March of Cambreadth
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March of Cambreadth is the award-winning signature song of Alexander James Adams, previously known as Heather Alexander.[1] The song is well-known in filk, Renaissance Fair and Society for Creative Anachronism circles. It has been featured in novels by Mike Shepherd, John Ringo and S.M. Stirling. It has also been parodied extensively.
March of Cambreadth received a Pegasus Award in 2006, in the category "Best Battle Song".
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[edit] Recording History
Heather Alexander wrote the song in the late 1980s and sang lead vocals on the following recordings:
- The 1990 Phoenyx album Keepers of the Flame. The band disbanded in 1991; the album is currently out of print.
- The 1997 Heather Alexander solo album Midsummer, where it is framed as the center of the "War Trilogy". The Midsummer recording is at a faster tempo than on Keepers of the Flame and the Wicked Tinkers add their bagpipe-and-drums sound to the song.
- Uffington Horse's Enchantment includes a live recording of March of Cambreadth with Andrew Hare playing banjo, Dan Ochipinti playing drums, and Heather Alexander switching between guitar and fiddle. (This recording is included in a computer-readable data track on the Mixed Mode CD.)
Alexander James Adams has recorded the song with his new band, Tricky Pixie. Tricky Pixie's 2007 album Live! features Alexander James Adams on fiddle and lead vocal, Betsy Tinney on cello, and S.J. Tucker on vocals and guitar.
The song also appears on albums by other artists.
[edit] War Trilogy
The "War Trilogy" on Midsummer consists of three songs. The first, a love ballad, anticipates the battle; the second portrays the battle; the third looks back on the battle and its results.
- Tomorrow I Leave For Battle, lyrics: Philip R. Obermarck, music: Heather Alexander
- March of Cambreadth, lyrics & music: Heather Alexander
- Courage Knows No Bounds, lyrics: Philip R. Obermarck, music: Heather Alexander
[edit] Frog of Cambreadth
As described on the live album Festival Wind, Heather Alexander was lurking in a chatroom when her fans observed that they could sing March of Cambreadth to the tune of her children's song Hap'n'Frog and vice versa. Determined to embarrass herself before anyone else did it for her, she took the two songs "and let them have an afternoon together and breed." The result is Hap'n'Frog of Cambreadth, recorded on Festival Wind.
[edit] Cultural References
John Ringo has quoted March of Cambreadth in his novels Hell's Faire, Ghost and There Will Be Dragons as well as in the second Looking-Glass book, Vorpal Blade. A copy of the Midsummer recording was included on CD-ROM in There Will Be Dragons, Hell's Faire and in the Baen Free Library.
S.M. Stirling quoted or referenced March of Cambreadth in The Protector's War, A Meeting In Corvallis, and On The Oceans of Eternity.
Mike Shepherd used the song in his book Kris Longknife: Defiant.
Bob Kanefsky has parodied March of Cambreadth twice:
Heather Alexander recorded December of Cambreadth for the compilation album Roundworm.
P. R Frost quoted March of Cambreadth in the book Moon In The Mirror : A Tess Noncoiré Adventure.
[edit] References
- ^ Radcon 5 draws sci-fi, fantasy fans to Pasco, Tri-City Herald, Feb 17, 2008. The article refers to "[t]ransgender Celtic performer Alexander James Adams", adding that "[t]he singer-songwriter toured across the U.S. and in England and Germany as Heather Alexander for 25 years before beginning to tour as Alexander, said Kore Adams, his partner.
[edit] External links
[edit] Lyrics
As the lyrics and music were originally copyrighted by Heather Alexander, they remain copyright Heather Alexander, not copyright Alexander James Adams.
- March of Cambreadth and Frog of Cambreadth lyrics
- Weight Loss Centers from Hell lyrics
- December of Cambreadth lyrics
