MudRennies? Song lists?

Subject: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: MMario
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 05:09 PM

I KNOW that at least a few 'Catters have connections either present or past with RenFaire. A comment by Emily Rain about "songs I learned to avoid at Minnesota Renfest"; and a comment a couple days ago from ElSwanno got me to thinking....

How different ARE the "standards" from faire to faire?
Are there any particular songs specific to your local faire?

Are there songs actively avoided at your faire?

How strict or lax is your faire about "authenticity"?

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: emily rain
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 07:14 PM

standards at the minnesota renaissance festival (as i remember them), 1990 - 1993:

at the irish cottage: my johnny was a shoemaker, house husband's lament, julian of norwich, maid in the garrett, the chandler's shop, the chastity belt, the vicar and the frog

at the peasant parade: the peasants are sleeping (to the tune of when johnny comes marching home), rattlin' bog, ramblin' rover (by andy stewart), roll the old chariot along

at cast call: swing low sweet chariot

at the closing gate show: the mermaid song ("and the ocean waves do roll...")

the only expressly banned song that i knew of: greensleeves

but of course, it was generally frowned upon to sing any of the standards in places other than their rightful homes. authenticity was supposed to be medium strict: all oldish european folk, unless you wrote it yourself. clearly, though, that wasn't enforced. i once heard a band play "lincoln duncan" by paul simon, and a friend of mine would get lots of requests for "mona lisa is having a bad day" by michelle shocked.

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 08:15 PM

At the Norman (Oklahoma) Medieval Fair there are no authenticity police. Those who have a booth or display have to be "in costume", so I hear, but there are no regulations or sumptuary laws. So despite the name, most of the costumed folk are in Renaissance costumes. Medieval music (pre-1501) is rarely heard, though sometimes a medieval piece is performed. Renaissance music is much more often heard, as well as 18th and 19th century English, Irish, and Scots folk tunes.

I don't think I like the idea of a policed fair. The approach of the Norman Medieval Fair is I think a good one, since participants are left free to be as medieval, or as renaissance, or as Xena-warrior-princess fantastic, as they care to be.

T.

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: T in Oklahoma (Okiemockbird)
Date: 15 Dec 99 - 08:20 PM

Sorry about the garbled HTML.

At the Norman (Oklahoma) Medieval Fair there are no authenticity police. Those who have a booth or display have to be in costume, but there are no regulations or sumptuary laws defining the costume. As a result, most costumed folk are in renaissance costumes, rather than medieval. Medieval (pre-1501) music is rarely heard, most performers preferring to present renaissance music, or 18th/19th century English, Irish, and Scots folk tunes.

I don't think I like the idea of a policed fair. The approach of the Norman Medieval Fair is I think a good one, since participants are left free to be as medieval, or as renaissance, or as Xena-warrior-princess fantastic, as they care to be.

T.

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 12:05 AM

Hi Mario,

My experience at the Sterling Faire as an attendee has always been very good. An effort has been made to remain quite authentic, or so it seems to me. But then I'm there at most three times yearly and I can't be everywhere all the time. Bells and Motley do a good job at keeping in the spirit of the Faire as do many others. I did once hear a fellow sing The Valley of Strathmore, a first for me, but hardly RennFaire fare so to speak. The primary influence appears to be Steel Eye Span. There are always abunch of folks from The SOCA running around and also some kids who come dressed as Poison Elves, ( B&W Comic Book Characters, why come that way? No clue.)

At Sterling anyway an effort is usually made to stay in character it seems.

Don

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: SeanM
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 01:48 AM

This site carries the lyrics to the stuff that the group I'm with does (my site, all info no photos, please be kind)... we strive in an offhand kind of way to portray a mix of Elizabethan sailors and humorous relief...

Songs not listed on the site include, Mingulay Boat Song, and a couple others on a seasonal basis.

M

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: MMario
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 09:05 AM

T in Okla...."policed" isn't exactly how I would describe it, but using the faire I know best as an example, which is Sterling (NORTHern NY state, near Oswego, not the one down in Tuxedo) - I know that a few songs have been
a) changed because a specific date was mentioned, which was AFTER the date of the faire;
b) requested (by management) that a specific title not be done because they are OBVIOUSLY (by lyrics) anachronistic

DonM - "we" will have to get you to Sterling more often *evil laugh* I know the people at the Pillow fighting booth......*snicker* and they now know you.....besides, I think you'd enjoy a good rat puck....

Sean - I'll have to check your site out after work, you're blocked....(Curse that filter!)

Trying to figure out what I will be singing next summer...it's tough as there are several good groups at Sterling already, you don't want to sing what others are singing, but you want to have at least semi-familiar songs...one of my cohorts picked up Dan Milner's "A bonny bunch of Roses" (a bunch of bonny roses?) - it's gone some version of songs that are different enough that it looks we can do them...

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: MMario
Date: 16 Dec 99 - 09:53 PM

Sean - do you have the tunes? *whimper*

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: SeanM
Date: 17 Dec 99 - 01:59 AM

Sorry, MMario... don't have 'em... don't read music, and am having no luck at the transcription programs... Some day I'll get a tape of us, and then we'll talk...

M

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: MMario
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 11:19 PM

refreshing for the heck of it.

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 19 Apr 02 - 11:40 PM

We are loosely historic...meaning, if it can pass by the audience as being "historic sounding" (and most are not ethno-musicologists), then we can pretty much do it. This to include present day pieces like "Swing the Cat" by Meg Davis. On most days, we stick to folk (historic and present day)...but there are those occasions when the Pub Sing Director cuts loose and lets us go a little berzerk. This to include a Pyrated version of "Jailhouse Rock" called "Pyrate Jig". It's more about entertainment, and sneaking in some history where I'm from than it is strict historic re-creation. We even showed up as "The Weeds" one weekend and did some bluegrass.

Standards at Pub Sing:

I come for to sing, Wild Mountain Thyme, Roll the Chariots, Blowed and Torn, A-Roving, and a buttload more, but it's off season and I am addled of brain. :D

Subject: RE: BS: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: MMario
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 12:08 PM

refreshing for the heck of it.

Subject: RE: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: Hollowfox
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 04:59 PM

Hey, SeanM - nice site.

Subject: RE: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: SeanM
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 07:03 PM

Thanks! It's kinda defunct at this point - I've moved on to another band (The Poxy Boggards), and Geocities changed their policy to either use their template (which would require tearing the site apart and rebuilding it from scratch) or pay more money than I care to for a site that doesn't get updated all that much. *sigh*

But to the topic at hand...

The group I'm with now does a fair combination of "authentic", "traditional" and "original". Our material includes numbers such as My Man John, some Ravenscroft, Purcell and the like, and then wanders afield through songs like "Bang Away Lulu", "Good Ship Venus", "Whiskey, You're the Devil" and other fun stuff. We also do a lot of original, in the same "beer and women" vein.

Then again, our event has recently announced that we're turning fantasy. So set lists may change to reflect this over the next few seasons. But I draw the line at Tam Lin. Seriously.

M

Subject: RE: MudRennies? Song lists?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 21 Apr 03 - 07:10 PM

I think that as long as the song is in keeping with a style you can get away with anything. My great friends, "Merry Mayhem" do delightfil harmonies on some great songs. Townes Van Zandt's "Our Mother The Mountain" is hardly Renn Fare but it fits most well into the mythic, mystic groove. Many songs by Minstrals of Mayhem are brand new but suit.

Don