story about? <\/strong>Songs often told stories about people, places, and events. We call that “narrative” when something is telling us a story. Three Blind Mice (Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609)\u00a0<\/strong>comparison is good here. Start with the modern one, then teach the original one. Lady Come Down\u00a0(Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609):<\/strong> Oh My Love (Thomas Ravenscroft, 1609): This is an Elizabethan song about complaining, My Goose.<\/strong><\/p>\n My Goose (trad. probably in SCA period)<\/strong>: Hey Ho Nobody at Home (Thomas Ravenscroft,\u00a01609):<\/strong> Songs were some of the first advertisements and music is still used to sell things! Listen to the radio and TV and you’ll hear how that works!<\/p>\n Hot Mutton Pies (Thomas Ravenscroft,\u00a01609):<\/strong> The group can be divided into three sellers for this street call. Or they can learn the whole song. It’s a fun round. They could make up their own products if they catch on fast. Viva La Musica (Michael Praetorius, 1571-1621):<\/strong> \u00a0Long live music! Dona Nobis Pacem (credited to\u00a0Giovanni\u00a0Palestrina, 1525-1594):\u00a0Give us peace.<\/em><\/strong> The Great Bells of Oseney (Thomas Ravenscroft,\u00a01609):<\/strong> It sounds like bells ringing Go to Joan Glover (Thomas Ravenscroft,\u00a01609):<\/strong> A sweet song about passing notes via song, really.
\n<\/strong>When might people make music?
\n<\/strong>What kinds of instruments were available?
\nWhat was ALWAYS available?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWhen do we sing? <\/strong>
\nWhere do we see and hear performances?<\/strong>
\nWhat kinds of things do we sing about?<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAlphabet Song <\/strong>(does this song sound kind of the same as the last song?)
\nRow Row Row Your Boat <\/strong>(unison, then try it as a round)
\n<\/strong><\/p>\nQuestions for these songs:<\/h3>\n
\nWhich song is a lesson?<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0What is it teaching us? <\/strong>Songs were used to teach people things sometimes, especially religion and some stories, because songs are easier to remember and also not everyone knew how to read words.
\nWhich songs sound the same?<\/strong>\u00a0Twinkle Twinkle and the ABC song use the same tune more or less. We call it\u00a0“contrafact” and in medieval times, like now, many people used the same music to sing different songs.<\/p>\nSome songs changed, some stayed the same!<\/h3>\n
\nhttp:\/\/mbouchard.com\/aneleda\/three-blind-mice-then-and-now<\/p>\nPeople sang songs that were about other people!<\/h3>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www.pbm.com\/~lindahl\/ravenscroft\/pammelia\/pam_36small.html
\nLady come down and see the cat sits in the plum tree!<\/em><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.pbm.com\/~lindahl\/ravenscroft\/songbook\/oh_my_loue.html or
\n<\/strong>http:\/\/www.pbm.com\/~lindahl\/ravenscroft\/deuteromelia\/deut_37small.html
\nOh my love, love thou me? Then quick come and save him that dies for thee!<\/em><\/p>\nPeople sang songs about their problems:<\/h3>\n
\nhttp:\/\/kodalysongweb.net\/sites\/default\/files\/Goose%20Round.pdf
\n“Why shouldn’t my goose sing as well as thy goose when I paid for my goose twice as much as thine??”<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www-personal.umich.edu\/~msmiller\/rheyhonobody.html
\nHey ho nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none, yet I will be merry, very merry!<\/em><\/p>\nPeople even sang to sell things!<\/h3>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www-personal.umich.edu\/~msmiller\/rcatch52.html
\nHot mutton pies hot, buy my dainty young beans, my young beans, crabs crabs any crabs?<\/em><\/p>\nPeople sang\u00a0in Latin, and other languages.<\/h3>\n
\n<\/em>http:\/\/www-personal.umich.edu\/~msmiller\/rvivamusica.html
\n<\/em><\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www-personal.umich.edu\/~msmiller\/donanobis.html
\n(Do one part at a time, and if you can work a round out of it, it’s good. This is a good ending song too since many people of all ages know it and may join in if invited.)<\/p>\nOther pieces which are good choices for children include:<\/h3>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www-personal.umich.edu\/~msmiller\/rdeut9.html<\/p>\n
\nhttp:\/\/www-personal.umich.edu\/~msmiller\/rjoanglover.html<\/p>\n