Drake Oranwood

Photo
Queen & Crown’s Bardic Champions, 2020
Information
Resides: Rusted Woodlands
Status: Active
Awards: Order of Precedence
Heraldry
Azure, a wolf rampant and on a chief nebuly argent three orange trees couped and fructed proper.
Award & Office Badges

Introduction

Drake (he/him) has been active in the SCA since 2011, but first joined in 1991. He resides in the Shire of Rusted Woodlands with his wife Lady Jessa de Hunteleghe and their son Spencer Oranwood, and is often found playing in the Barony of Concordia of the Snows. In 2021, he was formally invited into his wife’s household of Caer Cinniuint. Drake is a joint student of Master Peregrine the Illuminator of the East Kingdom, and Master Toki Skáldagörvir (aka Toki Redbeard) of Æthelmearc. Previously, he had been apprenticed to Mesterno Tyzes Sofia (called Zsof) of the Midrealm, and studied under Maistre Lucien de Pontivy of the East Kingdom.

Persona

Drake is an English composer and musician in the Elizabethan era. He has spent time in Scotland, where he became enamored of tales of the Fae, and has traveled in Europe as well. When he is at home in London or interacting with patrons in Elizabeth's court, he is careful to maintain the secrecy of his Jewish descent. His skills include singing, songwriting, poetry, storytelling, and the lute.

Offices & Positions

• East Kingdom General, The First Bardic War, 2021 (received Golden Lyre and the title “The Ravager of Rhapsody” from Tindal and Alberic)
• Consort's Bardic Champion for Alberic von Rostock, 2020-2021
• Queen's Bardic Champion for Queen Margarita, 2020
• Baronial Bardic Champion for Jean Paul and Lylie, Concordia of the Snows, 2016-2017
• Winter Nights Bardic Champion, 2015

Projects, Performances, & Classes

• Contrafact, "Baroness Maria" (tune of "Maria" from The Sound of Music), for Maria Erika von Ossenheim's elevation to the Order of the Pelican. Performed at Bergental & BBM Yule, 12/04/2021
• Video series, An Elizabethan Afternoon of lute performances, Summer 2021
• Contrafact & Video, The Zoom Where It Happens, (tune of "The Room Where It Happens" from Hamilton), for The First Bardic War, 04/02/2021
• Performer, Journeyman Concert #1 (aka The Concert that Started a War), 01/23/2021
• Video series, #SCAatHome, offered to entertain the populace staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic, started March 2020
• Performer, Beowulf the Ethereal Event, 11/15/2020
• Composition, "Her Garden Grows", to honor Queen Margarita's reign. Performed at the EK-Midrealm Bardic Showcase, 8/15/2020
• Composition, "Hold the Door Open", promoting inclusion and equity in the Society. Performed at Q&C Bardic Champions, 02/22/2020
• Contrafact, "Ode to Birka", (tune of "My love hath vowed" by Thomas Campion). Performed with voice and lute guitar at Q&C Bardic Champions, 02/22/2020
• Performance, "Clear or cloudy" by John Dowland, voice and lute guitar, at Q&C Bardic Champions, 02/22/2020
• Composition, "Masters of the Game", for Hartshorn-dale (2019)
• Blog series, A&S Journey, started June 2019
• Performer, Solo concert, Known World Cooks & Bards, Barony of Shattered Crystal, Middle Kingdom (2019)
• Performer, Solo concerts with guests, Pennsic 43-48 (2014-2019)
• Contrafacta, Trilogy of filks of ABBA the Bard for Wilhelm and Vienna, 2018-2019
• Co-producer (with Arden of Icomb), Contributor, Vocalist, Instrumentalist, Sing for the East, collaborative bardic music album, released 6/10/2017
• Composition, "Concordian Soil", commissioned by their Excellencies Jean Paul and Lylie, honoring Concordia of the Snows. Performed at Wars of the Roses, 05/27/2017
• Composition, "I asked of thee a boon", Elizabethan "air" for four voices and the lute. Performed at Laurels' Prize Tourney, Carolingia, 03/25/2017
• Contrafact, "The Binding of Isaac", (tune of "My love hath vowed" by Thomas Campion). Duet with Spencer Oranwood, with Drake on lute, K&Q Bardic/A&S Champions (exhibiting), 02/11/2017
• Author, "The Double Bind: Thomas Campion and Elizabethan Women", East Kingdom Gazette, 01/03/2017
• Musician (guitar & voice, Elizabethan lute songs), Singer (choral & solo). Feast of St. Nicholas (immersion Elizabethan event), Concordia, 12/10/2016
• Composition, "We Are the East", inspired by HRM Caoilfhionn inghean Fhaoláin and offered as an anthem for the populace. Performed at K&Q Bardic Champions, 03/05/2016
• Composer, Vocalist, Producer, Hidden Gold, Bardic music album, released 06/20/2015
• Contrafact, "Silverhair", (tune of "Drømde mik en drøm i nat") in honor of Ose Silverhair's elevation. Performed in procession, 03/08/2015
• Contrafact, "Mug Your Gate", (tune of "Watkins Ale") to popularize this means of welcoming performers at camps. Performed at Heather Dale and Friends Concert, Pennsic 42, 07/31/2013
• Composition, "Lady of the Rose", in honor of the Order. Performed at Ladies of the Rose Happy Hour, Pennsic 42, 07/31/2013

Classes Taught

• Developing Stage Presence as a Bard (Online 2022)
• The Pleasures & Perils of Making Filk (Online 2022)
• My Guitar's Persona Is a Lute (Pennsic 2018, Known World Cooks & Bards 2019, Online 2020, First Bardic War 2021)
• Thy Name Is Woman: The Elizabethan Woman, Mansplained (Pennsic 2016, 2017)
• The New Bard's Road Map (Pennsic 2016, 2017, 2019, Online 2020)
• Songwriting to Tell a Story (Pennsic 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, Wars of the Roses 2014, 2015, Known World Cooks & Bards 2019, Online 2020, Trimaris Royal University Online 2021)

Event Staff

EK Events

• Co-Organizer and Judge, East Kingdom Bardic Champions, Online Competition, 04/24/2021
• Co-Organizer and MC, Online EK-Midrealm Bardic Showcase, 08/15/2020
• Event Steward, Winter Nights Bardic Competition, Concordia of the Snows, 09/16/2017
• Organizer & Judge, Bardic Competition & War Point, Wars of the Roses, 05/27/2017
• List Herald, EK Crown Tourney, 05/06/2017, 11/04/2017, 11/08/2019
• Gate Staff, Wars of the Roses, 05/23/2015, 05/28/2016
• List Herald, EK Novice Day, 07/11/2015
• Gate Staff, King's and Queen's A&S Champions, 02/22/2014
• Gate Staff, The One True Feast Day of St. Pyr, 02/29/1992

Inter-Kingdom Events

• Co-organizer and host, Bardic Arts Exhibition, Pennsic 42-48 (2013-2019)
• Co-provost, Bardic Collegium, Pennsic 43-44 (2014-2015)

More Information

• Website: https://drakethebard.com
• Moderator and founder, SCA Neurodiversity group on Facebook (Est. 2020)
• Founder and former moderator, SCA Bardic Arts group on Facebook (2012-2020)
• If you want to make sure Drake is at court, please contact his wife, Lady Jessa de Hunteleghe.