With the SCA there is often singing, dancing and the playing of music. Over he years I have attempted to learn to play a few instruments and a number of tunes. The instruments I play are recorder and hammered dulcimer.
I’ll add the various tunes I have learnt, or attempted to, along with copies of their sheet music.
Tinternell
Date:
Late 15th century or early 16th century
Description:
Tinternell is a lively and well-known dance tune, often associated with the Renaissance period. It is commonly categorised as a volta, a type of dance in triple time. The melody is bright and repetitive, with a rhythmic structure that invites movement, making it a popular choice for court dances and festivities of the time.
Discussion:
The origins of Tinternell are somewhat unclear, though it is generally considered to be of German or Flemish origin. It was popular across Europe during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The piece appears in a number of Renaissance collections and is often arranged for both instrumental and vocal performances. Though it originally would have been played on instruments such as the lute or organ, modern renditions of Tinternell are often arranged for ensembles of early music instruments like viols, recorders, and other period instruments.
Washerwoman's Bransle
Date:
Late 16th century
Description:
Washerwoman’s Bransle (also known as Branle des Lavandières) is a lively French dance from the Renaissance period. It belongs to the family of branles—circle or line dances popular in court and country settings across France and beyond. This particular dance is light-hearted and humorous in character, often incorporating mimed movements of washing clothes, and is suitable for both performance and participatory dance events.
Discussion:
Collected in Thoinot Arbeau’s Orchésographie (1589), a manual of Renaissance dance and music, Washerwoman’s Bransle is a fine example of music that was composed specifically to accompany dance steps. The music features a repetitive, bouncy rhythm well-suited to the mimed actions of the dance. It is typically played by a small consort of recorders, viols, or other Renaissance instruments, though it also works well for voices or mixed ensembles.