Dawn music

The Music of Dawn

Style summary

A short description of the musical style we're encouraging.

Arthurian high medieval, chivalric, courtly, 'high' culture, battle anthems, tales of love, glory, and tragedy. Dawn draws on the more formal folk and classical traditions of Shakespearean/Elizabethan period, for example madrigals, as well as fantastical folk tales.

Commonly known songs

Pick a few examples from the list below to specifically promote as well-known within that nation. Provide lyrics and score/chords. Preferably in a range of difficulties.

A musical tradition

Suggest how the music fits into the cultural behaviour in general (e.g. battle hakas, wassails).

Further examples

More examples for keen bards.

Songs

• Sweet Kate - medium difficulty madrigal for 3 female voices
• Tam Lin - fantastical folk tale, medium difficulty lyrics and recording coming soon.
• April is in my mistress' face - difficult madrigal set for SATB
• Annan Water - gloomy ballad about drowning

Instrumentation

Anything vaguely courtly using recorders, plucked strings, single drums, harps, autoharp, or similar.

Other performance traditions

Courtly dances. Find some instructions

How to adapt your repertoire

• Sing in a formal rather than bawdy style. Up the properness and pathos of your words. Strum your guitar like a lute. Roll your rrrrs!

Our sources

Credits, links to artists, further material etc.