Eliane's Bardic Book

Each song has at least a MIDI file, and sometimes words and a discussion of the song (if there are no words, this either means the words are copyrighted, or I haven't gotten around to putting them into HTML yet). I will NOT be loading .wavs or .mp3s of these pieces since I do not have the recording equipment or software to produce them.

Pieces posted here are either my own work, or my re-workings of works that are out of copyright or used with permission. I do not plan to make this a repository of other bards' works, so please do not mail me your lyrics/.mid files to post here. A good place to find other bards' works, as well as primary source materials, is the SCA Minstrel page and the many repositories to which it links, at: http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/minstrel.html.

I should not have to even say this, but use of the original works/arrangements listed below is limited to non-profit, non-recorded performances by individuals. All lyrics and tunes written by me, or translations of existing lyrics, are copyright J. Friedman and may not be reproduced in print or in electronic format without my express (written) permission. You may link to this page (http://www.gflower.org/bardic.htm) or to my main page at http://www.gflower.org/, which will always have a link to this one. If in doubt whether your use of a song in this collection is lawful, e-mail me and I will be the final judge.

The Bardic Works:
• Alexandra's Castle, words/music by J. Friedman
  • Not a particularly period-sounding piece, this is my tribute to a lady and lord I admire in my home shire of Falcon's Keep. Written for Bardic Madness X in the Barony of Windhaven. Lyrics and notes
• Five Translations of French medieval and Renaissance poems, all translations by J. Friedman
  • This is my Laurel Prize Tourney entry for the LPT held at Northshield's First Coronation, Oct. 16, A.S. XXXIX (2004). My sponsor was my friend Master Michael Alewright from Æthelmearc, who was incredibly helpful, via e-mail and in person, giving me constructive and friendly feedback. Each poem includes a literal and a poetic translation.
• Honor and Joy, words/music by J. Friedman
  • My first original bardic piece, written in 1998 in honor of my wonderful home shire of Falcon's Keep. Also the first thing that I ever sang at a public bardic circle (W&W in July 1999, what can I say, I'm a late bloomer). I forgot the words there, thus inaugurating a tradition that continues to this day: if I wrote it, I'll probably forget the words regularly in front of large groups of people. Lyrics and notes
• A Lady of the Northshield, words/music by J. Friedman
  • A quiet, unassuming song about how I felt, and feel, about getting my Award of Arms. Lyrics and notes
• My Billy Is Gone, words by J. Friedman, music adapted by John Renbourn from a Northumbrian small pipes melody
  • A song I wrote to commemorate something personal in my life, in the style of an (admittedly post-period) English folksong. Lyrics and notes
• My Thing Is My Own, arr. J. Friedman; from Pills to Purge Melancholy, 1719
  • Ann & Nancy Wilson do a cute version of this on the Windham Hill sampler, "The Renaissance Album". A rare example of a bawdy song about chastity. ;) No one ever seems to laugh at this song when I sing it. Maybe I seem too virginal to sing something like this. Huh. Lyrics and notes
• La Nouvelle Alienor, words/music by J. Friedman
  • Commissioned by HSH Gaylen in honor of HSH Kelinda, this is one of my more stirring songs. Yes, it is possible to write a rousing song about patronage of the arts. Lyrics and notes
• The Prince and the Prairie Flower, words/music by J. Friedman
  • I wrote this in honor of the Coronet Investiture of TSH Gaylen and Kelinda, in my own home Shire of Falcon's Keep in November of 1999. The tune itself is kind of weak, in my opinion. Lyrics and notes
• The Rose of Autumn, words/music by J. Friedman
  • Written for Autumn Rose VI, Sept. 2000, for the Bard of Rokeclif contest--which, thanks to this song, I won. Lyrics and notes
• Song of the Amphiptere, words/verse tune by J. Friedman, chorus tune: "Quem Pastores Laudavere", German, 1555
  • Written by commission of Baroness Leaina, in honor of the Baronial Installation of Leaina and Dagr of Windhaven, done at the Tournament of Chivalry, Feb. 8, A.S. XXXVII (2003). The story, "The History of Windhaven" by Baron Natan, done in verse. Lyrics and notes
• Song of the Northshield, words/music by J. Friedman
  • Written for Northshield Coronet/Investiture in the Shire of Coldedernhale, November 2000. This is my one and only war/martial song. Lyrics and notes
• Three Words, chorus tune anon. Sephardic ("Porque Llorax"), verse tune and lyrics by J. Friedman
  • Written for Princess Elashava's Bardic Challenge at Northshield Coronet/Investiture, Shire of Korsvag, May 4, 2002. Sung at that event by Mistress Rosanore of Redthorn. Lyrics
• Two French lyrics of Clément Marot, translated by J. Friedman
• Verlangen thut mich krencken, anonymous monophonic lied (German, c. 1450); translation by J. Friedman
  • I picked this little medieval German song out of an anthology just as I was about to run out of the library to make an appointment elsewhere. The main reason I picked it was that I liked the lyrics: to me, the title line just screamed "Longing makes me cranky..." Take a look at my translation/additional lyrics. I don't speak German but tried to spin off the translation provided in the anthology. Lyrics and notes
• Yes, We Have No Exchequer, words by J. Friedman, tune: "Yes, We Have No Bananas", Cohn and Silver, 1923
  • Loosely inspired by a nearby Barony's problems getting volunteers for key Baronial positions. Lyrics and notes

Last modified: 11/4/04