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NICOL MAC DONNACHAIDH

Poet and Bard of the Eastern Kingdom


Latest Blog Entries


Medieval Linguistics, the next great rabbit hole
After a conversation with Magnus, I decided (I like to think
that I decided it, but perhaps I was shuffled into this decision)
to look into the origins linguistic study. The question before me
now is what I can learn about how linguistics was viewed in a
medieval sense, by actual medieval people, if anything at all.

Robert Cooke, Herald Extraordinary; Or Caveat Lector
You know, sometimes. Sometimes, you decide to pick
up what you think is going to be a boring little research
project after work on a Friday afternoon ...

Tarot Reading at Pennsic for Queen Fortune

Reciting "The Lost Boys' Stand"
at Great Northeastern War

Presenting a lecture on
Renaissance Mythological Epic at UNE

Receiving his Silver Brooch
from TRM Ivan and Natavia

Biography

Nicol mac Donnachaidh has hailed from many corners of the Province of Malagentia, and is a far traveled scribe, bard, and general rabble rouser in the truest tradition of the East Kingdom. Long squired to Syr Matthew des Arden, he is a proud member of the House of the Crucible, of the Duchy von Drakenklaue. While his sword and his helm have long been hung up for the silly reason of "being too old for this shit", he still proudly takes pen to paper, extolling the deeds of the East Kingdom populace when they have been recognized by Their Majesties.

He has been a writer of classical forms for as long as he can remember, and takes great pride in his ability to emulate poems and songs from a variety of periods and cultures. A lover of a well placed joke, he considers the stories he tells about his friends to be the sparkling jewels of his repertoire, and has written several stories of prowess and "prowess" about his beloved housemates. Rumors abound that he has been known to tell many big fish stories about the number of combatants he has slain on the field of Pennsic.

In the SCA, as in his modern life, he loves teaching. He has taught classes on music, poetry, the art of wordcraft, the craft of wordart, and everything in between. He has presented original works at bardic circles throughout the kingdom, and failed to deliver on promises to not make Mistress Camille cry for several years now. Awarded his Silver Tyger from Kennric and Avelina, and his Silver Brooch from Ivan and Natavia, he brings his ferocity for life to everything that he does, and would love to write his next song for, or about, you!

Research Projects

The Rise of the Castrati in EarlyOpera

An examination into the way Castratti were employed throughout the Renaissance period, including the history of the practice and the social attitudes surrounding it

Text of the presentation

Video of the presentation

Bibliography

Walkthrough of a Late Period Grant

Here is a walk through of the research, deconstruction, and assembly processes that I went through when creating a Court Barony based on Late Period documents sourced from the English Chancery

Video Presentation

Sources

I also worked with this scroll on my 2022 A&S Championships entry!

Paper

Video discussion with judges

Walkthrough of a Poetry based scroll text

Here is a walk through of how to create a scroll text based on a period poetical form that is tailored to the persona

Video Presentation

Arts and Sciences Competition Portfolio

A model for modifying a period text into the scroll text format.

Graphic of Process

One Page Write Up

A research model for non-European styles and personas

Graphic of Process

One Page Write Up

A model for marrying music-derived text and the scroll text format

Graphic of Process

One Page Write Up

A model for using the Laxdæla Saga as a source for scroll texts.

Graphic of Process

One Page Write Up

A model building a scroll text from Byzantine Ceremonial sources

Graphic of Process

One Page Write Up

Classes Taught

Here is a sampling of some of the classes that I have taught througout the kingdom. When they are still available, handouts and class notes are available for download. Any of these classes are available to be presented in person or virtually by request.

Scroll Texts in the Time of Pandemic

How have texts pivoted to reflect current procedure? "Is is seldom possible to say of the medievals that they *always* did one thing and never another; they were marvelously inconsistent." Thomas Cahill

Slide Deck

Language Analysis and Modification

This may be the driest title for a slide deck ever. But, in this presentation and the accompanying 1 hour long class, I can show you the technique of taking period texts, finding the useful pieces, and reconstructing them into a scroll for an award. And don't let the fact that the exemplar in this class is in a different language!

Slide Deck

How to create the shortest scroll text possible

It can be said that all my classes were born from a challenge presented before me, and this is no exception. In looking at the scroll text requirements, while given an exceptionally tight window, I started thinking about how long a text has to be to hit all the bullet points. Analysis ensues!

Slide Deck

All my class documentation is available here, even if those classes are not currently in rotation

Bardic Works

At the end of the day, I have always styled myself as a performer. That comes from my long history as a musician before I joined the SCA, and my love of specifically the spoken word of poetry, stories, and theater. Here are some original bardic works that I have created and performed

Mairghread and The Dragon

A story of a fair maiden who sought a solution to a problem that no one had thought of before.

Text

Audio

The Crowning of the Winter Witch

What folly, what hubris, do we who seek the warmth of the sun employ when the snows of winter begin to fall. But, be careful what you wish for, the gods in their humor may just grant it after all.

Text

Video of the premier performance!

The Lost Boys Stand

When two Silver Tygers from the feared Army of the Eastern Kingdom held the stand against the might of the MidRealm

Text

Audio

The Ballad of Peter the Red

An erstwhile squire takes the field, and runs a foul of his dread bow!

Audio

The Day when Gregor Broke his Guitar

The best stories have a hint of truth to them. This one is no exception

Audio

There are plenty more where that came from too! Join me around a fire, keep your mug filled, and maybe I will introduce you to my friend Henry, tell you the story of The Red Veil, or tell you about the feared Admiral of the Armies!

Awards of Precedence

Award of Arms, Great Northeast War XXIX, Malagentia. July 11, 2014

Order of the Silver Tyger, Coronation of Kennric III and Avelina III, Quintavia. April 9, 2016

Order of the Silver Brooch, East Kindgom Twelfth Night, Endewearde. January 6, 2018

Other Honors

Most Chivalrous, Tourney on a Summer's Day, Hadchester, June 7, 2014

Runner-up, Golden Sword Tournament, The Palio of the Barony of Stonemarche, June 15, 2014

Champion, Newcomers Tournament, Panteria XX, Panther Vale May 23, 2015

Squired to Syr Matthew des Arden, Great Northeast War XXIX, Malagentia, July 10, 2015.

Queen's Guard to Avelina III, Coronation of Kennric III and Avelina III, Quintavia, April 9, 2016.

Inducted to the Order of the Buccelari (VDK Haus Order), Pennsic XLV.

Queen's Guard to Honig, Coronation of Ioannes and Honig, Dragonship Haven, April 1, 2017.

Bardic Champion of Malagentia, Autumn's Inspirations, October 20, 2018.

Recipient of The Flame, for service to the Barony of Bhakail, July 2019.

Queen's Guard to Fortune, Coronation of Ozurr and Fortune, April 2019.