Arts and Sciences

Arts and sciences refer to all the fun parts of this hobby that aren't about the martial arts such as fencing or archery.  Things like making clothing, cooking, brewing, music, dance, singing, research, woodwork, blacksmithing, building furniture, leatherwork, weaving, embroidery, painting, calligraphy... the list goes on!  Pretty much any crafts people did within the period prior to 1600.

The person responsible for the Arts & Sciences in Ildhafn is THL Isabel Winter (Vanessa) arts@ildhafn.lochac.sca.org. If you have any questions or would like to learn something in particular, please get in touch.

Craft Days

We have regular Arts and Sciences meetings, colloquially known as Stuff Day, on the first Saturday afternoon of each month. Some months there's a topic we focus on, some months we have a general gathering and show-and-tell session. But always we welcome people to come along and share their projects and thoughts, or simply share some company while working on your own craft.

Occassionally, we'll have a workshop to focus on a specific craft, for example, lost-wax casting, or bobbin-lace.  If there's something specific you'd like to try, please contact the Arts and Sciences officer.

Ildhafn Performing Arts Challenge

The Baron and Baroness have issued a challenge to the populace - to create a piece that can be performed for the Barony.  Be it a song, a dance, instrumental music, a puppet show, a play, a story, a poem, or anything else that can be performed at an event.  The challenge ends early next year.  See the Challenge page for details.

Dancing

Renaissance dance classes are often a regular part of our group and we often do some informal dancing at feasts and revels.

Beginners dancing currently happens on Friday evenings- get in touch with us for details if you'd like to join in.

Music

Music is a key part of any study of medieval and renaissance history, as well as a very popular way to meet new people and discover the beauty of the music that evolved into what we listen to today.

Many members of the barony are keen amateur musicians, and will entertain us during a feast, sing beside a tournament, or play dance music at a ball.

There is a collection of music that one or more members of the Barony have practiced or performed on our Music Page.

Some other sources of music that many of us use are:

• Cicilia's Songbook: (pdf) (midis - zip) (Melody Assistant files -zip)
  

  Errata, for copies from before 21 March 2006: replacement midi for Robin Hood, Robin Hood, new pages for Three Country Dances and Greensleeves.

• The Southron Gaard Songbook: a common source of music for singing at Canterbury Faire. The current version, the Cantiones Secundae is on the music page of the Southron Gaard site.

• The Big Lochac Snogbook: a popular source for group singing at Canterbury Faire, Festival, and other large events. The current version is available from the Moralez-Beaumont household site.

• St Cecilia Press: transcriptions or renaissance and medieval music, including dances and songs.
• Choral Public Domain Library: a fantastic resource for free choral/vocal scores, texts, translations, and other useful information.
• IMSLP: the International Music Score Library Project is another great resource for free period sheet music.

Calligraphy and Illumination

Many people within the SCA like to try their hand at the scribal arts - calligraphy and illumination. These scribes produce beautiful scrolls that are awarded people on special ocassions as well as working on their own projects and anything else that may be needed within the Barony.

If you would like to have a go, take a look at the scribal arts page or come along to one of our Scribal Arts Nights on Thursdays.  All welcome, no experience necessary.  Bring art suplies if you have them, or we have some to share for a gold coin donation.

The Lochac Scribes Handbook includes sections useful for guild members, wardens and new scribes summarising information on a variety of resources and techniques that can be applied to your own calligraphy and illumination.

If you've wondered when your award scroll is being worked on, check out the Scribal Guild's resource - the Scribes' Database!

Painting

Many things were painted in period, from decorative boxes, shields, flags, wall hangings, miniatures, to paintings on panels and canvas. If you're interested in painting please get in touch with the Arts and Sciences Officer arts@ildhafn.lochac.sca.org for details on current activities.

Personal projects

As well as our regular group activities, our members work on all sorts of medieval and renaissance arts individually. Some have webpages, some of which you will find links to on our "people" page. Some write up personal projects and post them here.

If you would like a personal page, or a login to post about your personal projects, please contact the web minister, Mistress Aveline Goupil.

Competitions

A number of Lochac-wide Competitions are available for you to enter your projects into: a good way to get feedback, broaden your skills, and show off your work. We also have a number of local competitions each year - the details tend to be advertised with each event.

Cockatrice

Cockatrice is the quarterly Arts & Sciences journal of the Kingdom of Lochac. It contains project stories, creative works, and original research by members of the SCA. 

Resources

Met Museum books for download

There are over 500 books available to read online or as free downloads at the Metropolitan Museum's website, including heaps on Renaissance and Middle Ages art, life, culture; Mongol and Asian materials; period fencing manuals; illuminations, tapestries, herbals and lots more