Further medieval adventures! A couple of pics from a brilliant @imc-leeds.bsky.social last week. Left: the Thursday lunch queue. Right: Tyke the burrowing owl, at the birds of prey stand. He had lots to say, but alas I don't speak Owl. I wonder if he knows that the owl is the symbol of Leeds?

... and this extraordinary edifice in the Manueline style of the early 16th century, celebrating the Portuguese Age of Discovery and featuring some really modern-looking decorative stonework: nautical symbols e.g. ropes, armillary spheres, etc. Behind this is a 6km-long 17th-century aqueduct.

A few final pics from the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal last week. Serene and peaceful cloisters after the sensory overload of the church ...

Horror vacui at the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal. I'm not sure these pics do it justice, but imagine all this along with whatever sound was emerging from that pipe I posted earlier, plus chanting, incense and the effects of the light reflecting off all the glittery surfaces. Sensory overload.

More from the church of the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal last week. On the left, a trompe l'oeil pulpit. On the opposite wall, a real one, identical. Originally 12th century and part of the Templar castle, the church was covered in decoration of many styles over subsequent centuries.

Here beginneth pics from my two-week medieval conference-a-thon! First up, from SSCLE Porto @latineast.bsky.social, this huge wooden pipe in the round church of the Convento de Cristo, Tomar, Portugal. According to our guide, it's 12th-14th C and created a low drone to accompany the monks' chanting.

A single poppy beside the path to the 'time machine' in Brompton Cemetery, London.

Behold! The merry month of May and #BandcampFriday. Work on the album proceeds splendidly. Meanwhile, let's see if we can clear the decks of the last few Rota Fortunae T-shirts & bags to make way for new merch. Only one left of each T-shirt size now, and only 4 bags: katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/merch

Violin learners! Exam coming up this summer? Terrified about the sightreading? So was I, until I found a teacher who gave me a method, which I now share with my students. Interested in lessons? DM me here or email info@katearnoldmusic.com London, UK / online. #music #exams #sightreading #teacher

Does anyone I know have the CD(s) of the full soundtrack to Ridley Scott's 'Kingdom of Heaven' close at hand? Someone who wouldn't mind checking something for me in the sleeve notes? If so I'd be much obliged. #MedievalSky

Bonus: A ginormous knitted hot cross bun; several of these were spotted adorning the choir stalls. They can be taken apart into four independent quarters. I imagine they have overrun the cathedral by now. #medieval #buns

The other day I went on a medieval bun quest to @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social, where monk Thomas Rocliffe is said to have invented the hot cross bun in 1361 and where they are still made to the original recipe. I recommend them. Soft, light, subtly spiced, and toasted well for next day's breakfast.

Right folks, the next album recording dates are finally In The Diary and they're soooooon. Please continue to watch this weird and wonderful space, oh do. #electro #medieval #hammereddulcimer #music

This is on Wednesday! Looking forward to returning to SOAS (where I did my MMus, rather too many years ago) to talk about Arabic poetry from the crusading period. It's hybrid and free (but you need to register). Warning: may include performance! 🎶🎵 www.soas.ac.uk/about/event/... #medievalsky #Arabic

Yes, that's definitely what "building a fortress of comfort" looks like. I imagine they're fighting over this table lamp:

The lovely 'Rota Fortunae' T-shirts, printed by Dark Peak Press, are incredibly good quality; not 'plasticky' and featuring different designs on the front, back and sleeves; behold! Go to katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/merch #rotafortunae #wheeloffortune #medieval #scifi #electro

Also: I know some of you really like the 'Rota Fortunae' bags. It is my duty to tell you there are now only THREE left in the whole wide world! Plus the much-loved T-shirts (a bit superior to the average band T-shirt, though I say so myself) are down to the last few. katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/merch

'Count of Anjou' and 'Complaint' limited editions both available briefly for today's #BandcampFriday, in case you missed them before. katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/music Real medieval music, but not as you know it! #medievalsky #medieval #music #history #electro #hammereddulcimer

Some often unnoticed medieval history in Kensington Gardens /Hyde Park today, plus an unfortunate spelling mistake on a wildlife identification board. #medieval #history #ToryInsectsOfKensington

Your New-Year reminder that playing a musical instrument is good for your brain, and that I teach violin! I have an ABRSM Certificate of Teaching, MMus, and many years' teaching and performing experience in a variety of styles. I'm in London, UK but can do online. Contact: info@katearnoldmusic.com

Happy First Day of Christmas, and may we all find the Nexus.

First non-PhD-related reading in a while. It's fascinating and contains a lot more detail than you might ever need to know about croissants and croissant-adjacent topics. But that's A GOOD THING. #croissants

Today, being St Lucy's Day and the Start of the Solar Weirdness, is the first day I can put my decorations up. This year it is also my first day as a Dr. #medieval #history #music #saintlucy #PhD #Christmas #midwinter #Yuletide

(2/2) .. But not only that! My friends at Dark Alchemy are planning to release 'Spirit of Winter', which includes a recording of the live semi-improvised session we did in a medieval crypt around this time last year. More info to come! #medieval #music #hammereddulcimer #livelooping #experimental

Get medievalled up this coming #BandcampFriday with not one but TWO special releases! For a limited time only, I will share 'Complaint', an arrangement of 'A vous amant' by the Chatelain de Coucy (d.1204). Here he is in a 13th-century manuscript, riding off to do knightly deeds and suchlike .. (1/2)

Your quarterly reminder that I teach violin! Perhaps someone you know would like a lesson as a festive gift? I'm in London, but can do online if you have a violin that's ready to play. DMs don't work on here; email info@katearnoldmusic.com Next post has more info ...(1/2) #violin #violinteacher

(3/3) ... I remember at the time someone pointed out that Kit Williams was an anagram of 'I will mask it'. Which it is. But this was just a coincidence.

(2/3) ... many fields of knowledge including history, geography, sciences, maths, astronomy, languages, songs and literature; in fact all areas of human experience. Fair to ask this from readers, I think, considering the incredible amount of work and imagination put into it by the artist ...

(2/2) ... I only brandish a sword on Saturdays now though. And occasionally Thursdays. katearnolduk.bandcamp.com/album/rota-f... I do wonder if there may have been some symbological conflation along the way between Fortuna and St Katherine. Thoughts welcome from those better qualified to think.