At Port Gamble Medieval Faire, ‘A Thousand Years of History to Draw On'

By Josh Farley

jfarley@kitsapsun.com

@DATELINE:PORT GAMBLE

From stitching coifs to throwing spears, one thousand years of history came to life Saturday in Port Gamble.

The 27th annual Medieval Faire, which continues today, showcased the best of life in the middle ages, minus death, disease and other drawbacks of the millennium.

"We take the best aspects of the Middle Ages, but we avoid things like the Black Plague or the Spanish Inquisition," said Eric Bosley of Port Orchard, also known as Eric De Dragonslaier.

About 1,000 members of the Society for Creative Anachronism — including 300 or so from Kitsap — camped out for the weekend to give visitors an idea of life long ago.

"Instead of just reading about it, you recreate it," said Silverdale resident Tammie Dupuis, who goes by Laurellen in her medieval life.

Visitors could watch glass blowing or dueling knights, as well as equestrian jousting and archery competitions.

"We have 1,000 years of history to draw on," Bosley said.

SCA members aren't bashful about their passion for all things medieval.

"People here don't think you're weird for wanting to learn new things," said Rycheza, aka Laura Henson of Suquamish, a member for 22 years.

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Medieval and Renaissance Forum presents Ensemble Chaconne

Ensemble Chaconne, with mezzo-soprano Pamela Dellal, will join the 30th Annual Plymouth State University Medieval and Renaissance Forum for a single public performance Friday at 8:15 p.m. The concert will be performed at Heritage Hall in Hall Residence Hall on Highland Street in Plymouth.

Praised for "vitality and character … style and verve" by MusicWeb International, Ensemble Chaconne is celebrating its 23rd season. Members of the ensemble are Peter H. Bloom, Renaissance flute; Carol Lewis, viola da gamba and Olav Chris Henriksen, Renaissance lute.

Ensemble Chaconne will perform "Measure for Measure: The Music of Shakespeare's Plays" at PSU, a sampling of the music Shakespeare's audiences would have heard, written by the leading composers of his day.

Selections are tied directly to the plays and include music from "As You Like It," "Measure for Measure," "Twelfth Night," "Henry V," "The Winter's Tale," "The Tempest," "Hamlet," "Othello," "Macbeth" and other plays.

Ensemble Chaconne has garnered consistent critical acclaim for its vivid concerts of Renaissance music on period instruments. They have developed themed program for organizations including Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Peabody Essex Museum, and have performed in concert halls across the U.S.

Guest artist Pamela Dellal has toured the U.S., Europe, Australia and Japan and has recorded for Arabesque Records, Artona, BMG, and others.

Tickets for Ensemble Chaconne's Plymouth performance are $12 for adults, $9 for seniors and students. Contact Professor Karolyn Kinane at 535-2402 or send e-mail to kkinaneplymouth.edu.

Taken From Citizen.com