The Bumper Book of Hârnic Filksongs
Most of these "Hârnic" tunes are in fact traditional English and lowland Scots folksongs with the serial numbers filed off. Modifications of the lyrics range from trivial to extensive - you should be able to work out what's been altered in most.
The Songs
- Twa Corbies (aka Three Ravens) - Does this explain what really happened to Sedris Meleken?
- Geordie - Wise men don't go poaching...
- Athelren Fair - Let your hair down and join the crowds at Vemionshire's premier rural fair.
- Over the Hills and Far Away - The Thardic Republic Needs You!
- The Beggar's Song - Alms for a poor cripple, good sir?
- Jarin All! - They're all rebels up in Lorkin...
- The Maid Went to the Mill - Find out what she did there...
- Crossbow Kaelli - Life isn't easy for outlaws...
- The Widow of Olokand's Daughter - Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more!
- The Red & White Flag - The marching song of the Laranian Fighting Orders.
- The Roleplayer's Song - It isn't especially Hârnic, but I enjoyed writing it.
- Gwadira - With sincere apologies to Tom Jones.
- The Parliament of the Three Ages - A medieval poem about the pleasures of deer-poaching.
- What's the Life of a Man? - The old school song of the Nurisel Chantry.
- The Onion Seller's Lament - Pity a poor man trying to make an honest living.
Dances
- The Fairy Dance - A Shetland reel, as performed in times past by me and my sister. Notation and MIDI file.
Medieval Tunes (MIDI only)
All these tunes are modern arrangements of genuine medieval tunes by the Internet Rennaisance Band and are © Curtis Clark. They are hosted here with permission.
- Saltarello - Saltarellos are a form of medieval dance, and the tunes written for those dances. This one dates from the 13th century, and is one of the finest pieces of early music I know.
- Danse Royale - I'm not sure of the provenance of this one, but it's a very good tune.
- La quarte estampie royal - Estampie dances replaced the saltarellos as one of the favourite forms of medieval dance. This one dates from the 14th century.
- Sumer is icumen in - The earliest English round (a song in which the parts are repeated in a staggered fashion by various singers). It dates from the 13th century.
- Ja nuns hons pris - One of a couple of tunes allegedly written by Richard the Lionheart.
- Estampie - Another estampie dance, also from the 14th century.