Simply put, contrafacto is a period practice where you use an existing tune and give it new words. We see this in pieces like “What Child Is This?” set to the tune of “Greensleeves.”

We are exposed to this practice even as children. “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” is the same tune as “Baa Baa, Black Sheep” and the ABC song.

At the end of March of this year, I attended Commander’s Crucible in Hellsgate. I entered the arts and science competition with a filk (the term commonly used in the SCA for Contrafacto) of “Landlord Fill the Flowing Bowl.” I made it SCA relevant, touching on each of the five Peerage Orders as well as our occasionally… lengthy courts. I also performed the piece as part of the bardic competition, where it got quite a few laughs.

I have been asked to share my documentation on Contrafacto, so please enjoy this (relatively short) dive.

I’ll post the song itself in a different post.