Newsgroups: rec.org.sca
Date: Tue,  8 Sep 1992 14:01:18 -0400 
From: "Andrea B. Gansley-Ortiz" <ag1v+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Music

Learned scholars, talented musicians, and good gentles all,
I recommend me to you.

I've read many interesting and informative postings on this 
subject as of late, and I wish to add to this discussion. It
is my hope that this letter will achieve my goal. I also hope
to proclaim the virtues of playing period music, as opposed
to peri-oid music.

Item. Angharad's separations of music are extremely useful.
They provide guidelines. And truly, can be clearly distinguished
from eachother. They allow a place for the many types of music
that are presently in the Laurel Kingdoms today.

Item. There are many ways to encourage the performance of period
music, whether or not you own or use a period style instrument,
to wit:

 Taking your music to events, and sitting down in one place to play.
 You will find that others gather about you, either to discuss music
 or to join you, or simply to listen. And thus you have helped promote
 music.

 Send titles of books or photocopied music to musician friends so that
 they may practice what they have been unable to find on their own.
 This War, a friend of mine and I arranged to exchange some music. And
 I have been having a marvelous time playing some of it on my new flute.

 Offer to play processionals and recessionals for courts. Also play 
 occasional music before and after court. You can organize a group to
 this purpose or do it on your own. And thus not only do the musicians
 enjoy the music, but all those who attend the court may enjoy it as
 well.

 Make a point of performing at public demonstrations. You will find 
 society members and the public alike will come and ask questions and
 you will have ample opportunity to speak on the subject of music as
 well as the instruments that were used during our period.

I have found all these methods of promoting period music effective. 
People have mentioned it to my friends, and I know that musicians from
other areas have enjoyed having me in their area. 
*Rialto Ref.: cat and Gerard.

Item. Playing period music lends a much more medieval atmosphere to 
an event than peri-oid music. It allows those of both educated and 
uneducated ears to hear what might have been at a court or festival
or tourney, as opposed to that which can only exist in our Laurel
Kingdoms. 

Item. There is much more period occasional music, than peri-oid 
occasional music. And thus the selection of pieces to choose from 
is much wider. In this way you may create many different performances
and have a much larger repertoire than if you used peri-oid music
solely.

To add to this, we have not begun to scratch the surface with regards
to period music. There is so much to be learnt from that which we
have not yet delved into. And much more can be learnt from actual
period exemplar's than from reproductions, especially with the 
abundance of exemplars and the lack of researched reproductions.

Item. It is far easier to play or sing a period piece, then to have
to go through the effort of composing one of your own. By using already
written pieces, this puts the musician one step ahead in creating a
polished and enjoyable performance. 

Item. The musician is able to have creativity within the piece of music. 
It is not necessary to write new pieces of music to be creative. One can
work with intrumentation, tempo, volume (to some extent), etc. to create 
a unique piece of music. Performers, working independently, may create an
entirely different mood and feel with the same piece of music. And thus,
creativity is not stifled by simply using already written music.

I see that my ramblings have gone on for long enough. I pray that this
letter may find you in good health. Done this 8th day of September in
the year of our Lord, nineteen hundred and ninety two, I remain

Esmeralda la Sabia
Organization: Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA