Listening to Chaucer in Middle English

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Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales (Westminster: William ...How did our medieval English counterparts really sound? Would we have been able to understand them?

An app developed by a team at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, with the help and encouragement of medieval scholar and Monty Python alum Terry Jones, has made it possible to hear and see the General Prologue of the Canterbury Tales on your phone, tablet or computer.
The free app is available from iPhone’s app store, Google Play and at http://www.sd-editions.com/CantApp/GP/.

The app allows you to hear Chaucer’s words as they would have sounded in his day while the prologue is displayed in both Middle English and modern English. The app displays one or two lines at a time, advancing as the narration proceeds. It’s a fascinating way to learn more about Chaucer and Middle English. You can also see the full prologue in either Middle English or its modern translation.

You also can just listen to the narration like a podcast, but without the modern translation to guide you, it can be a bit difficult to understand. If you want to listen to the Canterbury Tales in modern English, you can find downloadable audiobooks and audiobook CDs at most libraries.

If you’re not interested in the text or you don’t want to download another app, you can see the 2015 performance of the prologue at https://artsandscience.usask.ca/english/research/performances/the-general-prologue-in-historically-based-performance.php.

This was one of the last things Terry Jones worked on before he died earlier this year, and the team dedicated the app to him.

Peter Robinson of the University of Saskatchewan described to Open Culture how Jones’ behind-the-scenes influence helped drive this project. “‘His work and his passion for Chaucer was an inspiration for us. We talked a lot about Chaucer and it was his idea that the Tales would be turned into a performance.'”

The Open Culture website noted that “The strangeness of Middle English to our eyes and ears can make approaching the Canterbury Tales for the first time a daunting experience. The Chaucer app is an excellent research tool for scholars, yet the researchers want ‘the public, not just academics to see the manuscript as Chaucer would have likely thought of it,’ says Robinson, ‘as a performance that mixed drama and humor.’ In other words, reading Chaucer should be fun.

“Why else would Terry Jones—a man who knew his comedy as well as his medieval history—spend decades reading and writing about him?”*

*”Terry Jones, the Late Monty Python Actor, Helped Turn Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales Into a Free App: Explore It Online,” Open Culture, http://www.openculture.com/2020/02/terry-jones-the-late-monty-python-actor-helped-turn-chaucers-canterbury-tales-into-a-free-app.html, retrieved April 25, 2020.

Announcement: Pennsic 49 Postponed to 2021

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PENNSIC 49 – COVID 19 UPDATE
24th April 2020

G’Day Everyone,

COVID-19 is touching all of our lives and at this time our primary concern is the safety and well-being of our Pennsic Attendees, Cooper’s Lake Family and Staff:, the entire Community of people in and around Cooper’s Lake Campground we interact and depend upon, and our numerous vendors who supply our event. They are all part of the “Pennsic-War-Family”.

When I took on the office of Mayor of Pennsic 49, I promised to, and was entrusted with, the welfare and safety of the entire Pennsic Family. It is therefore with great sadness that I must inform you today that, we have decided to postpone Pennsic 49, scheduled for July 24, 2020 through August 9, 2020 to July 30, 2021 through August 15, 2021.

This postponement will come as heartbreaking news to many of you – and it has been an exceedingly difficult decision for us to make. Since the first Pennsic Wars at Cooper’s Lake we have been so proud to welcome people from all over the Knowne World to beautiful lands of Aethelmearc, but this year, sadly we cannot gather together as before.

As many of you have read in my previous COVID-19 updates, the impact of this terrible pandemic has effects that reach far past just those that attend Pennsic War. I will not go into all our considerations here again, you can all read my previous two posts that outline many of the factors we considered before making this decision. However, on this one occasion the emotion of Pennsic needed to be removed and the hard decision made.

It has been arranged with Cooper’s Lake Management, that those who have preregistered for Pennsic 49 may have their registrations rolled over to 2021.
If you desire a refund, please go to www.cooperslake.com and log into your pre-registration account.

Even if we cannot be together this July, we remain optimistic that the situation will soon improve. I know we are all very worried about the impact that COVID-19 is having on our loved ones and daily lives. My Pennsic team and I send you our very best wishes. We cannot wait to share time together at Cooper’s Lake again with you all.

Yours,

Sir Gregory of Loch Swan
Mayor
Pennsic 49

From Their Royal Majesties: All Calontir Events Canceled for Month of May

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Gleaned from Facebook

All Calontiri,

It is with no small amount of disappointment that Her Majesty Tamar and I will be canceling all Calontir events for the Month of May.

In the past few days we have heard from leaders of our Cities and States. Missouri has announced that they will begin phasing out stay at home activities as they begin reopening “non-essential business” starting May 4th, Kansas has similar plans to begin on May 3rd, Nebraska on May 1, and Iowa on May 3rd. The Cities of Kansas City and St. Louis have extended their stay at home orders until Mid-May.

The common theme among these announcements at this time is, that while every civil community is optimistic, we are not yet prepared for large unessential gatherings. We know that this is not the news you wanted to hear, and it is certainly not the news we wished to deliver. We do believe that it is the best course of action.

We will continue to reassess as time passes and with all of us safe and healthy hope to continue our regular schedule soon.

You have all been amazing in these trying times. We appreciate all the extra effort you have given over the past few weeks and it gladdens us to see you all embrace our common cause. You stalwarts. You Dauntless.

To do other than we have chosen would potentially sacrifice many of you needlessly and that we could not abide.

Semper Fidelis
Lucian and Tamar

A Message from the Pennsic Autocrat

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Codex Manesse, UB Heidelberg, Cod. Pal. germ. 848, fol. 17r, “Herzog von Anhalt”, 1305-1315. Public Domain in the United States

Message from Sir Gregory of Loch Swan, reposted from the Æthelmearc Gazette:

G’Day Everyone,

The past month has seen significant change in the COVID-19 threat and risk overlay for Pennsic 49. The cancellation of major events throughout the modern world such as, The Olympic Games (July 2020) in Japan, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (July/Aug 2020) in Scotland and major events across the USA, plus the restriction of travel both nationally and internationally, have indicated to me that this world-wide pandemic is having an ongoing longer effect on the planning and running of Pennsic 49 in July/August 2020 than could have been foreseen.

In addition, last week has seen the cancellation of Æthelmearc War Practice and the closure of all schools in Pennsylvania for the rest of the school year.

Cognizant of these changes I have asked Viscount Edward to liaise with the Coopers Lake management and identify a final notification date for the continuance of Pennsic 49 in 2020.

This is not to be viewed as a cancellation of the event; it simply allows me to have a “timeline” for decision making and allows me to further consider the impact of events on my recommendations to the Pennsic Seneschals Group (PSG).

It is therefore incumbent upon me to plan for as many possible outcomes as I can foresee. To that end, I have requested that the PSG have a virtual meeting, on a mutually suitable date between 20 to 25 April 2020. At that meeting, discussions will be held regarding several impacting factors for Pennsic 49 in 2020.

My primary concern will be to ensure the safety of the Pennsic War attendees, the Coopers Lake community and staff, as well as the impact on businesses in and around Coopers Lake Campground area.

We need to also consider the recovery period for businesses in the local area that would normally supply Pennsic with part of our infrastructure for the event to run safely and effectively. This includes but is not limited to everything from the contracted EMS Service to tents and golf carts.

I have been in discussions with James Brezel from the Coopers Lake management group over the past weeks to ascertain their position as no matter which way we go, it will have a great financial impact on their business. I cannot comment on things that Coopers Lake Campground supplies from Porta-Johns to Coopers casual staff and the Pennsic Store, I will leave that to James and the Coopers Lake management to evaluate as they know that side well and what effects COVID-19 has had on the supply chain to them.

All the above needs to be considered and discussed before any final decision/s are made. That decision does not include the overarching authority by local, county, state or federal agencies that would override any decision made by either ourselves or Coopers Lake management and which is beyond our control.

I am looking at a lot and taking into account all options and considerations not only for the people who attend Pennsic every year, but also for the Coopers management and staff. In addition, we need to consider the impact and opinions of the local people and businesses, in and around Pennsic. I especially need to look at if the local businesses can still supply or are in a position to supply the attendees to Pennsic 49.

On top of this we need to consider the impact on the local community of 8,000 to 10,000 people turning up from all over the USA and internationally and what the health effect that may have both physically and reputation-wise to the SCA, Pennsic, and the Coopers Lake Campground.

Add to that the constant changing figures in the USA, shutdown of state borders, local, county, state, and federal changes in the movement of people, and last but not least the projected recovery time, even if this bottoms out by the end of June. This is a juggling game where we cannot afford to drop a ball. So, I am being measured, careful, factual, and logical in our approach.

Be assured, we are all working towards the best possible solution. It is my desire to have a final decision advertised no later than 15 May 2020. This will allow people to change plans if necessary and/or prepare for a Pennsic that might be very different to that we have attended before.

As you are all no doubt aware by now… I like to Plan for the Known and Prepare for the Unknown. I have a fantastic staff and great support from the PSG and Coopers Lake management.

I will keep you all advised on the outcome of our discussions and planning.

In Service to you all
Gregory
Mayor
Pennsic 49

Bored Calontiri are Dangerous Calontiri: Dance Video Edition

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In the spirit of making our own fun, two dance video challenges are being posted on Facebook. The challenges are based on this video that the Midrealm posted earlier:

Both ask that Calontiri video themselves, in garb and/or armor, and send the resulting video to an editor to combine into a group video for all to see.

One challenge, posted by Lady Æsa Jarnauga, request folks video themselves dancing to MC Hammer’s Can’t Touch This:

“It can be the whole dance or just a part of it. Make sure your video is in landscape format and that i can hear the music (even just barely) so i can match it! Get your video’s sent by the 18th and include your SCA name! You don’t have to have armor, just garb! PM or email video to Wolf.n.girl@gmail.com

 

The second challenge is from Lady Quiteria la Roja:

“After much talking, debating, and much giggling, we would like to present to you our challenge to make a video of yourselves dancing to Cha Cha Slide (the dance moves are literally the song so anybody can follow!) and sending that video via phone, computer, or whatever method works best for you, to Master Conrad Martin von Kassel ( michaelfsauer@gmail.com ) by 4/19/2020 so that he might work a little magic for us all!

So don your favorite garb, armor, or both and remember, above all, this is meant to be fun! We may not be able to be together physically, but we will always be together as the family that is Calontir in spirit.

We need everybody to use this video (see below) and allow at least 5 seconds at the beginning before the dance in the recording. Please make sure you can hear the audio in the recording so that he can work his magic.

Thanks!

CALONTIR!!!!”

Email Subscription Issues

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It has come to our attention that our email subscription plugin is no longer reliably sending out emails. While we work to fix this, please visit the website regularly, and consider subscribing via RSS. If you have any questions about how to do that, please email me directly and I will assist you.

 

Mathurin Kerbusso
Editor-in-Chief

Announcement: Membership Expiration Dates Extended

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During the mandated quarantine period, membership expiration dates of March 2020 onward will not be considered lapsed, and newsletter access will still be available. Please see the full announcement from the SCA Membership Office.

Comments are strongly encouraged and can be sent to:
SCA Inc.
Box 360789
Milpitas,  CA 95036

You may also email comments@lists.sca.org.

This announcement is an official informational release by the Society for Creative Anachronism , Inc.  Permission is granted to reproduce this announcement in its entirety in newsletters, websites and electronic mailing lists.