Alisaundre ni Feidhlimidh dal gCais
Mistress Alisaundre lives in Wyewood but also plays in Madrone and Blatha an Oir. She is a former Courtier of Blatha an Oir and formerly the Kingdom Laurel Secretary. Alisaundre sings mezzo-soprano and plays a collection of rare and unusual bowed instruments, namely the lyra da braccio, rebec, and nyckelharpa (and occasionally a plain old violin.) She also plays hammered dulcimer, mandolin, and hand percussion. Alisaundre can be seen frequently playing court music with her partner, Leith Amhranai dal gCais. She and Leith are also heads of the Dal gCais household and hosts of the Bards of An Tir open encampment, generally hosted at May Crown, July Coronation, and September Crown.
Despite her obsession with late period music, Alisaundre is often seen wearing clothing consistent with her 5th century Irish persona or occasionally garbed as a 12th century Moorish woman. Together, Leith and Alisaundre have several recordings. You can hear samples of their music at their Web site, [1].
Her apprentices include:
- Current: His Lordship Gareth Albaric of Eastbrook
- Former: Viscountess Mistress Chiara Fiamma | Her Ladyship Serena Zane | Mistress Sionann in Ui Fhlaithbheartaig | Maestro Giuseppe Giordano Maria Falconieri | Ollamh Ruadhan O Fearain
Alisaundre is an avid teacher and is happy to share her expertise with all things musical and research and documentation. She has, alas, lost most of her apprentices to the Crown. That is, they were elevated. Sigh. Do you want to be her apprentice? Contact her, email alisaundre@hotmail.com.
In her own voice...
Later people would count the year as 431 CE when I was born in Eiru, northwest of the river Sinnain, Cruachain, Eiru when the month of oak passed to holly (roughly around July 8th, near midnight). My Ardrí na hÉireann and Rí Chonnacht is the Great Ram, Ailill Molt, ruler over Cruachain, Emain Magach, Tara, DinhRig, and Caisel. Tonga na dea thungus mo thuath (By the gods by which my people swear), I am Alisaundre ni Feidhlimidh dal gCais. My people, tuath dal gCais, have lived on these lands since before the Tuatha DeDanaan did rule here. It is the dun or fate that the daughters of my mother, and her mother before, and hers before, through our line unto Derbhila ni Arafel that we have been ban-drui (priestesses and counselors) of our people. And so am I. When six Samhains had passed, so it was that I was fostered to a drui by the river Sinnain near Limerick. While under his tutelage, I learned our rites and our beliefs - the passion and passing of our being. On my fourteenth Samhain, I was released from fosterage to begin my travels.
Upon this end, I did leave the comfort of my fine, as was right and proper. I traveled with my mentor, Alorac an Alastair to many of the tribes in Eiru to aid, and heal, and teach where we may. After three of three Samhains spent in such a way, learning the lineage and laws of our peoples, the healing, the magic and music, it became time that I traveled onward to farther lands, to learn of my father's people in distant Gaul. My father, Caibre, a Gaulish mercenary, found himself shipwrecked on our fair Eiru and was for a time married to my mother. I seek to learn of the new and different winds stirring across the web of people from Rome to Gaul. So I have wandered thusly, so I wander still as bard and ban-drui, learning and teaching until such is the time for me to return to the Dal gCais to aid and support and pass on my fate to the next in our line.