The First Annual Petrea Thule Early Music College Oct. 1997 (Peterborough Early Music College for non-SCAdians) A Day of Classes and Performances in Medieval and Renaissance Music

The college took place on Saturday, October 18, 1997, from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. at The Old Millbrook School House in Millbrook, Ontario, and was inspired by the music events previously held in Greyfells (Kingston, ON). It was the first all-music event run by Petrea Thule. "Petrea Thule" is the SCA name for Peterborough and the surrounding area. This event was put on when Hurly Burly was the Petrea Thule Ensemble and Choir, and still affiliated with the SCA. To learn more about the SCA, you can visit their homesite at www.sca.org. To learn more about the Petrea Thule branch of the SCA, go to www.pipcom.com/~thule .

The day was split into three sessions of classes, which included several vocal workshops from beginner to advanced, a harp circle and harp workshop, a talk on the coronetto, lectures on harp-building and research techniques, a dance class and a middle-eastern percussion workshop.

The classes were followed by a pot-luck, which included a wide variety of wonderful food (much of it vegetarian friendly!), most of which could pass for period fare (except for the root beer floats!).

After dinner there was an in-garb concert, during which everyone was treated to many fine performances, both vocal and instrumental.

We then ended the day with a bardic circle - an informal trading of stories, songs, and ideas.

The event was stewarded by Lady Arowyn y Delyn Werdd, with a great deal of help from Lady Keja and the Petrea Thule Choir and Ensemble, who all chipped in to make the event run smoothly and efficiently.

It was a small-scale but lively event; everything ran like clockwork (to the steward’s surprised delight) and music and merriment abounded. The event was open to the general public, and as a result several non-SCAdians got an eye-opening introduction to early music, and helped in their own way to enrich the event.

(Click here to see the page for the October 1998 event)

Anyone who would like to learn more about music in Petrea Thule, or wants to host their own music event, and would like more information, can contact Petrea Thule's current Arts and Sciences minister at harpandsong@cogeco.ca, or Hurly Burly's music director at thaney@pipcom.com. [This page was updated November 2002]

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