Hey Folks,

I am involved in historical re-enactments with the Society for Creative Anachronism. I am not hugely active presently, although I do play for our dances and occasionally play at our "Bardic Circles." I have been struggling lately with the perennial dilemma of what songs to lead people in. I am not a huge fan of Filk songs. My preference is for folkey stuff, but authenticity nazi's get upset about that sometimes because they don't always fall within our period (mid 1600's and earlier). Ironically, sometimes they have no problem at all with silly songs about modern SCA events sung to the tune of House of the Rising Sun or the Theme to Gilligans Island!

I know you can't please all of the people all of the time, but I would like to find some acceptably period songs that are fun to sing and you don't need a degree in music to teach or learn them. My compromise of late has been to pick songs that _sound_ as if they could have been period and avoid references to things that are grossly out of period.

Most of the sources I have found only list lyrics and no melodies or chord charts. Obviously all three would be very helpful. Any suggestions on where I can go to start my search?

Beau