Periodisity of Songs

[Matthew Allen Newsome <mnewsome@warren-wilson.edu>]

Poster: Matthew Allen Newsome <mnewsome@warren-wilson.edu>

With all the discussion going on about weather songs out of period are 
acceptable in certain SCA venues or not, I thought of an intriguing 
question to ask all of you.  I expect there is no right or wrong answer, 
I am only interested in your opinions.  Here is the situation:
I think everyone can agree that songs written before 1600 are acceptable 
at events, right?  (I hope so).
Most people would say that songs written by SCAdians in the 20th century, 
about medieval things, are acceptable in the SCA, especially if the tune 
is somewhat medieval, too.
Most people would agree that Scottish songs written in teh 17th, 18th, 
19th, or 20th centuries, although common at SCA events, are not 
completely acceptable.  This would include Jacobite songs, Burns songs, 
Silly Wizard songs, etc.
Well, if a song by a 20th century SCAdian about medieval things is 
acceptable, what about this?
"Scots Wha Hae," by Robet Burns.  He wrote this in teh late 18th century 
about an event that happened in the early 14th century (The Scottish Wars 
for Independance against Ed I).  And the tune he used for it was "Hey 
Tutti Tattie," a pipe tune which supposedly was played as Robert the 
Bruce led his troops onto Bannockburn (1314), so it is argueably a 
medieval tune, as well.  Would a song on a mediaval topic, set to a 
medieval tune, written in the 18th century be any more or less 
appropriate than a song on a medieval topic, set to a medieval tune, 
written in teh late 20th century?  I don't know.  My first answer would 
be yes, sure.
But then I think, I know Burns' songs.  I really like them, and listen to 
them frequently.  Therefore, if someone started singing "Scots Wha Hae" 
at an event, even though it is very medieval in subject, I would 
immediatly recognize it as a Burns song, and say "Hey, that was written 
in teh 18th century!"  I would be taken out of the Dream of being in the 
Middle Ages by something recognizable not.  But, again, I can easily 
argue both ways.
So, I'm just interested in what you all think on this matter.
And I apologize for always spelling "the" as "teh."  My fingers just want 
to hit the keys in that order for some reason.  :)
Aye,
Eogan
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