Bipolar Karma -- Ups

Courtesy of shalmestere and hudebnik , I had a lovely time at Bhakail's Investiture on Saturday.       We nearly didn't connect in time for me to travel with them  (because I'm an idiot and had my phone's ringer turned off   8P  ), but met up and left in good order.     The traffic was blessedly light (going both ways, actually).     The Taverner  "Alleluias"  that  siobhan1214 had distributed were beautiful, and the rehearsal went very well considering we hadn't actually sung the songs together before.     They let us up into the choir loft for performances, so we could both see everything  and occasionally whisper and giggle  8) 

I was privileged to enter the competition for Bhakail's first Bardic Champion (I never knew there wasn't one); I told the organizer that I could not win/serve as Champion (potential conflict of interest with Ostgardr).   All four competitors used historically-informed songs and original languages (mostly), and we rated each other courtesy of forms  t_bard  developed, like (if not the same as) those which evolved for judging Kingdom Bardic, with categories like Audience impact and performance skill and appropriateness for the event (research, etc.), and (my favorite category) additional impressions not covered by other criteria.      My only suggestion for the future would be adding a space of one or two lines for specific remarks per entrant.      I'd like to see more competitors familiarized with those criteria -- I think it can only improve future competitions.   

A lady named Lionora (sp?) did a 15th-century Portugese song.     A young man named Martin with an opera background did a 16th-century aria.   (He later said that he briefly considered accompanying himself on the organ, but did not "because no one else was doing that"   **"C'MERE!!!"  ::::::smackSMACKsmack::::::**   He was encouraged to show off his skillset to the maximum in future    8)

The guy who won had contrafacted a roster of Bhakail's past and present baronage, to the tune of "Gaudete".      Some dude named t_bard    8)   8)      (I'd like to see the lyrics again if I may...)

I had been wanting to write something for the investiture and for woodwindy and her LC,  but I also didn't want to cause embarrassment with my fulsomeness.       So I wrote about Mina:

BABY  OF   BHAKAIL
( Contrafact, to the tune of "Packington's Pound" )

Sweetly-blown melody borne on the air
Met with the sheltering arm of the earth
Wedded in harmony wondrous fair;
This is the union that led to thy birth.
How else couldst thou be, but lovely to see
Thus fashioned from love in the highest degree?
Joy you inspire with the force of a gale,
Beloved and Beautiful Babe of Bhakail!



Happiness sparkles from thy shining eye
Such is thy pleasure to bring us delight;
All gaze in wonder as arms are thrown high,
Every life moment new to thy sight.
With innocent style dost thou sweetly beguile
All who behold thee with a laugh and a smile.
Joy you inspire with the force of a gale,
Beloved and Beautiful Babe of Bhakail!

Much to my relief, my voice held (mostly) for the higher notes, and people enjoyed the song.      I got to join in some enjoyable pick-up singing between the two courts and later during feast, and met the Princess and Consort.     She had asked whether I have a CD, and since I've gotten into the habit of carrying several with me for just such an occasion  (it serves as both business card and demo), I was able to present one with a hasty explanation that it's  Mostly Modern Music (It does have "Sacred Night" and "One More Song to the Tune of Greensleeves").      Turns out she LOVES "Carrot Juice Is Murder" and has heard it back-to-back with something called "Cows with Guns"   (must research this...)    I've corresponded once or twice with liamstliam, but hadn't been formally introduced or anything.      Very nice man.   

The food was abundant   (!)    and delicious   (!!!).     There was leftover Ember Day tart with plenty of greens and cheese.     I was tired and happy  8)