Subject: 	[BBR] March issue Vol. 1 No. 2

This is the BlackBird Recording mailing list.  If you don't want to receive this list any more, just drop me a note and I'll take you off.

NEWS FROM THE RECORDING FRONT:
Estrella was very good this year.  The album was picked up by retailers and so distribution and sales should increase.  As a result however, BlackBird Recording has had to raise the price of "Lays" to $10.00.  They will still be honoring the original price until Memorial Day weekend of this year.  They are requesting a hardcopy of the original ad with the order.

NEWS FROM THE PERFORMING FRONT:
Again, Estrella was great!  My lady and I stayed with Ironwood Loch from Atenvelt.  (Wonderful people and wonderful mead!)  Met many new people and saw a lot of old friends.

As usual, my lady and I are planning to attend both Potrero Wars (May and Sept.)

I have been asked to perform again at this years Age of Chivalry Renaissance Faire in Las Vegas over Columbus day weekend.  I'll be there starting on Friday for the kids and Saturday and Sunday for the general public.  There will be a Celtic Festival going on simultaneously on the other side of the lake.

Plans are also in the works for a trip to Uprising in Artemesia.  No word yet on whether that will go through, but we are currently discussing it with the principals.

NEWS FROM THE WRITING FRONT:
Yes!  I've been mugged by the Muse again!  Sort of.  I wrote a song at Estrella for Grand Court which went over fairly well.  

I have also finished a song which has been in the works for about six years now.  It's not an SCA song, in fact it's to promote the Space Program.  It was originally supposed to be a tribute to the Challenger, but when Ioseph told me about a space album that he was putting together, I talked with him about this song and he suggested that it should be a gospel hymn.  It worked and it's done.  So I've got two more songs for the next album!

The current songlist for the second album is:
The Wish
The Barbarian Freehold Alliance
The Price of Steel - By Ld. Draughir
Red Belt, Silver Spurs
On The Making of a Lady
William's Wedding Song
The Crescent of Caid
I Loved Thee Ere
Choose Wisely 
Song of the Kingdoms (listed below)
and
Place in the Sky (listed below)

There is also a possibility that I might be able to record "Pennsic Rhapsody" by Logan of Guille if I can get the appropriate permissions.
(I haven't followed up on this yet.)

That's about it for this report.  I'll try to get another one out before May War.

Please give me any feedback on this newsletter and again, let me know if you do not wish to be included.

Rathflaed DuNoir
The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
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"Bard's Make the Best Lays" available at: 
BlackBird Recording
PO Box 75
Tustin, CA. 92780

Cassettes: $10.00 inc. S&H.  Songbooks: $2.50 + $1.00 S&H
(CA residents please add 7.75% Sales Tax for the songbook)
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Song of the Kingdoms
	By Rathflaed DuNoir
	The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
	mka: Stephen R. Melvin

This song was written for Grand Court at Estrella XIV.  Her Majesty of An Tir wished to do something a bit different during the "gift-exchange" and so had me write and sing this for the gifting.  The verses can be sung in any order and were intended that way because we had no way of knowing which gifts would be given at which times.

Aethelmarc:
      C				       F
We honor this fine kingdom, who stands so straight and tall,
C				F	G      C
We sing of Aethelmarc, the youngest of us all!

An Tir:
All honor to you An Tir, full well may you boast,
We sing of mighty An Tir, the Brave and Bonny Host!

Ansteorra:
Now honor Ansteorra, Known both wide and far,
We sing of Ansteorra, at the rising of the Star!

Artemesia:
We sing of Artemesia, the gryphon gold and black!
We sing of Artemesia, no honor do you lack!

Atenvelt:
The land of the Phoenix, the land of the sun,
Proud father of kingdoms, sing Atenvelt the one!

Atlantia:
The bravest of warriors, and the poet's friend,
Fair Lady of Atlantia, we honor you again!

Caid:
The kingdom of the Crescent, who keeps the western shore,
We give honor to fair, fine Caid, and they honor us the more!

Calontir:
The center of the Knowne Worlde, their shieldwall knows no fear,
We honor this fine kingdom, now sing of Calontir!

Drachenwald:
The Kingdom of the Dragon, brings honor to us all.
So let us now give honor, unto Drachenwald!

Eastrealm:
The Eastrealm has the seaboard, proud tigers and the hills.
All honor to the Eastrealm, our hearts are with it filled!

Meridies:
Honor to this kingdom side to side and forth and back,
Let us praise the chivalry of the silver and the black.
My heart still holds you dear, my home, though I wander all my days,
I sing now of my homeland, of fine Meridies!

Midrealm:
Much glory and much honor, with ceremony grand,
We praise the Middle Kingdom, who's known throughout the land!

Outlands:
Persistence and rich valor, the Outlands are so bold,
The stag upon the green field, embattled by the gold!

Trimaris:
A kingdom by the water, Trimaris stands so proud,
So let us sing their praises; we sing them strong and loud!

West:
The first one and the foremost, and some might say the best!
So let us sing the praises of the Kingdom of the West!

February 14, 1998
A Place in the Sky
	By Rathflaed DuNoir
	The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
	mka: Stephen R. Melvin

With a Gospel Feel!

Chorus:
	       C			         F
We've got places to be, we've got new worlds to see,
C			    G
We've got a place in the sky!
	     C				   F
There are things to be done, there are worlds to be won,
	C	    G		   C
So it's off to the stars and goodbye!

	     C					        F
There's a hundred thousand worlds out there and each and every one,
      C				         G
Is made of air and water, earth and sand,
		C				   F
So pack your gear aboard the ship, it's time to take a little trip,
      C		        G			 C
C'mon we're off to find the promised land!

Chorus:

We've got a chance at everything our hearts have ever known,
Let's seize the moment now, before it's passed,
We've looked up to the skies for at least five hundred lives,
Now the heavens are right there within our grasp!

Chorus:

The cities on our  planet Earth get bigger every day,
And choked by gases poured out from our cars,
Take my hand and we'll be gone to find ourselves a brand new sun,
It's time to take our place out in the stars!

Chorus:

Our fathers came from every land aboard this starship Earth,
"Freedom!" was the age old battle cry!
Well, it's time to pack your gear, for someplace far away from here,
We're going to build our next place in the sky!

Chorus (x2):

March 18, 1988