New Song - Down in the Rugged Glen
I don't know what I am doing. And I am second guessing myself. That is my pattern of thought when writing for Empire.
I thought that starting out as a bard in LT was hard - especially in the then bard-adverse Unicorns. But there was no weight of expectation. It was all baby steps. I wrote Sweet Adelena and played it once or twice to friends. I wrote A Cold Rush of Lies and played that to a few more. I wrote On The Wall, A Unicorn's Got a Horn on His Head and Fields of Talcontar and first performed them at a sanctioned event when I had half-an-hour of the factions full and undivided attention. That's how I got over.
Starting out in Empire has been different. I went into the Navarr knowing very few people and was largely unknown. Yet, the nation bard role meant I needed to hit the ground running. I think it is fair to say that I am unconventional in my approach to larp music. I try to push the envelope of what works IC. In Empire, there are a lot of bards who are doing English folk and filk. Their work seems to me to be conventional and safe - not that there is anything wrong with that - but it leaves the impression that what I am doing is not wanted. They give me very little feedback or encouragement for my work.
So self-doubt creeps in. I might love what I am doing. My mind and heart might be filled with a melody or half-written song that feels so strong that, for a little while, it becomes my whole world. Yet, I worry that it will not be appreciated. That the Empire player listening will reject it for not fitting their idea of how music should sound in the game.
It all adds up. All those looks of irritation. All those tones of indifference. All the hostility perceived or actual. The criticism and the brush-offs. I remember them for a lot longer than the moments of appreciation and shared experience.
This anxiety is a block to creativity. Songs are sitting in a mental limbo. Going over and over in my mind. But I have not finished them, because I fear that they will be ill-received. And they are not letting me move on.
It's hard going in Empire right now.
Down in the Rugged Glen is a simple folk song. It's accessible. It starts slow and beautiful. It then speeds up for a more joyous experience. And it will ear-worm you. Oh yes it will.
Down in the Rugged Glen
(slow)
Chorus
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
Verse 1
Until the time,
When ways we have trod converge into one,
Full of grace,
And gathering where we dance in the sun.
Chorus
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten.
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
(Repeat above in Double time, then)
Verse 2
And when the day turns dark,
The fires will burn and brighten the night.
Take my hand,
And dance with me 'til the dawn's first light.
Chorus
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten.
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
Coda
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten.
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
(slow) ...across the water.
I thought that starting out as a bard in LT was hard - especially in the then bard-adverse Unicorns. But there was no weight of expectation. It was all baby steps. I wrote Sweet Adelena and played it once or twice to friends. I wrote A Cold Rush of Lies and played that to a few more. I wrote On The Wall, A Unicorn's Got a Horn on His Head and Fields of Talcontar and first performed them at a sanctioned event when I had half-an-hour of the factions full and undivided attention. That's how I got over.
Starting out in Empire has been different. I went into the Navarr knowing very few people and was largely unknown. Yet, the nation bard role meant I needed to hit the ground running. I think it is fair to say that I am unconventional in my approach to larp music. I try to push the envelope of what works IC. In Empire, there are a lot of bards who are doing English folk and filk. Their work seems to me to be conventional and safe - not that there is anything wrong with that - but it leaves the impression that what I am doing is not wanted. They give me very little feedback or encouragement for my work.
So self-doubt creeps in. I might love what I am doing. My mind and heart might be filled with a melody or half-written song that feels so strong that, for a little while, it becomes my whole world. Yet, I worry that it will not be appreciated. That the Empire player listening will reject it for not fitting their idea of how music should sound in the game.
It all adds up. All those looks of irritation. All those tones of indifference. All the hostility perceived or actual. The criticism and the brush-offs. I remember them for a lot longer than the moments of appreciation and shared experience.
This anxiety is a block to creativity. Songs are sitting in a mental limbo. Going over and over in my mind. But I have not finished them, because I fear that they will be ill-received. And they are not letting me move on.
It's hard going in Empire right now.
Down in the Rugged Glen is a simple folk song. It's accessible. It starts slow and beautiful. It then speeds up for a more joyous experience. And it will ear-worm you. Oh yes it will.
Down in the Rugged Glen
(slow)
Chorus
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
Verse 1
Until the time,
When ways we have trod converge into one,
Full of grace,
And gathering where we dance in the sun.
Chorus
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten.
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
(Repeat above in Double time, then)
Verse 2
And when the day turns dark,
The fires will burn and brighten the night.
Take my hand,
And dance with me 'til the dawn's first light.
Chorus
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten.
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
Coda
Down in the rugged glen,
From olden days that are for-gotten.
Over the hills and then,
Across the water.
(slow) ...across the water.