Subject: 	BBR 05

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:

Not much new on the recording front.  The possibility that I will be
going in to record the second album later this year still exists, but
it's looking more and more like it's going to be early next year.  I'll
keep everyone posted.  

Just a reminder: if any of you know of someone who might want to link to
the site (BlackBird or Cantaria) please let them know so that they can
do so.  

Don't forget to let people know that we are holding a lottery!  Everyone
to sign up for the electronic mailing list, or who places an order
between now and when the next tape comes out will be put into a drawing
to receive a free copy of the next tape.  So if you know anyone who
might be interested, be sure to let them know.

We're still looking for more retailers to pick up the albums/songbooks.
If you know of anyone who might be interested, please let me know.

On the production front, there was a typo in the songbook.  If you have
a songbook, you are missing about 2 paragraphs from "Beowulf - The
Storybook Version".  If anyone has a songbook and would like to receive
a replacement page by snail mail, send a self-addressed, Stamped
Envelope and We'll send you a replacement page.  Sorry about that; it
slipped through the QA cracks.  If you'd like the file via e-mail, let
me know and I'll send it back to you.  It is a Word 6.0 file.

NEWS FROM THE PERFORMING FRONT:

Went to the "Age of Chivalry Renaissance Faire" in Las Vegas.  Turned a
tidy profit on the trip and all of it is going to the next album.
Didn't get any new pics for the website; I hope to get some at Rampage
on the River III this weekend.  Had a great time with Yonaton and the
Guild of St. Francis.  They are an acting/puppet troupe and just for
Michael, I'd like to say they're mean, rotten people (*wink*, *wink*,
*nudge*,*nudge*)

Saturday night of Vegas Faire, I snuck off to StarkWars and was rather
surprised to find out that Connal and Scianna are now the Baron and
Baroness of Starkhafn.  If you're a bard, Starkhafn is a real good place
to visit right now. ;)  Connal and Scianna are MSoBs and they wore their
motley to the investiture.  Three cheers for the first MSoB _landed_
Baron and Baroness (to the best of my knowledge anyway)!

No idea or not whether I'll go to Baron's War or not.  I took a bit ill
after Vegas Faire and the rest of the year is pretty booked with mundane
stuff.  I'll keep everyone posted.

I've entered a competition that DiscMakers puts on every year.  I don't
know if my stuff is original enough to win a shot at the finals, but
maybe they'll give me the chance to put a little bit of chivalry back
into the mundane world.  Keep it in your prayers and wish me luck!

NEWS FROM THE WRITING FRONT:

Hopefully, everyone got "1066 - The Storybook Version" after the last
newsletter.  (If you didn't get it, let me know.)  It went over very
well at the faire and StarkWars.

For this newsletter, I've got "The Archer King".  The Archers of St.
Artemas (my old College for those who don't know) liked it very much.
Let me know if you like it.

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 
Place in the Sky 
A Period Song 
The Public Face of Honor 
and 
1066 - The Storybook Version

No changes there.  :)

Remember that I only get to check my permanent e-mail address about once
per week.  It is:

Rathflaed@hotmail.com

Thanks again for everyone's support.  Hope to see you soon.  Until then,
may the muse gift you with the words and music to make your life bloom.

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

Cassettes: $10.00 inc. S&H.  Songbooks: $3.50 inc. S&H
(CA residents please add 7.75% Sales Tax)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------
The Archer King
				By Rathflaed DuNoir
				The Black Bard of Meridies, MSoB
				mka: Stephen R. Melvin

Kind of a talking blues rhythm

C			    G
Once upon a time, there lived a mighty king,
         F						C
In a kingdom that was known both wide and far,
	   C				 G
For the prowess of its warriors, their skill with sword and shield,
	  F				       C
And the tactics that they'd use to win the war.

Now when an army needs to train, it fights a battle false,
So the king he took and divvied up the sides,
But before the fight had gone too far, an arrow took the king,
And in the battle, 'twas that arrow turned the tide.

Now the king he got a little mad that couldn't play his game,
So he said there's no more archers on the field,
And not a man took up the bow for the next ten years or more,
For if they did, they knew their fate was sealed.

So the cloud of shafts that filled the air was no more to be seen,
Until another kingdom came to play,
Now that kingdom said, "We want your land, although we've heard you're
strong.
You'll have to beat us 'fore you make us go away!"

So the king he called his men to war like he had a hundred times,
And the cry rang out, "All archers to the fore!"
Then about three men stepped to the line, the loyal bows of old,
But the enemy sent out three hundred more.

So the skies were darkened once again by feathers, blades and shafts,
Only this time they were pointed not away,
And the king he learned that sword and shield might do for battles
false,
But they won't suffice when another comes to play.

So the moral of this story it should be quite plain to see,
That each and every weapon has its place,
And just because the game's not fun, don't take the toys and go,
For you'll need Every One, when foes you face.

15 Sep 98