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Hafla at House Barra – Filk

Sapor Secui and Hafla at War of the Wings

A #fiveminutefilk to the tune of Hotel California

On a torch lit roadway, cool wind in our hair
Warm smell of the hookah, rising up through the air
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a gate in the night
Needed a drink and heard the music’s din and
I had to stop for the night.

There they played by the doorway;
I heard the riqs and zills
And I was thinking to myself
‘This could be ‘Barra’ or ‘Notting Hill”
Then they stood by the wayside and they showed me the way
There were voices from the great hall behind,
I thought I heard them say

Welcome to the Hafla at House Barra
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Such a lovely place.
Plenty of room at the Hafla at House Barra
If its Friday dear (if its Friday dear) you can find it here

Their minds are musically-twisted, the dancers whirl and bend
Some are also pretty boys, and we’re all friends
How they dance in the common space, by the crimson sunset
Some dance to Lamma Badda, others to Bir Demet

So I called out to Cameron,
‘Please bring me my wine’
He said, ‘we haven’t had that spirit here since fourteen sixty-nine’
In the night the sound of drumming goes far away,
As they play through the middle of the night
as the dancers sway

Welcome to the Hafla at House Barra
Such a lovely place (such a lovely place)
Was that a Camel Race?!
They livin’ it up at the Hafla at House Barra
Bring a drink to share (bring a drink to share), and perhaps a chair

Kegs built in the wallspace,
That mead sure sounds nice
And they said, ‘we are all just prisoners here, each here for our vice’
And in the Great Hall tables,
From the fruit of the yeast
They drink it up with their steely cups,
But they just can’t finish the beast

Last thing I remember, I was
Sitting on the floor
Somehow I thought that I could drum but I just cant play 4/4
‘Relax’ said friend Cameron,
‘with your camel as your steed.
you can race him any time you like,
a Camel Cup you might receive!’

Written for an event at War of the Wings 2017

Chasing the Dream – Peerage and Expectations

“What do I have to do to become a Peer?” Its like saying ‘someday I want to be President’.

A specific President? To do the things that one President did? The power of the position? Prestige? What about the position or title is truly attractive? Is it inferred that with the title/power comes the ability to perform great acts of good?

Im not sure I totally agree, but this sentiment always pops up in my head, “If you have to ask, you aren’t one”

There are two main reasons for asking, perceived or real:

1) we simply don’t know what PLQ’s are, or what the  ‘job’ entails. The logistics of the title.

2) people want a checklist to follow to follow the path.

In other words, we have a general educational request or want to know what we need to do.

I think this premise is important, being a Knight/MoD/Pelican/Laurel isn’t honorable for its namesake, those that carry that title make it great. The recognition is right in that they embody what that title should mean. If the title is bestowed it means the dream lives in these people, and if it doesn’t then the office has been cheapened by their inclusion. Those in the Society that embody the dream, a title makes it no more or less true. We all know these people. Hopefully not for the title but for what they give to all of us. Their actions, and much more (we all hope) did. A Peerage is not a popularity contest and the value of a Peer should be recognizable regardless of how well connected or popular.

Being the best you can be for the Society, and yourself for its own rewards. Being recognized is good, and in some cases long overdue. In other cases may never come due to history, or other reasons.

What about burnout? If people spend all their time trying to attain a title and it never comes, it can create bitterness, jealousy, and worse. If you truly are happy with your path, is not the work reward enough?

As I say all this, I fight for the Valiance Proposal because I feel that each person should have a path to peerage, not based on the weapon they wield, or the art they pursue.

Being a Peer is not a goal anyone should chase. I truly hope that when someone is considered for a peerage, or an order, that these decisions are not made lightly and that they are a worthy regardless of whether they title was bestowed or not.

We know that everyone can’t grow up to be President, but it doesn’t mean we stop trying, we simply adjust our goals. Never forget the good in this world, and in our Society, flows from wealth of spirit and giving as we strive to be better people.

We can’t all be Peers, but we can all make the Society a better place.

What are the kids dancing to these days?

Bellydancers with zills

I know as a drummer and beginning oud player, there are songs I like to play. Some of them touch me in a way, and others I like the technicality and challenge.

I also know that dancers love certain songs. Whether its the rhythm or familiarity, perhaps some emotional tie, whatever the reason.

Certainly there is crossover when it comes to musicians and dancers. If we looked at a Venn diagram, I’d wager there is a lot of crossover.

Speaking with other musician though it seems that there are songs they like and I have heard dancers make statements like, “Whoah, thats CRAZY fast”.

As a budding musician I understand better what musicians want to hear and play better than what dancers want to perform to. This poll is for you dancers: What songs do you expect/want to hear when you are at a hafla in an SCA style setting?

As a bellydancer, what are you favorite songs?

  • Habibi Ya Enyi (17%, 3 Votes)
  • Garoon Garoon (17%, 3 Votes)
  • Enta Omri (11%, 2 Votes)
  • Fire Dance (11%, 2 Votes)
  • Misirlou (11%, 2 Votes)
  • Ah Ya Zein (6%, 1 Votes)
  • Zeina (6%, 1 Votes)
  • Tamr Henna (6%, 1 Votes)
  • Rompi Rompi (6%, 1 Votes)
  • Other (6%, 1 Votes)
  • Aziza (6%, 1 Votes)
  • Lamma Badda Yatathanna (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Sulukule (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Efem (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Yesilim (0%, 0 Votes)
  • Mevlana (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 6

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Please comment below if you have other song suggestions! Thoughts on specific rhythms, timing?