Laurel A. Rockefeller's Blog, page 10
December 14, 2024
Music and lyrics for “Gaudete”
If you follow my work, you probably know that for about 20 years I was a singer in the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval reenactment society that loosely studies and practices the “best part” of the middle ages. For SCA purposes, that’s approximately from 600 CE to 1603 CE with the death of England’s Queen Elizabeth I Tudor.
Along the years I learned many medieval carols. One of my favorites to sing is a Latin carol from 1420 called “Gaudete.” It appears on the album “A Feas...
December 12, 2024
Timeline: Eleanor of Aquitaine
Eleanor of Aquitaine (Aliénor d’Aquitaine) is one of the most famous medieval queens in all of European history, much more famous than her equally influential mother-in-law Empress Matilda of England.
Here is the timeline appendix from my narrative biography about Eleanor.
Timeline583; Gallo-Roman Desiderius of Aquitaine is gifted the duchy of Aquitaine by Merovingian king of the Franks, Chilperic I. Beginning of Aquitaine as an independent duchy.
987; Hugh Capet establishes the...
December 10, 2024
Una celebración de Janucá. Extracto de Hipatia de Alejandría
Hipatia de Alejandría fue una de las mayores científicas y filósofas del Egipto ptolemaico. Respetaba profundamente a sus colegas judíos y se enfrentó a los apasionados seguidores del patriarca Teófilo, dispuestos a usar la violencia contra quienes no estaban de acuerdo con ellos.
En esta escena del capítulo cinco de “Hipatia de Alejandría”, Hipatia celebra Hanukkah con sus amigos más cercanos durante una cena con una gran botella de vino y conversaciones intensas sobre política.
December 3, 2024
Feliz navidad Catalina. Extracto de Catalina de Valois: Princesa Francesa, Matriarca De Los Tudor
Me encanta Shakespeare. Mi obra favorita siempre ha sido Enrique V. No es de extrañar, entonces, que el segundo libro que escribí para la serie Mujeres legendarias de la historia mundial fuera Catalina de Valois.
En vísperas de la guerra con Inglaterra, Catalina celebra la Navidad con su madre, la reina Isabeau de Baviera. Presenta el villancico, Veni Veni.
“Veni veni, Emmanuel captivum solve Israel, qui gemit in exsilio, pri...
November 27, 2024
María visita a su hijo por última vez. Extracto de María Estuardo, reina de Escocia
La pérdida de su hijo James fue una de las mayores tragedias en la vida de la reina María. Los enemigos protestantes de la corte se lo robaron para que lo criara, y María se vio obligada a abdicar del trono en favor del pequeño James. En la siguiente escena, ambientada el 24 de abril de 1567, María sostiene a su bebé por última vez.
“Alas my love you do me wrong to cast me off discourteously. For I...
November 20, 2024
At the Poseidium. Excerpt from chapter one of “Cleopatra VII: Egypt’s Last Pharaoh”
The Ptolemaic dynasty begun when Alexander the Great delegated rule over Egypt to his beloved general Ptolemy was turbulent — at best. It’s bejeweled capital, Alexandria, frequently experienced riots against its many rulers. When the people were not at war with Ptolemy and his descendants, they were typically at war with each other. Which is why it was the seventh queen named Cleopatra who ultimately became Egypt’s final Greek ruler.
Cleopatra VII was different from all her relatives thoug...
November 14, 2024
If you’re birdy and you know it
A cute variant of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” for parrot people. I constantly sing to my birds. This song came spontaneously when singing to Arwen. Parrots have hinged upper beaks, allowing them to both climb and to break open tough seeds and nuts. Whether you call it yawning or stretching, parrots love to open their beaks wide and stick out their tongues. When they do, it’s very cute!
Mithril preening
If you’re birdy and You Know Itby Laurel A. Rockefeller
If...
November 7, 2024
Lyrics: Drive the Cold Winter Away
I love Christmas music – don’t you? Across most of my books there is usually at least one Christmas or other December holiday scene and at least one December holiday song.
Appearing in Mary Queen of the Scots: the Forgotten Reign and Queen Elizabeth Tudor: Journey to Gloriana, this is one of my favorite Christmas carols.
“Drive the Cold Winter Away” was written sometime in the 16th century.
Sheet music for “Drive the Cold Winter Away” featuring verses 1 and 7
Vs 1:
Al...
What to buy a pet bird – or bird person – for the holidays
Arwen, September 2022
I’m a bird person. Everyone knows it. In fact the first thing most people find out about me is that I’m a bird person. Always have been. Proof: five books about parrots (Preparing for My First Cockatiel, Preparing for My Senior Cockatiel, Mithril and Me: a Love Story, Show Me the Pretty Bird: a Comedy in Two Acts, and Lady Biya’s Guide to Medieval Aviculture). Across this blog you’ve read numerous bird-related posts. Everything from book excerpts to travel guid...
October 31, 2024
Martin Luther Teaches His Students. Excerpt from chapter three of “Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation.”
Martin Luther is one of the most famous theologians of all time. But few people realize the role Katharina von Bora Luther played in his trailblazing accomplishments. Never one looking for glory, but keenly aware that she would be looked to as a role model, Katharina’s work behind the scenes shaped the Protestant Reformation as keenly as her famous husband.
In this scene from “Katharina von Bora: First Lady of the Reformation” Martin leads his students in his now famous weekly Ta...
