Our SCA activity in 2001: news and pictures

Feb 2001: Saltare - Nashville, TN

Hosted this year by the Shire of Glaedenfeld. We blended in with the drums at the hafla. During the day, Kamuran taught an intermediate-level drumming class and band members handed out surveys - with raffle prizes as an incentive to participate. At the revel, Chandani announced the winners and gave out the raffle prizes: a bracelet, a small wall hanging, and a fancy vest.

Mar 2001: Gulf Wars - Lumberton, MS

With exceptional dedication ALL of the musicians were there, over 400 miles from home. Chandani and Sabah taught several classes and Kamuran helped keep the drumming going at night; but not too late, I generally left around 2 am! *g* We also played at the "exposition", presenting just one of many performances of music and dance at the big tent in al-mahala (the Middle Eastern encampment).

Picture: A dancer in the performance tent during the Expo on Friday [small picture, large picture]

Also in March/April: The week after Gulf Wars, Tariq had his first practice with us. Not long after, Apsara began coming to practices. Three days after the RLC show, we did our first recording session for DWI.

May 2001: Lusty Month of May - Whitesburg, GA

As guest performers, we played day and night and taught dances despite the rain. At the feast, during a break in the downpour, Chandani introduced a new dance variation of the Official Bransle that she devised. It's called Frisk the Eunuch - and it went over very well. The dance steps are in our DWI booklet. We also hosted a cozy hafla from dark until about midnight.

Also in May: second recording session for DWI.

Jun 2001: Local demo - Stone Mountain Park, GA

Hosted by the Barony of the South Downs, with a lot of help from visitors from the Barony of Thor's Mountain. The band played only a short set. On the same day, Kamuran was over in Augusta GA and taught a drumming class at another SCA event.

Also in June: third and fourth recording sessions for DWI, final mixing.

Aug 2001: Pennsic War - Slippery Rock, PA

Seven band members went, over 700 miles away, and did twelve performances in four days: in the bazaar during the day and at parties in various camps at night. Special thanks to Zahira for help in the percussion section and to all of those who danced.

Kudos from Istvan - "Oh, yes! I like your stuff! There was one guy, who plays a tar, from Peach Curry that was jamming down at the Oasis a couple of nights. Lots of fun!" (That's Sabah, and he sure does like to play music.)

Picture: Group and dancer in tent [small, large]

Sep 2001: Red Tower - Millbrook, AL

Hosted by the Barony of the South Downs, this time at Camp Grandview. The revel after feast started late (so what ELSE is new? *g*). Collaborating with Assorted Kindling (a recorder consort, like us also based in the South Downs), and Iohann (who came down from Glaedenfeld), we played the six Western dance tracks from DWI and several other songs. It was a big ol' lovefest: the dancers rewarded us with thunderous applause after each dance - and they even danced to the Eastern music we played!