New Orleans Saints could top NFC
Tom Silverstein picks the order of finish in the NFC.
1. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Coach: Sean Payton
Last year: 11-5
Impact players: QB Drew Brees, TE Jimmy Graham (right), OG Jahiri Evans, DE Cameron Jordan, S Kenny Vaccaro, S Jarius Byrd
Key game: Carolina, Dec. 7 (Week 14)
The good: The Saints offense, led by Brees, should be top five if not the best in the league. Deep at receiver, tough in the middle of the line, balanced at running back and in possession of probably the most dynamic tight end in the league, it's going to be tough to stop these guys. The defense got much-needed secondary help from free agent Byrd and veteran CB Champ Bailey. They've got talent up and down the roster and are Super Bowl contenders.
The bad: The Seahawks showed that if you can take away Graham and put some pressure on Brees, the offense falls apart. The Saints have good receivers, but Marques Colston turns 31, Kenny Stills needs to expand his game and Robert Meacham isn't dynamic. If first-round receiver Brandin Cooks plays well, it could be what the Saints need to get past the best defenses.
2. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
Last year: 12-4
Impact players: QB Colin Kaepernick, WR Michael Crabtree, TE Vernon Davis, LT Joe Staley, LG Mike Iupati, LB Patrick Willis, LB NaVorro Bowman, LB Aldon Smith
Key game: Seattle, Nov. 27 (Week 13)
The good: Harbaugh has been working with Kaepernick on his pocket passing, but he may just let him do what he does best, which is run at will. Still with Crabtree, Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson at WR and Davis one of the best TEs in the game, Kaepernick has to find a way to get them the ball. The offensive line is still outstanding and if RB Frank Gore doesn't have any pop left, Carlos Hyde and Marcus Lattimore may be able to fill the void.
The bad: As good as the 49ers' defense has been, it has suffered serious blows. Bowman (torn ACL) and Smith (suspension) probably won't play early in the season. Smith could be out half the season. If so, that's a lot of pass rush the 49ers will be missing especially with DE Justin Smith nearing the end. The 49ers are counting on three previously injured linemen who didn't play much last year to fill the void up front.
3. GREEN BAY PACKERS
Coach: Mike McCarthy
Last year: 8-7-1
Impact players: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Jordy Nelson, RB Eddie Lacy, OG Josh Sitton, OLB Clay Matthews
Key game: at Seattle, Sept. 4 (Week 1)
The good: Rodgers is healthy and playing behind the best offensive line he's ever had. Nelson is top-flight, much is expected of WR Randall Cobb and Lacy presents a threat that should open up passing lanes for his quarterback. Matthews, if healthy, is a star and the cornerback position is deep, which is a must-have with all the high-octane offenses in the NFL these days.
The bad: There's no Jermichael Finley at TE to attract defenders and run down the middle of the field. McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers are relying heavily on an unproven group of D-linemen who could break their hearts. Opponents might not need to pass on them. Impact plays from the inside linebackers and safeties may be rare.
4. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
Coach: Pete Carroll
Last year: 13-3
Impact players: QB Russell Wilson, RB Marshawn Lynch, OT Russell Okung, WR Percy Harvin, CB Richard Sherman, S Kam Chancellor, S Earl Thomas
Key game: San Francisco, Dec. 14 (Week 15)
The good: They're the defending Super Bowl champs and almost unbeatable at home. They haven't done a ton to improve, but they did lock up Sherman and Thomas to long-term deals and are planning to get full seasons out of Okung and Harvin after injury-filled seasons. Wilson's game will continue to improve and don't be surprised if RB Christine Michael has an impact.
The bad: The defense probably is going to have to change the way it covers opposing receivers. The NFL had the Seahawks in mind when it dictated that defensive pass interference and illegal contact would be enforced more actively. It shouldn't affect Sherman and Thomas as much as the others in the secondary. Even if Harvin is healthy, there isn't much at wide receiver with Golden Tate now in Detroit.
5. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
Coach: Chip Kelly
Last year: 10-6
Impact players: RB LeSean McCoy, OT Jason Peters
Key game: at Dallas, Nov. 27 (Week 13)
The good: McCoy is a superstar who fits beautifully into Kelly's fast-tempo offense and should top 2,000 all-purpose yards again. The offensive line is pretty good despite some aging and QB Nick Foles probably hasn't reached his peak despite throwing 27 touchdown passes and just two interceptions last year.
The bad: The Eagles don't have a replacement for WR DeSean Jackson, who was released in the off-season, and will be relying on Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin. The secondary was a mess last year. The addition of S Malcolm Jenkins will help some, but it's still a weak spot.
6. CHICAGO BEARS
Coach: Marc Trestman
Last year: 8-8
Impact players: QB Jay Cutler, RB Matt Forte, WR Brandon Marshall, LB Lance Briggs, DE Jared Allen
Key game: at Detroit, Nov. 27 (Week 13)
The good: Cutler. Well, good Jay. That's the guy who doesn't hold onto the ball, throws to open guys and beats coverage with his arm. If he's getting production from Forte, it takes a lot of pressure off him. The defense has to be better with the addition of three free-agent ends: Allen, Lamar Houston and Willie Young. Then add in young talent like DB Kyle Fuller and DTs Ego Ferguson and Will Sutton and there's hope that his unit will be better.
The bad: Cutler. Well, bad Jay. That's the guy who rubs people the wrong way, throws the ball up for grabs and refuses to look at anyone else but Marshall. Fuller will play cornerback, which means the Bears did very little to shore up a terrible safety position. Former Packer M.D. Jennings is not the answer. With Briggs about to turn 34 and D.J. Williams 32, the Bears are on the decline at linebacker.
7. ST. LOUIS RAMS
Coach: Jeff Fisher
Last year: 7-9
Impact players: LT Jake Long, DE Chris Long, DE Robert Quinn, DT Michael Brockers
Key game: San Francisco, Oct. 13 (Week 6)
The good: The Rams have one of the top front fours in football after drafting Pitt DT Aaron Donald with the 13th pick. They also strengthened their offensive line with No. 2 pick Greg Robinson and the return of guard Rodger Saffold. If Jake Long is healthy, they could have a very good offensive line. Behind the defensive line is a pretty solid group of linebackers that should allow the Rams to compete with the 49ers and Seahawks in defensive competence in the NFC West.
The bad: The weak part of the defense is the secondary. Neither Janoris Jenkins nor Trumaine Johnson has fulfilled his potential at CB and there isn't much depth. They're going to need second-round pick Lemarcus Joyner to contribute right away. The Rams are all-in with QB Sam Bradford, who hasn't stayed healthy. They're in trouble if he doesn't come through. There isn't much help for a receiving group whose leader had 40 receptions last season.
8. CAROLINA PANTHERS
Coach: Ron Rivera
Last year: 12-4
Impact players: QB Cam Newton, C Ryan Kalil, DE Greg Hardy, DE Charles Johnson, LB Luke Kuechly
Key game: New Orleans, Oct. 3 (Week 9)
The good: The front seven remains dominant and makes up for limitations other places on defense. Last year's group allowed just four rushing touchdowns, and continued development of DTs Star Lotuleilei and Kawaan Short could make the defense even better. Newton missed OTAs after ankle surgery, but he's a year older and wiser.
The bad: Hardy's legal troubles could be a distraction. His appeal before a jury on a recent conviction for assaulting his girlfriend will begin Nov. 17. The receiver position, minus departed Steve Smith, is suspect. A lot will be expected from first-round WR Kelvin Benjamin. The secondary has been retooled with veteran safeties Roman Harper and Thomas DeCoud, but cornerback will be a concern and could leave the Panthers vulnerable.
9. DETROIT LIONS
Coach: Jim Caldwell
Last year: 7-9
Impact players: WR Calvin Johnson, RB Reggie Bush, TE Eric Ebron, DT Ndamukong Suh
Key game: at Green Bay, Dec. 28 (Week 17)
The good: This offense has a chance to be really good. If Ebron proves to be the real deal, he'll take tremendous pressure off Megatron and really open things up. The line is good enough and the combination of Bush and Joique Bell allows the Lions to pound the ball inside or stretch it to the boundary. Adding WR Golden Tate only makes it tougher on opposing secondaries. On defense the front four is big, strong and dominating at times.
The bad: The Lions did very little to address their woes in the secondary. Safety Louis Delmas was let go and Baltimore's James Ihedigbo was added. Otherwise the same crew that failed the Lions last year is back. No way can it hold up without a real good pass rush. Former Wisconsin LB DeAndre Levy had a nice year, but his position group is otherwise ordinary.
10. ATLANTA FALCONS
Coach: Mike Smith
Last year: 4-12
Impact players: QB Matt Ryan, WR Julio Jones, S William Moore
Key game: at Carolina, Nov. 16 (Week 11)
The good: Ryan showed a lot of guts last season playing behind a terrible offensive line and without Jones and Roddy White for a portion of the season. If the Falcons can find a way to protect him, he should have a better year. The combination of Jones and White might be the best in the NFL and now healthy should put up big numbers. Harry Douglas is a nice third receiver.
The bad: The line is still a question mark, RB Steven Jackson may be breaking down and there isn't a threat to replace retired TE Tony Gonzalez. The defense is average just about everywhere and there just aren't any playmakers other than Moore. Ryan could spend a lot of time on the sideline while opponents move the ball up and down the field.
11. ARIZONA CARDINALS
Coach: Bruce Arians
Last year: 10-6
Impact players: WR Larry Fitzgerald, DE Calais Campbell, CB Patrick Peterson
Key game: at San Francisco, Dec. 28 (Week 17)
The good: Few people remember that this team won 10 games last year. There aren't a ton of playmakers, but Arians' offensive makeover started to pay off in the second half of the season. The addition of LT Jared Veldheer will make QB Carson Palmer sleep better and three other changes on the line couldn't hurt. RB Andre Ellington is a multi-dimensional force. If S Tyrann Mathieu comes back full strength from a blown out knee and Antonio Cromartie shows he can still cover, the Cardinals will have a terrific secondary.
The bad: Palmer is on the down side of his career and Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd are among the few playmakers. The Cardinals will miss LB Karlos Dansby's leadership and LB Daryl Washington, one of the top inside linebackers in the game, has been suspended for the year due to violating the substance abuse program. Those two losses will be felt on an otherwise very good defense.
12. DALLAS COWBOYS
Coach: Jason Garrett
Last year: 8-8
Impact players: QB Tony Romo, WR Dez Bryant, LT Tyron Smith, TE Jason Witten, RB DeMarco Murray
Key game: at Philadelphia, Dec. 14, (Week 15)
The good: The Cowboys have plenty of offense and they added their third first-round pick in four years on the offensive line (G Zack Martin), so they should be better in protecting Romo. Garrett can't forget Murray the way he did down the stretch last year. When Dallas runs the ball well, it is tough to stop.
The bad: Is there any part of this defense that is improved? Sean Lee, their star ILB, blew out his knee in OTAs. They released OLB DeMarcus Ware and added DT Henry Melton, which isn't much of a trade. The secondary was barely addressed because so much money is invested in CBs Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, who were appallingly bad last season.
13. NEW YORK GIANTS
Coach: Tom Coughlin
Last year: 7-9
Impact players: QB Eli Manning, DE Jason Pierre-Paul
Key game: Philadelphia, Dec. 28 (Week 17)
The good: Hiring Ben McAdoo from the Packers to be offensive coordinator will help Manning, who threw an unsightly 27 interceptions last year. McAdoo has lots of Aaron Rodgers tape to show Manning and it should help. The secondary should be much better with CBs Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (Denver) and Walter Thurmond (Seattle) added in free agency. If Prince Amukamara continues to develop, corner could go from a weakness to a strength.
The bad: The offensive line could be a disaster. LT Will Beatty is coming off a broken leg, G Chris Snee retired and John Jerry is a poor replacement, and the lack of depth is scary. McAdoo loves tight ends but he won't have a good one this year. Kellen Davis is nothing special and no one was added in the draft.
14. WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Coach: Jay Gruden
Last year: 3-12
Impact players: QB Robert Griffin III, RB Alfred Morris, WR Pierre Garcon, OLB Brian Orakpo
Key game: at Dallas, Oct. 27 (Week 8)
The good: Griffin should be much more comfortable playing for Gruden than he was with the gruff Shanahans. Gruden made Andy Dalton serviceable and he'll make Griffin III better. There's no shortage of outlets for Griffin with Garcon, Andrew Roberts, Leonard Hankerson and Jackson, the former Philly star. OLBs Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan had 18½ sacks last year, and second-round pass-rusher Trent Murphy should add another dimension.
The bad: The defensive line had just five sacks last year and the only addition of free-agent DT Jason Hatcher won't make enough difference. The secondary is old and mediocre. The depth isn't very good and the only draft choice added was fourth-round CB Bashaud Breeland of Clemson.
15. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Coach: Mike Zimmer
Last year: 5-10-1
Impact players: RB Adrian Peterson, WR Cordarrelle Patterson, S Harrison Smith
Key game: Green Bay, Nov. 23 (Week 12)
The good: If nothing else, the Vikings have Peterson. They're going to have to wait awhile for QB Teddy Bridgewater to come around, but Zimmer smartly hired Norv Turner and he will design a good offense. The linebacker position could develop nicely with first-round pick Anthony Barr teaming up with Chad Greenway and Audie Cole.
The bad: Gone from the defensive line are the Bears' Allen and DT Kevin Williams, two perennial but aging Pro Bowl players. The Vikings will go young up front and hope 2013 first-round pick Sharrif Floyd comes around, but there's no depth and they could wind up allowing 4.9 yards a carry to opposing runners again. Cornerback is another position of concern, especially if there's no pass rush.
16. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
Coach: Lovie Smith
Last year: 4-12
Impact players: RB Doug Martin, WR Vincent Jackson, DT Gerald McCoy, LB Lavonte David, CB Alterraun Verner
Key game: Carolina, Sept. 7 (Week 1)
The good: Smith is excellent at stabilizing a franchise and he hired former head coaches Jeff Tedford (California) and Leslie Frazier (Vikings) to be his offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively. The defense will be good right away. The Cover-2 scheme doesn't take long to install and with a solid front seven that includes DEs Adrian Clayborn and Michael Johnson and LB Mason Foster. The safety duo of Mark Barron and Dashon Goldson is physical.
The bad: Josh McCown, 35, is the starting QB. He did well in relief of Cutler in Chicago last year, but now he's a full-time starter and there will be limitations. The Bucs drafted WR Mike Evans with the seventh pick and TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins with the 38th, and both might be able to help some right away, but there just isn't much other talent.
Tom Silverstein predicts the order of finish in the conferences.


text:
04 December 2018
In early Anglo-Saxon times, East Anglia was an important kingdom, occupying most of what is now Norfolk and Suffolk. Over the years, archaeologists and antiquarians have unearthed objects which illuminate the lives of those who lived in or passed through East Anglia between the 5th and 9th centuries.
A stunning selection of objects from Anglo-Saxon East Anglia have been kindly loaned to the British Library's Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition by Norfolk Museums Service. These objects provide an invaluable insight into early burial practices, cultural habits and social structures among the East Angles.
Spong Man: Norwich Castle Museum 1994.192.1
One such item currently on display in London is Spong Man, which was once the lid to a 5th-century cremation urn. This lid was excavated at Spong Hill, North Elmham, which is the largest known Anglo-Saxon cremation cemetery. Spong Man is one of very few three-dimensional anthropomorphic representations from the entire Anglo-Saxon period.
Lead sheet with runic inscription: Norwich Castle Museum 2004.37
Another object on loan from Norwich Castle Museum is this lead sheet with a runic inscription. It is one of several similar Anglo-Saxon lead sheets inscribed with runes. This particular sheet was discovered in Norfolk in 2004, and attempts to decipher the inscription suggest that it may have once been a memorial plate or fixed to a coffin.
Knife handle with an ogham inscription: Norwich Castle Museum 1950.24
Also featuring in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms is this knife handle made from a red deer antler, which also has an inscription in ogham script. Ogham script uses straight or angled lines and was developed to write inscriptions in the early Irish language. Although this handle was discovered at Weeting in East Norfolk, it was most likely made far away in what is now Ireland or Scotland. It demonstrates that East Anglia had far-reaching connections with other parts of the British Isles.
Stylus: Norwich Castle Museum L2003.4
Bronze styli such as this were common in Anglo-Saxon England. The wider side was used to smooth the wax flat, ready for use, while the pointed side was used to inscribe text on wax-filled tablets made of wood or bone.
The Binham Hoard: Norwich Castle Museum
Norfolk Museums Service has also kindly loaned us some sensational gold and silver items. They include a selection from the Binham Hoard, a collection of 6th-century bracelets, brooches and bracteates (neck pendants that copy the designs of Roman coins and incorporate mythological imagery). The design of these bracteates derived from the practice of wearing pierced Roman coins as jewellery.
The Harford Farm Brooch (front): Norwich Castle Museum 1994.5.78
The Harford Farm Brooch (back): Norwich Castle Museum 1994.5.78
Another item of jewellery is the Harford Farm Brooch. This 7th-century gold and garnet brooch was found in a female grave at Harford Farm cemetery, near Norfolk, but it is typical of brooches made in Kent. A runic inscription on the back reads, ‘Luda repaired this brooch’.
Pendant from Winfarthing, Norfolk: Norwich Castle Museum 2017.519.6
This exquisitely decorated pendant was also found in the grave of a woman. She was buried in the first half of the 7th century in a cemetery near Winfarthing, south Norfolk.
Enamelled mounts from Hockwold, Norfolk: Norwich Castle Museum 2010.292.1, 2010.292.2
The opening of the Gospel of Mark, in the Book of Durrow: Trinity College Library, Dublin, MS 57, f. 86r © The Board of Trinity College, Dublin
In the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition, it is often possible to compare manuscripts and metalwork side by side. The design of a pair of enamelled mounts from East Anglia bears similarities to the intricate insular designs found in the Book of Durrow (on loan from Trinity College, Dublin). This suggests that certain designs, and in some cases the artists who made them, could travel large distances during the early Middle Ages. The rivets on the edges of the mounts suggest that they were once affixed to a larger item, perhaps a hanging bowl.
All of these fascinating objects from Norfolk Museums Service can be viewed until 19 February 2019 in the Library's magnificent Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition.
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01 December 2018
It’s December! Hard to believe that 2018 is almost over. But before the year comes to an end, we’ve got a few things to thresh out, literally …
Calendar page for December, made in southern England in the first half of the 11th century: Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 8v
This is the page for December in a 1000-year-old calendar made in southern England. You can currently see the calendar on display in the British Library’s once-in-a-generation Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition.
The page for December is accompanied by an image of men threshing and winnowing grain. Grain was harvested in ears. To separate the kernels out from the husks, the ears of grain were beaten with flails, as seen on the left of the image.
Detail of threshers: Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 8v
There was then a second process, winnowing, to ensure the edible parts of grain were separated out. Traditionally, winnowers toss the kernels in a basket or winnowing-fan. The heavy, edible kernels fall back down, while the undesirable chaff blows away.
Detail of man with a marked stick: Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 8v
In the middle of the image, there is a man with stick which is not a flail. It has a serrated edge near the top, and horizontal lines all the way down. Another depiction of it can be found in a related calendar (Cotton MS Tiberius B V/1, shown below). This might be another farm implement, but Debby Banham and Ros Faith have suggested that this man might be an overseer with a tally stick, counting how much grain had been prepared.
This gives a precious insight into the organisation of farming and landscape in 11th-century England. Very few notes on day-to-day farm work survive: the only exception seems to be the Ely Farming Memoranda (also on display in our Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition). The organisation and records of English farming were part of the reason England became such a wealthy kingdom, and this organisation underpinned the impressive administrative achievement of Domesday Book. (At the risk of sounding like broken record, you can even see Domesday Book in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition.)
Detail of man with a marked stick: Cotton MS Tiberius B V/1, f. 8v
In the Julius Work Calendar, two men carry off an enormous basket, presumably filled with useable grain. In the Tiberius Work Calendar, the two men with a basket seem to be approaching the threshers, perhaps bringing the ears of grain to be threshed.
Detail of men winnowing and threshing: Cotton MS Tiberius B V/1, f. 8v
As with earlier tasks featured in this calendar, threshing might not have been the most seasonal activity for December. However, it might have been linked to December because threshing was a major Biblical metaphor. Since threshing is the process that separates useful, edible grain from inedible husks, it was used in both the Old and New Testaments as a metaphor for judgement, for separating the good from the bad. This metaphor might have been particularly appropriate for Advent, which starts in December. Advent is the period before Christmas in the Christian liturgical year. Today it is associated with chocolate calendars, but in Anglo-Saxon England it was a time of fasting and penance, like Lent, as people prepared themselves for the holy feasts.
There are a number of feasts highlighted with a gold cross in this calendar, all grouped towards the end of the month. The first of these falls on 21 December, the feast of St Thomas the Apostle which was also, the calendar notes, the Winter Solstice. Thomas was a popular saint in Anglo-Saxon England, and several Old English accounts were made of his life. Even the writer Ælfric was obliged to write an account of St Thomas’s life: he initially refused because other versions existed and because he and St Augustine had some doubts about some of the miracles attributed to Thomas. Their objection was not to the idea a miracle would happen, but because these stories portrayed Thomas as vengeful, taking delivery of a severed hand after its owner had slapped him.
Christmas and the following feast days marked out with gold crosses: Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 8v
The next major holiday marked in the calendar is one we still celebrate today: Christmas. Learn more about how Christmas was celebrated in 11th-century English monasteries here. Then as now, Christmas kicked off a whole series of festivities: the next three days in the calendar are also marked out in gold. On 26 December is the feast of St Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Rather luridly, the verse in the calendar describes him ‘swimming in blood’. This is followed by the feast of St John the Evangelist and then the feast of the Holy Innocents, the massacre of children in Bethlehem.
Detail of Sagittarius: Cotton MS Julius A VI, f. 8v
At the top of the page, there is information about astrological changes in December, including a roundel depicting the constellation Sagittarius. Sagittarius is here depicted as a centaur, with his cape billowing out elegantly behind him.
Detail of Sagittarius, from a copy of Cicero's Aratea in a collection of astronomical texts made in Fleury in the 990s, with drawings added a few years later by an English artist: Harley MS 2506, f. 39v
Whatever is on your own calendar for December, we hope you have a great month. And if you are looking for something to do over the winter holidays, the British Library has an interesting exhibition on at the moment …
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28 November 2018
Today, the mention of sugar evokes reports about the harmful health effects of increased sugar consumption, and counter-actions such as the recently introduced UK ‘sugar tax’. But sugar is also a universally used inactive ingredient in many medications. As Mary Poppins was aware, it helps less pleasant ingredients go down. When sugar was first introduced to Europe, and for several centuries afterwards, it was regarded as an active — and curative — medical ingredient in its own right.
Illustration of a sugarcane plant in a collection of medical texts, Italy (Salerno), c. 1280–1350: Egerton MS 747, f. 106r
One of the earliest mentions of sugar in England is found in a manuscript containing a collection of medical recipes, written in the mid-to-late 11th century (Sloane MS 1621). Although made in what is now the Low Countries or northern France, this manuscript was brought soon afterwards to the abbey of Bury St Edmunds in England. Perhaps it came with Baldwin (d. c. 1097), originally from Chartres in France and physician to King Edward the Confessor (1042–1066), who was made abbot of Bury St Edmunds in 1065.
At Bury, numerous scribes added medical recipes to the book throughout the later decades of the century, suggesting it was valued and frequently consulted. Sugar is found in the ingredients lists of two of these added recipes, showing that Bury St Edmunds had access to the most current medical literature available in Latin. The close study of this manuscript, which led to the discovery of the recipes mentioning sugar, has been facilitated by its digitisation for The Polonsky Foundation England and France Project.
Starting on line 6, the Rosatum tertiani febris ('A conserve of roses for tertian fever') lists zuccari and siruppo albo (white syrup) as its ingredients, England (Bury St Edmunds), c. 1075–1100: Sloane MS 1621, f. 63r
Sugar is one of several exotic ingredients from the Far East that were largely unknown to the authors of the Greco-Roman sources that formed the core of medieval medical texts. These ingredients were not brought to Europe until the rise of the Arab-Muslim empire from the 7th to the 12th centuries. The Persian Sasanid Empire was among the first territories to be conquered, along with knowledge of cultivating sugarcane. This is demonstrated by the history of the word sugar itself, which reached English via the Medieval Latin zuccarum/saccarum derived from Arabic sukkar, which in turn stems from Persian šakar.
Sugar seems to have been among the later Arabic medical ingredients to reach Europe, as it is hardly ever mentioned in pre-11th century sources. Other Far Eastern ingredients brought to Europe by Arab merchants were definitely known sooner. Some were so well-known to the writers of Anglo-Saxon medical texts that they were adapted into Old English. For instance, two recipes in the work known as Lacnunga (Healings) list sideware (zedoary, from Persian zadwār) and gallengar (galangal, from Arabic ḵalanjān). The Latin versions of the words are zedoaria and galinga/galangal respectively. For more on exotic ingredients in Anglo-Saxon medicine, have a look at the illustrated Old English Herbal.
Lacnunga, remedy 30, To wensealfe (To [make] a wen-salve) with sideware and gallengar four lines down on the right, England, c. 975–1025: Harley MS 585, ff. 138r–v
What is so significant about the addition of recipes mentioning sugar in Sloane MS 1621, at a monastery in England, is the specific time at which it occurred. The closing decades of the 11th century witnessed exciting new developments in the history of medicine in Europe. The earliest translations of Arabic medical texts into Latin were made in central and southern Italy in the last quarter of the 11th century. It was through Arabic textual sources, as opposed to trade, that knowledge of sugar seemingly reached Europe. A key figure in this process may have been Constantine the African (d. c. 1087). Originally from Carthage (in modern-day Tunisia), he had moved to Italy and entered the Benedictine abbey of Monte Cassino by 1077.
Beginning on line 12, Antidotum ad stomachum calidum faciendum: Sloane MS 1621, f. 52r.
Antidotum ad stomachum calidum faciendum, beginning on line 12 of the recto, and with the list of ingredients on the verso including ten drams each of zuccari and penidi (rock candy): Sloane MS 1621, ff. 52r–52v.
Unfortunately, Constantine did not reference his Arabic sources, so it is hard to know exactly to which works he had access. Yet descriptions of sugar by Arabic writers, such as Ibn Māsawayh (d. 875) and Al-Rāzī (d. 925 or 935), closely parallel the way sugar is used in the recipes of Sloane MS 1621. In Arabic texts, sugar is described as having warming effects and being beneficial for the stomach and intestines. The recipe on ff. 52r–v opens with Antidotum ad stomachum calidum faciendum ('A remedy to make the stomach warm'). It also claims to be efficient against a painful stomach and for ‘anyone who cannot digest’.
Whether Abbot Baldwin and the monks of Bury St Edmunds had stomach troubles or merely a sweet tooth, it is clear that they had acquired the latest medical texts available in Europe, only decades after they had first been translated. Indeed, they might have gained knowledge of sugar before the saccharine substance itself had made it to England.
Thanks to funding from The Polonsky Foundation, and in conjunction with our partners at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, you can now see the whole of Sloane MS 1621 on our new viewer, using International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) technology. This enables you to compare manuscripts side-by-side, to annotate images or to share them on social media, and to download them either as an individual image or as a PDF of an entire manuscript. You may also like to read Taylor McCall's article, Medical knowledge in the early medieval period, which discusses this and other manuscripts.
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25 November 2018
If you are an Anglo-Saxonist, you may have heard of two significant places: Brunanburh and Clofesho. The former is remembered as the site of a momentous battle, and the latter was the meeting place for a series of influential Church councils. But both places are enigmatic. Their locations have never been identified with any certainty, and have puzzled scholars for hundreds of years.
Today we ask you to help us name that place: we welcome suggestions at the foot of this blogpost or via our @BLMedieval Twitter account. To assist you, here are some clues from manuscripts currently on display in our once-in-a-generation exhibition, Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War.
Did the battle of Brunanburh take place in Bromborough, near the site of this market cross?
Brunanburh was the site of a significant battle in 937, fought between King Æthelstan of England and an alliance of kings from northern Britain: King Olaf of Dublin, King Constantine of Alba (now Scotland), and King Owain of Strathclyde, a British kingdom in the North-West.
One of the earliest sources for the battle is the Old English heroic poem The Battle of Brunanburh, as preserved in some manuscripts of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. The opening of the poem describes Æthelstan’s ‘long-lasting glory forged at the fighting with swords’ edges around Brunanburh’.
The beginning of the battle of Brunanburh in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Cotton MS Tiberius B I, f. 141r
Other medieval accounts of the battle provide alternative spellings of its name. The oldest manuscript of Annales Cambriae records the battle as Bellum brune; while Symeon of Durham, writing in the 12th century, said it was fought at ‘Wendun, which is called by another name et Brunnanwerc or Brunnanbyrig’.
The entry for 937 in Annales Cambriae, in the middle column: Harley MS 3859, f. 193r
Account of the battle in Symeon of Durham’s Libellus de exordio ecclesiae Dunelmensis: Cotton MS Faustina A V, f. 61v
Brun-, the recurring element in all these place-names, is perhaps a personal name, a river name or the Old English or Old Norse word for spring or stream. The suffixes –burh/-wec and -dun are the Old English words for fortification and a low hill.
More than 30 different places have been suggested for the battle of Brunanburh. Considering that some of the forces that engaged King Æthelstan came from Dublin, Scotland and Strathclyde, most suggestions have been located in northern England or southern Scotland. There are also plenty of references in the poem to warriors arriving or departing by ship. Here the poet paints a graphic image of the chief fleeing the battle:
There was put to flight
The Northmen’s chief, driven by need
To the ship’s prow with a little band.
(Michael Livingston, The Battle of Brunanburh: A Casebook, Exeter, 2001)
It would make sense for the site to have had easy access to the coast or a riverbank. Some places proposed as the site of this famous battle include:
- Bromborough on the Wirral
- Burnswick, southern Scotland
- Lanchester, County Durham
If you were to choose the site for a climactic Anglo-Saxon battle, where would it be?
If you're unable to identify Brunanburh, perhaps you might turn your attentions to identifying Clofesho. In Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, completed in 731, he described an important synod organised by Archbishop Theodore in 670. One outcome of this meeting was the decision to hold a council once a year at a place known as Clofesho. These councils provided the opportunities for bishops from distant locations to gather and make important decisions about the Anglo-Saxon Church.
Bede’s account of the origin of the tradition of holding a synod at Clofesho. ‘Clofaeshooh’ is mentioned in lines 2–3 in the left-hand column: Cotton MS Tiberius C II, f. 100r
Over the next 150 years, Clofesho became a meeting place of great symbolic importance in the Anglo-Saxon Church. One of the most significant councils at Clofesho was held in 803, when it was confirmed that the archiepiscopal see of Lichfield would once again be classed as a bishopric. Lichfield had been promoted to the status of an archbishopric in 787, at the request of King Offa of Mercia. The charter produced at the council of Clofesho in 803 confirmed that Lichfield once again fell under the authority of Canterbury. This charter is currently on display in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition.
Decree of the council of Clofesho, 803: Cotton MS Augustus II 61
Despite its clear importance, scholars have not been able to identify Clofesho. Bede described the very first council held there, but he did not tell us anything about its location. Since it was used as a meeting place for the entire Anglo-Saxon Church, it makes sense for it to have been sited in a central location, perhaps in the kingdom of Mercia.
Modern places out forward as the site of Clofesho include Cliffe-at-Hoo, Abingdon, Tewkesbury and Hitchin. Another candidate is All Saints Church at Brixworth, Northamptonshire.
All Saints Church, Brixworth
Many elements of the Anglo-Saxon building of All Saints Church, Brixworth, survive intact. Its size suggests that it must have been a place of great importance in the Anglo-Saxon period, but there is no mention of Brixworth in any early sources. The old version of the place-name, Briclesworda, is first recorded in the Domesday survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror at Christmas 1085. In Domesday Book, Brixworth occupied 9.5 hides with land for 35 ploughs, 2 mills and a meadow.
Breclesworda, Northamptonshire, in Great Domesday: The National Archives, E 31/2/2
One possibility is that, at some point during the period of Danish invasions, Clofesho was renamed Breclesworda. There are other examples of place-names changing in the Anglo-Saxon period. For example, Streaneshalch became Whitby and Medeshamstede became Peterborough. Did the same happen to Clofesho? Or are you able to suggest a different place for it?
Was Hitchin the original site of Clofesho? This panel, featuring King Offa and the Hwicce, now stands outside the town's library
The British Library's exhibition Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, featuring glorious manuscripts and extraordinary artefacts, is on display in London until 19 February 2019.
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24 November 2018
‘Arise, O Lord, and may your enemies be torn apart’: the Staffordshire Hoard in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms
‘Arise, O Lord, and may your enemies be torn apart and those who hate you will flee from your face.’
So reads (in English translation) an inscription on an object in the famous Staffordshire Hoard, discovered by metal-detectorists in 2009. We are delighted that a selection of gold and silver treasure from that hoard can currently be seen in the British Library's landmark exhibition, Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War. These items are on display in London thanks to the generosity of Birmingham Museums Trust and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent.
Part of the Staffordshire Hoard: © Birmingham Museums Trust and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
The incredible Staffordshire Hoard, comprising around 4,000 items, was found in a field near the village of Hammerwich. The hoard's purpose and the precise date that it was deposited are open to question. Some experts have suggested that the hoard was buried in the ground before 675, although certain of the objects may have been around 100 years old at this time.
This area of Staffordshire was in the heartlands of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia. In Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People, he described the military campaigns of Penda, the powerful Mercian king, against the neighbouring kingdoms of Northumbria and East Anglia. Almost all of the objects in the Staffordshire Hoard are martial and were most likely used by Anglo-Saxon warriors. Perhaps the hoard was brought together following battles between the armies of Mercia, Northumbria and East Anglia.
A sword pommel from the Staffordshire Hoard: © Birmingham Museums Trust and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
The Staffordshire Hoard contains an extraordinary number of hilt fittings taken from the decorated handles of swords and knives. The hoard also features gold and garnet strips which may have been mounted on other weapons or armour. It's also intriguing to note that many of the objects were deliberately damaged before they were buried in the ground. Perhaps that was done to render them useless or somehow to destroy their symbolic power.
Cross pendant with central garnet and filigree decoration: © Birmingham Museums Trust and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
The Staffordshire Hoard also includes items with explicitly Christian connections. Shown above is an ornamental pectoral cross with a stunning garnet at the centre. It may have been used by a high-ranking cleric or a Christian nobleman. Another Christian object is this metal strip, with the aforementioned inscription from the Old Testament Book of Numbers (‘Arise, O Lord, and may your enemies be torn apart and those who hate you will flee from your face’).
Inscribed strip with gem setting: © Birmingham Museums Trust and the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Stoke-on-Trent
One of the chief advantages of displaying parts of the Staffordshire Hoard in conjunction with other artefacts and manuscripts is that it underlines similarities in their decoration. For instance, many objects in the Staffordshire Hoard fuse together gold and garnets. The garnets were cut into specific shapes to fit into the pattern work, while some of the gold filigree, made from gold wire and twisted to look like little beads, is less than one millimetre thick. They were then fashioned into stylised animals or stretched out in thin ribbons of intertwined interlace.
Gold and garnet decoration was used in other metalwork on display in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms. This can be seen, for example, in the Sutton Hoo sword-belt and belt buckle (on loan from the British Museum) and the Winfarthing pendant (on loan from Norfolk Museums Service), which were also found in the former territory of the kingdom of East Anglia.
The Sutton Hoo sword-belt: British Museum, BEP 1939,1010.10
Pendant from Winfarthing, Norfolk: Norwich Castle Museum, 2017.519.6
Some of the interlace patterns in the Staffordshire Hoard also bear similarities to the decoration of Insular gospel books made in the late 7th and early 8th centuries. A particularly vivid example of this style of decoration is found in the Echternach Gospels, which has been loaned to the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition by the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
The opening to the Gospel of Mark in the Echternach Gospels: Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France MS Latin 9389, f. 76r
The style of script and decoration of this gospel book suggests that it was produced in a scriptorium with strong Insular influences, possibly in Ireland, Northumbria or Echternach (in modern-day Luxembourg). The letters ‘IN’ on the page above are decorated with red and yellow interlace designs, and surrounded with miniature red dots. This design and colour palate is similar to the gold and garnet designs and gold filigree decoration of the Staffordshire Hoard.
Detail of decorated ‘IN’ in the Echternach Gospels: Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, ms latin 9389, f. 76r
We are very excited to have these fascinating objects from the Staffordshire Hoard in the British Library's Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition. The hoard bears witness to Mercian martial power in the 7th century: many of its objects were infused with Christian symbolism, and they drew on artistic trends witnessed across the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and the wider Insular world.
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21 November 2018
Today we are celebrating with our esteemed colleagues from the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Together we have digitised and re-catalogued 800 medieval manuscripts from England and France. We have also created two bilingual web resources making these manuscripts available freely and interpreting their significance.
The Adoration of the Magi from an illuminated Psalter, London, 1220s: British Library Lansdowne MS 420, f. 8v.
In the summer of 2016 we began the The Polonsky Foundation England and France Project: Manuscripts from the British Library and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, 700-1200. The project was funded by The Polonsky Foundation, which is committed to promoting access to and dissemination of cultural heritage.
“This project brings together riches of these great institutions and makes them available to researchers and the wider public in innovative and attractive ways, benefiting from the extraordinary opportunities opened up by the technological advances of digitisation.
Our Foundation promotes the preservation and transmission of cultural heritage, and is proud to support this collaboration, which continues the cultural exchange and profound mutual influence that have characterised the history of these two nations over many centuries.”
Dr Leonard S. Polonsky CBE, Founding Chairman, The Polonsky Foundation
The collections of medieval manuscripts in the British Library and the Bibliothèque nationale de France rank amongst the finest and most important in the world. Together we have particularly strong holdings of manuscripts made in France and England before 1200. From these we chose 400 manuscripts from each Library in order to transform the availability of these primary sources. The manuscripts comprise a wide range of texts, including biblical, liturgical and theological works, reflecting the interest of monks, abbots and clerics, who were responsible for much of book production in the period before 1200. Other topics include science, music and medicine, Classical and contemporary literature and works on history and law.
Themes in the curated website Medieval England and France, 700-1200, made in The Polonsky Foundation England and France Project: Manuscripts from the British Library and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, 700-1200.
Two web resources
All 800 manuscripts are now available on an innovative website hosted by the BnF: France et Angleterre : manuscrits médiévaux entre 700 et 1200 / France and England: medieval manuscripts between 700 and 1200. The website allows users to search manuscripts in English, French and Italian, and to view and compare manuscripts side-by-side using International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) technology. Images may also be annotated or shared on social media, and may be downloaded either as an individual image or as a PDF of an entire manuscript. Searches by author, date and place of origin may also be made.
New website developed by the BnF to present the 800 manuscripts digitised in The Polonsky Foundation England and France Project: Manuscripts from the British Library and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, 700-1200.
The British Library-hosted website presents a curated selection of these manuscripts highlighting various topics and manuscripts. Readers may explore themes, such as history, illumination, science and manuscript making. There are over twenty articles written by experts presenting and interpreting these manuscripts, in both English and French, together with individual descriptions and images of over 100 manuscripts. The website also features several videos exploring the context for these manuscripts and describing in detail how they were made. The site is an online exhibition to some of the amazing legacy that survives in hand-written medieval books.
New curated website developed by the British Library to explore the illuminated manuscripts digitised in The Polonsky Foundation England and France Project: Manuscripts from the British Library and the Bibliothèque nationale de France, 700–1200.
Professor Julia Crick from King’s College London remarks that, “Yet again, we are indebted to The Polonsky Foundation for an act of generosity which allows scholars, students and the general public at large to encounter new aspects of the world of medieval manuscripts. This project spans crucial centuries of cultural contact and political rivalry between England and the European continent. The manuscripts in this collection display the aspirations of the elite, the glitter of and competition for the classical past and, most excitingly, the material remains of a burgeoning culture of books and learning which was multilingual, culturally variegated and which is still open to exploration and discovery. The two new websites significantly widen and enhance access to these manuscripts and will inspire future research and learning.”
We have also produced a short film highlighting the background for the project and its achievements.
Cataloguing, Exhibition and a Book
All of the manuscripts have been re-catalogued to include up-to-date bibliography, identification of texts and descriptions of the artwork. These descriptions can be viewed on Explore our Archives and Manuscripts for British Library manuscripts; and on Archives et manuscrits for Bibliothèque nationale de France manuscripts.
The opening of Psalm 51 from the Bosworth Psalter, Canterbury or Westminster, Southern England, 3rd quarter of the 10th century: British Library Add MS 37517, f. 33r.
If online access to this amazing selection does not satisfy a desire for stunning images, there are also other ways in which to get guided access to the highlights. Several of the project manuscripts can be seen in person in the British Library’s exhibition Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War (until 19 February 2019).
We have also brought together some of the project highlights in a book by Kathleen Doyle and Charlotte Denoël, Medieval Illumination: Manuscript Art in England and France 700-1200 (London: British Library, 2018), also published in French as Enluminures Médiévales: Chefs-d'oeuvre de la Bibliothèque nationale de France et de la British Library, 700-1200 (Paris: BnF Éditions, 2018).
Medieval Illumination: Manuscript Art in England and France 700-1200, Kathleen Doyle and Charlotte Denoël (Front Cover).
We hope that the easy and convenient availability of this material will inspire researchers, teachers, students, artists and others to explore our shared history and heritage. We invite all our readers to immerse themselves in the stories these manuscripts tell and browse through the online articles and collection items. We are delighted to have opened digitally 800 medieval books for you to discover, research and enjoy.
Part of the Polonsky Digitisation Project
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17 November 2018
This weekend is a special moment for Harry Potter fans in the United Kingdom. The latest instalment of the Fantastic Beasts film franchise is released in cinemas nationwide, starring Johnny Depp, Eddie Redmayne and Ezra Miller (all of whom have visited the British Library). Many of us in the Library's Medieval Manuscripts team are huge fans of the world of Harry Potter, but it has to be said that our day-to-day activities are more concerned with the care of fantastic manuscripts rather than fantastic beasts!
So where can you find some absolutely jaw-dropping manuscripts? Look no further than our sensational Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition, which has been drawing in the crowds (and is open until 19 February 2019).
Here is a selection of some of the outstanding books on display in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, in the order that you will find them in the gallery. Which are your favourites?
The St Augustine Gospels (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 286, f. 129v): made in late 6th century Italy, this gospel-book may have been brought to Anglo-Saxon England by some of the Christian missionaries who arrived from Rome in 597.
The Moore Bede (Cambridge, University Library, MS Kk.5.16, f. 94r): Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People is a critical source for the conversion of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms to Christianity. The Moore Bede is probably the oldest surviving copy, made around the year 737.
The Book of Durrow (Dublin, Trinity College Library, MS 57, f. 85v): the earliest of the fully decorated insular gospel books, drawing on sources and inspiration from Ireland, Anglo-Saxon England, Pictland and the Mediterranean.
The Lindisfarne Gospels (British Library Cotton MS Nero D IV, f. 27r): the work of a single scribe and artist, and often acclaimed as one of the most spectacular manuscripts to survive from Anglo-Saxon England.
The St Cuthbert Gospel (British Library Additional MS 89000): discovered in St Cuthbert’s tomb in 1104, this small copy of the Gospel of St John is the earliest surviving European book with an intact binding.
Codex Amiatinus (Florence, Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, MS Amiatino 1): this colossal manuscript is one of three single-volume copies of the Bible made at Wearmouth-Jarrow in the early 8th century. It was taken to Rome in 716, and has returned temporarily to England (for our Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms exhibition) for the first time in 1302 years.
The Book of Nunnaminster (British Library Harley MS 2965, f. 16v): one of a group of 9th-century prayer books whose contents, script and decoration are all linked to Mercia. It may have been used by Mercian noblewomen, as two of its prayers include words written in the feminine form.
King Alfred’s translation of the Pastoral Care (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Hatton 20, f. 1r): this translation of Gregory the Great’s Dialogues is attributed to King Alfred of Wessex (871–899), who is known to have encouraged the translation of Latin texts into English to aid learning and education in his kingdom.
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle: Manuscript B (British Library Cotton MS Tiberius A VI, f. 30v): this version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle preserves an account of the campaigns of Æthelred, ealdorman of Mercia, and his wife Æthelflæd, ‘Lady of the Mercians’ (d. 918), against the Viking invaders.
Bede's Lives of St Cuthbert (Cambridge, Corpus Christi College, MS 183, f. 1v): this famous image of King Æthelstan (924–939) presenting a book to the Community of St Cuthbert is the earliest surviving manuscript ‘portrait’ of an Anglo-Saxon king.
The Coronation Gospels (British Library Cotton MS Tiberius A II, f. 74v): a gospel-book presented to the monks of Christ Church, Canterbury, by Æthelstan, the first king of the English (924–939).
Beowulf (British Library Cotton MS Vitellius A XV, f. 169r): the only medieval copy of what is widely regarded as the greatest surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon literature.
The Old English Hexateuch (British Library Cotton MS Claudius B IV, f. 19r): the earliest example of an Old English translation of the Hexateuch, the first six books of the Old Testament.
The Marvels of the East (British Library Cotton MS Tiberius B V/1, f. 81v): fantastic illustrations accompany these descriptions of 37 ‘marvels’. This manuscript also contains lists of popes, Anglo-Saxon kings and Roman emperors, and a map of the world.
Dunstan’s Classbook (Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Auct. F.4.32, f. 1r): Dunstan was archbishop of Canterbury (959–988) and leader of the Benedictine reform movement, and the ‘Classbook’ contains annotations in his own hand.
The Trinity Gospels (Cambridge, Trinity College, MS B.10.4, ff. 59v–60r): one of the most sumptuous of all 11th-century gospel books, featuring extensive use of gold and beautifully painted images.
The Judith of Flanders Gospels (New York, Morgan Library, MS M 708, upper cover): a splendidly decorated gospel-book which is associated with Judith of Flanders, wife of Tostig, earl of Northumbria (d. 1066). Many Anglo-Saxon gospel-books are known to have had treasure bindings such as this, but very few of them survive.
Encomium of Queen Emma (British Library Additional MS 33241, f. 1v): a fascinating text in praise of Queen Emma, wife successively of two kings of England, Æthelred the Unready (978–1016) and Cnut (1016–1035).
Great Domesday (The National Archives, E 31/2/2, f. 304v): one of the most significant manuscripts in English history, preserving a major portion of the survey commissioned by William the Conqueror at Christmas 1085.
The Utrecht Psalter (Utrecht, Universiteitsbibliothek, MS 32, f. 8r): made in northern France during the reign of Louis the Pious (814–840), this revolutionary manuscript was in Canterbury by the 11th century, when it was used as the model for another fantastic manuscript on display in Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms, the Harley Psalter (British Library Harley MS 603).
All of these books are testament to the creativity and skill of their Anglo-Saxon scribes, artists and makers and to the care of their subsequent owners. We are particularly grateful to all our lenders credited here (from Cambridge, Dublin, Florence, London, New York, Oxford and Utrecht), without whom our exhibition would not have been so FANTASTIC.
You can book your tickets to see the Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms: Art, Word, War at the British Library (19 October 2018–19 February 2019) here.
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14 November 2018
This month many people are celebrating Movember, yet few imagine that one of the most detailed works on beards comes from the medieval period. The Church Fathers had thought about facial hair in moral and theological terms, while medieval theologians and clergymen debated whether communities of priests, monks and other clerics could grow beards at all. By the 12th century, canon law forbade Western clerics to grow beards, as beardlessness came to be associated with the purity and humility of angels. Laymen could grow beards if they wished, but that would mark them out even further from the clergy.
A group of clean-shaven clerics offering St Benedict a copy of his Rule (England, 11th century): Arundel MS 155, f. 133r
It is therefore surprising that a monastic author should have left us the only known apologetic treatise on beards. Burchard was abbot of the French Cistercian abbey of Bellevaux near Besançon, and in the 1160s he wrote to the community at Rosières, a neighbouring house of the same Order, to make amends for an offensive letter condemning the lay brothers for growing their beards. Cistercian lay brothers did not take the monastic habit, but they helped the monks run the abbey. They lived in separate quarters and led different lifestyles, which extended in turn to their facial hair.
Entitled ‘In defence of beards’ (Apologia de barbis), Burchard’s letter is actually a treatise in three chapters encouraging the lay brothers not to cut their beards. The author remarkably referred to his subject as barbilogia (‘barbilogy’) and to himself as barbilogus (‘barbilogist’). He could not have been more hip and modern.
The opening of Abbot Burchard’s Apologia de barbis with an intricate anthropomorphic initial including bearded faces (France, 12th century): Add MS 41997, f. 1r
Burchard’s ‘barbilogy’ survives in only one manuscript (Add MS 41997). It starts with what it means to grow a beard, then goes on to describe different types of beards, styles and treatments, and to give beard-related advice. Burchard mentioned more than 10 styles of beard, including one ‘urban’ (urbana figuratio) and one military, which, he added, does not go well with long hair. There was the beard that covers the chin (barba mentanea), that from under the chin (submentanea), and the side beard (barba maxillaris). We are told that long sideburns and the beard under the chin make the face resemble a goat, while moustaches reaching to the ears resemble a wild boar. There is inequality between men according to their beards: there are those with precocious beards (citiberbes), those with late-developed beards (tardiberbes), those whose beards are thin and whispy (rariberbes), and those with even, bushy beards (pleniberbes).
According to the barbilogist, there was a close link between a man’s beard and his spiritual life. A beard could save a man’s life, or it could drag him straight to Hell, where there would be weeping, gnashing of teeth and, as Burchard noted, the burning of beards.
A drawing of nine bearded figures from the late-medieval period added at the end of Burchard’s ‘Defence’ and inspired by it (France, 12th century): Add MS 41997, f. 95r
Burchard warned furthermore that a long beard might become a hindrance and an object of contempt in the eyes of the beardless. This is mirrored by an image in another manuscript (Arundel MS 155), which depicts Goliath with a long, pointy beard, before a clean-shaven David cuts off his head.
A clean-shaven David holding Goliath by the beard before cutting off his head (England, 11th century): Arundel MS 155, f. 93r
According to Abbot Burchard, a suitable, well-trimmed beard was a symbol of strength, maturity, wisdom and religion. For instance, we are told that a half-beard, meaning a lonely moustache, was a 'monstrous sign'. The connection between beards and medieval notions of masculinity is suggested by an entry in an 11th-century dreambook (concerning the interpretation of dreams) — dreaming of having one’s own beard cut meant that something terrible would happen to you.
Dream prognostics in Latin with an Old English interlinear translation (England, 11th century): Cotton MS Tiberius A III, f. 28r
The manuscript containing Burchard's treatise is part of The Polonsky Foundation England and France Project, which is launching in one week! Stay tuned for more information on 21 November. The conference website is here.
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What happened was the Packers added Odom, the son of ex-NFL linebacker Cliff Odom and the high-school teammate of Cleveland Browns No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett, to an outside linebacker group that is clearly in flux a week before the regular-season opener against Seattle.
Defensively, fourth year inside linebacker Jordan Tripp did not make the cut. He has played in 133 regular-season games with 99 starts, registering 493 tackles (345 solo), 53.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 30 passes defensed and three interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Elliott had 39 special teams tackles over the past three seasons and was slated for a larger role on defense this year but battled back problems the past two weeks.
He is presumably just a snap away from earning the call-up to the active roster as Aaron Rodgers is backed up at the quarterback spot by Brett Hundley. He couldn't beat out Terrell McClain in 2016, and worked behind free agent pickup Stephen Paea while nursing a hamstring injury in training camp this year.
Mulumba, 27, suited up in 22 National Football League games with the Packers between 2013 and 2015 and has also spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. They claimed this year's preseason hero, Taysom Hill, after the Packers released him on Saturday.
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Tuesday, Pyongyang launched an intermediate-range missile, identified by the North Koreans as the Hwasong-12, over Japan. North Korea is believed to have conducted a test after a magnitude 5.7 natural disaster was detected earlier Sunday.
Lavrov said Moscow would react to the decision once it has finished analyzing the USA order, the Associated Press reported . A State Department official said they would have "sufficient time" to pack their things and move out.
I remember watching him against Spain under Fabio [Capello] so we are going back quite a long way since he made his debut. ENGLAND boss Gareth Southgate says Harry Kane will not be satisfied until he is the world's best striker.
Merkel argued that the cease of the accession talks with Turkey can only be decided in the concert of the European Union states. However, Mrs Merkel returned to the issue later on in the debate, making a u-turn by promising to end the negotiations.
The move to nullify an election was unprecedented on the African continent . "This is a precedent-setting ruling", he said . In 2007, following his defeat, more than 1,000 people died in violent clashes across the country.
Returning Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin has logged even more time in orbit: 673 days over five missions. Their Soyuz capsule landed in Kazakhstan shortly after sunrise Sunday, Saturday night back in the U.S.
Francois threw for 210 yards, but had two costly interceptions that contributed to the Seminoles 24-7 loss to Alabama. His most impactful play came when he hauled in a 53-yard touchdown deep from QB Jalen Hurts in the second quarter.
It shut down Wednesday as Harvey made a third landfall in southwest Louisiana, bringing flooding to the Port Arthur area. He continued, "As gas prices go up refineries around the globe are seeing incentives to send gas to the United States".
Maria Sharapova's Slam return ends
But she was also plagued by injuries and she's clearly still struggling with consistency. Brett: Maria Sharapova will once again be taking center stage on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Trump mulling withdrawal from Korea trade deal
Mr Trump's push to revise the deal is part of his broader drive to tackle unfair trading practices and cut the U.S. trade deficit. Mr Trump said last month that Canada and Mexico are being "difficult" and he will probably need to scrap the pact.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott: 'Compare it to Katrina'
Trump visited the region on Saturday for the second time after an initial trip there last Tuesday. Greg Abbott said Friday that there is a healthy amount of fuel in the state - and in the nation.
Here's Why Yawns Are So Contagious
It is a common form of echophenomena - the automatic imitation of another's words (echolalia) or actions (echopraxia). Nonetheless, urge-to-yawn estimates increased significantly when participants were instructed to resist yawning.
Princess Leaves Royalty Behind To Marry A Common Man
The experience even "deepened our relationship", he told reporters in Tokyo on Sunday (via Japan Times ). "Together with Mr. The news conference followed the Imperial Household Agency's official announcement of their engagement the same day.
Texas vs. Maryland, college football
But with his team clinging to a 37-34 lead late in the third quarter, Pigrome left the game with an apparent leg injury. But what goes around comes around - Hill returned to the end zone on a 65-yard return of Poona Ford's blocked kick.
Trump didn't blame Pak afghanistan, says David Hale
USA officials worry that if Pakistan becomes an active foe, it could further destabilise Afghanistan and endanger US soldiers. According to sources at Foreign Office (FO), Islamabad is not in favour of worsening its relations with the US.

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Along with earning money while playing online slots, another good thing about playing online slots is that you can use the same slot machine once more. In the event that you start playing at a particular machine, there’s no way for you to go back to the prior one because you already won. You also save lots of money by devoid of to rent a slot machine game every time you want to play. Playing slots at specific sites means that there are no errors together with your earnings.
In online Slots, you can choose between direct and indirect plays. Indirect spins are the most common type of spins in online slots. You can only use symbols when using them in these kinds of spins. Direct plays involve direct interactions of the symbols with the reels. Once you hit the symbols, they will move based on the indicated direction and follow the direction of the spin. In this manner, it is easy for one to 엠 카지노 접속 determine which symbol should be used in the next spin.
A good example of an indirect spin in online Slots is the “double-triple” slot. In this type of spin, the player has to press three times for the device to make a payout. That is unlike the direct spin wherein the ball player will have to push or pull the reels. With the “double-triple” spin, the player will need to wait for two pulls for the payout instead of just one single.
Online Slots will come in different variations. A number of them have progressive slots that spend even with you win. Others come with what is called the “dotted line” where the lines do not actually cross over when you win. In this sort of slot, you’ll still get your money even if you miss the entire circle on a single spin.
As possible plainly see, there are a great number of factors that play a role on how online slot games work. One of these is the reels. It is possible to determine which type of reel you are using depending on the upshot of the previous spins. Focusing on how online slot games work will assist you to maximize your winnings in addition to minimizing the amount you spend on losing tickets.
There are several sites where you could play free slots. These free slots should only be utilized for practice or demo purposes. Playing these free slots without putting hardly any money on the line will help you become acquainted with online slots and their mechanics. The very best online slot sites offer free slots for players to utilize while they are learning how to play the slots in a more controlled environment.
When playing free slots, players can also try their luck on real money games. While it is possible for players to improve their winnings on free slots, they may not be able to increase their winnings on real cash games. In order to boost your likelihood of hitting the jackpot, players should play a lot more than only a single game on a niche site. Actually, playing multiple games on sites will increase your chances of winning real cash.
Real cash slots will require players to input specific values into their wagers to make the wagers spin. These values are referred to as paylines. An ideal way for players to determine their chances of hitting a payout on a site is to determine if the site’s payout requirements are add up to or greater than their very own. If casino games has no payout requirements, this can be a good indication that the website has something to provide players that could better their probability of winning real cash.

domain: game


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After a journey that started at the weekend, the European Columbus laboratory arrived at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, the United States, yesterday afternoon.
Europe's largest single contribution to the International Space Station, the laboratory will provide internal payload accommodation for various scientific experiments.
Ahead of its transatlantic journey, the 4.5-metre diameter cylindrical module was packed into the transportation container at the EADS Space Transportation facility in Bremen, Germany.
On Sunday 28 May, Columbus was loaded onto an Airbus A300-600 'Beluga' heavy lift aircraft at Bremen Airport. With overnight stopovers in Iceland and Canada along the way, and two short refuelling stops in Greenland and Cleveland, in the United States, Columbus touched down in Florida yesterday afternoon.
NASA will welcome the Columbus module during a ceremony on Friday 2 June in Kennedy's Space Station Processing Facility.

domain: geography


Birthdays are undoubtedly one of the most celebrated occasions around the world. The joy of commemorating yet another year of life alongside loved ones is unmatched. And what better way to celebrate than with heartfelt wishes and endearing images? With the rise of digital media, sharing special moments has become even easier. And in the spirit of spreading love and joy, we have compiled an astonishing collection of 999+ 4K Happy Birthday Love Images that are guaranteed to delight you and your loved ones. So, get ready to explore a world of captivating visuals that are sure to make the next birthday celebration all the more memorable.
In conclusion, the astonishing compilation of over 999 4K Happy Birthday Love Images is truly a remarkable collection. With such a vast assortment of high-quality images, you are sure to find the perfect one to delight your loved one on their special day. From cute and cuddly animals to bold and bright designs, this collection has it all. So, whether you’re looking for the perfect image to accompany a heartfelt message or simply want to express your love and appreciation, the 999+ 4K Happy Birthday Love Images are sure to exceed your expectations. Start browsing today and create a birthday celebration they’ll never forget!
1. Happy Birthday


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I started my block. I'm sewing on NB since Bobby is still at the shop. However, he is done and ready to be picked up! If only Gloversville was much closer to me than it is... but that is besides the point.
I picked out some scraps and started to play with them, looking for some ways they would fit together.
Here is the layout I'm working with. I got lucky in the scrap bin - only had to cut the greys from fresh stash. That was one color I don't have a lot of in the stash since moving to higher quality fabrics. Interestingly, grey is my favorite color. Seems I don't make quilts for myself enough!
What a nice little block! Once I get the sections together I will put them all together. This is a new technique for me but I'm having a lot of fun.
I am planning to do the quilt double sided, with floating blocks on both sides. I want to use some really fun colors for the background - perhaps a nice aqua on one side and a citron on the other. I'll have to see when I get my blocks in what colors seem to want to shine.

domain: artistic


Gists Abstract One day, you might have a situation where you are required to update a sheet using Google Apps Script when the cell values retrieved by IMPORTRANGE are changed. This report introduces a workaround for achieving this situation. Introduction Google Apps Script can be executed by several triggers. Ref When a cell in a Google Spreadsheet is manually edited, a function of Google Apps Script can be executed by detecting this edit.
Gists Abstract This report introduces the method for retrieving the Emoji reactions from the comments in Google Docs files (Google Documents, Google Slides, and Google Spreadsheets) using Google Apps Script. Introduction Recently, the Emoji reactions have been implemented in the comments on Google Docs files (Google Documents, Google Slides, and Google Spreadsheets). Ref With this implementation, the collaborative work has been higher. Here, it is considered that when the Emoji reactions can be retrieved from the Google Docs files, the statistics of the reactions will be also more useful for increasing collaboration.
Gists Abstract One day, you might have a situation where it is required to run Google Apps Script using the service account. Unfortunately, in the current stage, Google Apps Script cannot be directly run with the service account because of the current specification. So, this report introduces a workaround for executing Google Apps Script using the service account. Introduction When you want to execute Google Apps Script from outside of Google, as the basic approach, it can be achieved by Google Apps Script API.


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FB: A clear choice emerges for Iowa farmers on water quality
During the 2017 legislative session, the Iowa Farm Bureau worked with legislators to provide long-term water quality funding that would help Iowa farmers advance the comprehensive Nutrient Reduction Strategy.
Two primary measures emerged, one in the Senate and another in the House. Although neither measure passed as the gavel came down before the session ended late last month, confusion about both bills has surfaced.
Spokesman Editor Dirck Steimel visited with IFBF Executive Director Denny Presnall about which measure Farm Bureau supported and why, and what Farm Bureau members’ plans are for the 2018 session regarding water quality.
Q: Which proposal did Farm Bureau support for water quality funding?
We believe the Senate proposal was the best legislative vehicle to achieve the water quality goals developed by members in our grassroots policy development process. Our members want to engage in meaningful solutions that will truly improve water quality. As a result, the Senate bill surfaced as the one that would provide real progress and real solutions.
There’s been a lot of misinformation shared about both bills, but having worked at the Capitol, it’s important to read the details of each bill. It matters what the bill says versus what it might include.
The Senate measure would:
• Provide $156 million, which is over $100 million more than the House plan, in dedicated funding to assist farmers with their agricultural conservation and water quality efforts. History shows that farmers respond to that. During a tight budget when everyone is vying for dollars, it’s important to find common ground to make progress. The Senate measure offered more assistance to help farmers continue conservation momentum.
• Protect the state’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy by clearly distinguishing that farm conservation practices remain under the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) and cities, municipalities, etc., remain under the jurisdiction of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR). That’s because the Senate measure clearly defines roles and responsibilities in farmers’ efforts to improve water quality.
• Continue the state’s proven cost-share approach of helping to offset some of the cost of supporting farmers’ own investments in conservation and water quality projects. One conservation practice can cost up to six figures to install.
Farmers have shown they are willing to invest in conservation; a recent Iowa State University survey shows farmers have made some $2.2 billion in investments in the past decade already. However, applications for cost-share have outpaced funds available.
Increasing adoption of proven conservation practices is an important part of the strategy to help improve water quality, and cost-share is a key tool to help continue momentum.
Q: Why was Farm Bureau concerned about the approach taken in the House measure?
The House approach creates several challenges for agriculture, because it:
• Relies primarily on loans, bonding and debt as funding mechanisms. That is a sharp contrast to the proven conservation cost-share practices in the Senate measure.
• Requires farmers to sign a loan agreement that covers the entire watershed project before they can receive preference to access state funding for water quality projects on their farm. A loan agreement will discourage adoption of practices.
• Expands property tax burdens, specifically on farmland owners.
• Allows point sources, such as cities and industrial sites, to access funding designated for non-point or agricultural programs. Again, we want to give farmers as many tools as possible to implement the conservation practices that work best on their farms, and that takes resources.
• Weakens farmers’ ability to implement the innovative Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy by requiring farmers to take on loan obligations before receiving preference for funds, reducing available funds by having to compete against point sources for cost-share, and allowing property taxes to increase.
Q: What other organizations supported the Senate measure?
The Senate Bill was supported by Iowa’s agencies that are responsible for implementing the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS), including the IDALS, the DNR, the Iowa Finance Authority and the governor’s office.
The Senate measure was also supported by the Iowa Corn Growers Association, the Iowa Pork Producers Association, the Agribusiness Association of Iowa, the Iowa Institute for Cooperatives and the Conservation Districts of Iowa.
Q: Which organizations backed the House water quality proposal?
The House Bill was supported by groups such as the Iowa Soybean Association, the Environmental Law and Policy Center, the Iowa Environmental Council, the Iowa League of Cities, the Iowa attorney general’s office, the Iowa Association of Municipalities and the Iowa State Association of Counties.
Additionally, the House bill was specifically opposed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship.
Q: What is Farm Bureau’s plan for water quality funding in the 2018 legislative session?
Water quality funding to help implement the proven practices outlined in the NRS remains a key priority for our members and will be ongoing. From that perspective, the Senate proposal laid the foundation to build upon water quality funding in this two-year legislative session.
When the Legislature convenes in January 2018, Senate File 512 will be an eligible bill in the House. The House can approve Senate File 512 and send it to the governor’s desk, or they can send the bill to a conference committee.
House File 612 was withdrawn at the end of session and would have to start over in the legislative process.
Our goal is to keep moving forward focusing on real solutions that give farmers the tools they need that work best for their farms as quickly as possible. The Senate measure, which employs the proven cost-share method and other options, offers more opportunity to achieve our goals.
Want more news on this topic? Farm Bureau members may subscribe for a free email news service, featuring the farm and rural topics that interest them most!

domain: agronomy


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3-4 chicken breasts
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons corn starch
- Add chicken to slow cooker.
- In a bowl, mix together chicken broth,teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, and garlic powder until combined.
- Pour teriyaki mixture over the chicken.
- Cook on Low 6-8 hours, or on High for 3-4 hours.
- When chicken is cooked through, cut into pieces or shred. Add corn starch to teriyaki sauce and mix in slow cooker to thicken sauce. Serve chicken and sauce over rice.
*If teriyaki sauce does not completely cover chicken in slow cooker, turn chicken halfway through cook time or cut into pieces so the chicken will not dry out and will absorb more of the flavor.
*Chicken can be placed in slow cooker thawed OR frozen. Cook time should be about the same.
*For even more flavor, marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce in a Ziploc bag for a few hours or overnight.

domain: food


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Outside: zip pocket on the back wall of the bag.
Inside: one Department, divided pocket – partition with zip,rear pocket for documents zipper on the front wall a cell phone pocket and a pocket for small items.
All pockets are decorated with faux leather.
The bag closes with a zipper, worn on the crook of your arm or on your shoulder.
The bag has a light lining so You can easily find in your bag right thing, and the multiple pockets will help keep the bag in perfect order!
Made of soft material - high quality faux leather.
Bags are sewed in Yekaterinburg, leather goods company "Bagland".
The manufacturer was twice awarded the title of Golden winner of competition "100 best goods of Russia".
No Another Colors
There isn't any related product

domain: design


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NBA 2K19 Locker Codes Guide - How To Get Locker Codes and Redeem Them For Rewards?
NBA 2K19 Locker Codes are regularly distributed by 2K to give free NBA 2K19 MT points and VC but also sometimes player cards, it is an easy way to acquire highly desirable in-game items. Here is the complete list of the codes and tips on how to get all NBA 2K19 Locker Codes.
The different game modes of 2k19 MT like MyTeam or MyPlayer require NBA 2K19 MT and NBA 2K19 VC to progress. NBA 2K19 also provides rewards that can be obtained by playing normally, purchasing microtransactions, and entering a free code. But regularly, Take Two (the publisher of the game of basketball) puts online "locker codes" to unlock VCs, cards for NBA 2K19 MyTeam or even exclusive rewards for players.
2K Sports offered multiple ways for interested gamers to get a headstart in NBA 2K19 through Locker Codes. For those uninterested in spending real money, 2K Sports encourages players to follow their official Twitter accounts to obtain Locker Codes, such as community manager Ronnie Singh’s Twitter or the official MyTeam account. Make sure to check for new Locker Codes weekly because they expire after a certain time. Expect to see Locker Codes giveaways every now and then, so make sure to be on the lookout.
McFarlane Toys announced that it released $24.96-priced Walmart-exclusive NBA 2K19 figurines of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Russel Westbrook, Kristaps Porzingis, and Giannis Antetokounmpo sometime in August 2018. For the player buy each toy will contain a Locker Code with a McFarlane Pack that contains a guaranteed a ruby card for a random player and Reese Puffs that contain either a 1,000 VC or 2,500 VC alongside a MyTeam League Pack.
Most of these codes will likely be one-time or available in limited quantities, so make sure to act fast and redeem them right away. In this article, we will group the different locker codes that generally do not have an expiry date.Read More

domain: hobby


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8 whole months. And I will never be the same.
I am often overwhelmed at what lies before her. That she will have to endure really hard times, that she will sometimes feel alone. That there will be nights of her adult life spent wallowing in tears and Ben and Jerry's and the feeling that "this feeling might not stop". And the drama that was completely normal when I went through it myself, but to see this little person that I wish I could protect from all that - it is soul shattering.
And then I realize that that is life. And I can't protect her from life. I mean, that is really what she is here for.
There are so many things that I want to teach/show/influence her. Like how to poop in a potty. And to dance, even when someone is watching, like she just doesn't care. That sitting alone in the car with the windows rolled up in bumper to bumper traffic is always the best place to really belt out her favorite songs like she wrote them herself. That there is a huge benevolent force I call God and He loves her, and sometimes she will hear Him in the whistle of the wind or the laughter of a child and to stop and really tune in to that, because it awakens grace and serenity within a soul. And to play music, and to express her self discovery in vivid/amazing/intricate ways.
That she is the average of the 5 people she hangs out with most often, and to at least make sure that 3 of those people don't get into trouble as often as she does. And that it is usually better to pay the extra $20 for a better haircut, and to never EVER let anyone give her a home permanent. And to never be afraid to teach the world what she knows. And when in doubt, to keep her mouth shut.
And to have confidence in her ability to succeed, to love with her whole heart, to take the time to find out what she thinks about whatever instead of thinking what someone else thinks.
I want her to know how to find a great mechanic, to choose quality over quantity, to change her own tire, to buy a pair of jeans that look really great on her butt, never wear too much make up unless she is going to be on TV, and give an effective head butt.
I worry and cry and hope and dream and roll around under the weight of her life before me. Because what if I mess up?
And then I realize that here is this incredible little person. She is so small, and yet she is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me. Her little life is right before her. And me. And Charlie. And she is pulling herself up on her own two feet to face a lifetime/universe/rainbow of endless possibilities. And of course it seems huge to me. She is my precious little daughter. And I am humbled by her presence in my life.
She has already taught me so much about love and humility and vulnerability and compassion and humor and self worth. She holds the key to secrets I have long forgotten, brings color to truths which have paled and grayed in the weather of my own life. She has yet to discover the twinkling lights of possibilities which have grown dim as I've moved further from my own childhood. The twinkling possibilities that I am excited to see illuminating my path again.
She hasn't even circled the sun once, and I still have so much to learn from her.
I am truly fortunate.
She teaches me something new, something profound, something simple.
Halloween Decoration DIY
4 years ago

domain: literature


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“I think we need to go backward now”, is what I said to a friend who was asking what was ahead for the year—referring to a view I had years back about recognizing when it’s time to go with the flow, and when it’s time to reverse or deflect it to move in another direction. I was thinking back to the mp3 revolution of 2001; geeks downloaded all the music they wanted thanks to Napster or other software. There was a continuous debate about music being copied and shared. Back then, it was mostly pop and commercial music taking the biggest hit from file-sharing. In underground culture, Netlabels became a mysterious movement, sharing music for free. Now free music is common, but back then it was really seen as a nonsense approach to a label, “backward thinking” even, and often talked down and ridiculed.
Back then, Dennis De Santis (who now works for Ableton) and I were approached to be part of a compilation for a German Netlabel called Thinner (which eventually became fairly well-known netlabel). Why did I do it? There were two main contributing factors:
- I wasn’t putting releases out at that time, and I was a yes-man to whatever would come my way.
- There was a huge new audience flow of people who wanted music for free…so why not just give it to them?
I decided to go with the flow. In doing this, you get pushed in a direction and accept that you might not control where you’ll end up. In my case, I’d say it only led me to great things—meeting people, getting gigs, and a lot of attention.
It was no surprise that when I started my own label, Archipel, in 2004, I kicked it off as a netlabel as well. But in 2006, I decided to go against the flow and do what many didn’t really approve of, which was sell music on Beatport. It was the beginning of digital music sales and many people thought it wouldn’t work, but it did really well.
My point is, there are times when it makes sense to keep going in a certain direction, and there are other times when changing directions is more sensible. Keeping this in mind, being flexible is something that can applied to many spheres, such as your music aesthetic, or even a song itself.
As I’ve mentioned, I recently joined Weeklybeats—a challenge to create one song per week, for the entire year, and I’ve experienced a great feeling of freedom. Normally, I impose a very rigorous workflow on myself when I make music, and often it can take me months to finish a song. Switching up my approach to a faster pace forced me to think less. Yes, there’s a risk of reduced quality with increased speed, but at the same time, with the experience I’ve gained over time, I know I can at least make sure that the production is solid.
I also realized that my number one distraction is that I’m constantly bombarded with new music tools promising tons of new features and spend a hell of a lot time going through them and waiting for a sale to buy them, but never really pushing the stuff I already own to its maximum potential. With this weekly challenge in mind, now that I have self-imposed limitations, I feel like I’ve exprienced a huge breakthrough.
Deadlines make you creative and productive. A friend who is a father of two told me recently that he realized that he was creating his best ideas in moments where he’d squeeze a quick session of music, knowing that he’d be limited to maybe 10 minutes. So, let’s say he had to go to the grocery store; while people were getting ready, he’d open Ableton and would test a new macro he made, or would try to make temporary arrangements. The time-constraint made him more efficient than when he’d have a full evening to himself to make music, which often led to nothing interesting.
My theory is that with too much time, you can spoil what you make. This is why I think 5 hours of studio time spent on one song is not the best idea—a thought I have proven to be correct for myself while taking part in this weekly challenge. Now, I take a few hours to create an idea, save it, and later will expand it—the next day I add a layer, and so on. I’m limited in time and I do multiple things at once, but I’ll squeeze in 20 minutes here, 40 minutes there, then 10 minutes before going to bed.
Try this fun Max patch that will time your work and give you an idea of how much time you’ve spent on things.
Tip: Give yourself a due-date for wrapping up a song and accepting that it is what it is, once you hit it. It’s more important to move on than to try to reach some illusory perfection. Use your agenda alarm as a reminder.
I decide the length of my song before trying to speed things up. This is a tip discussed many times in the blog but I will insist that doing this is a strong limitation that clarifies a lot of things.
If you’re a reader of this blog, you’ll remember that for one song I encourage you to focus on one main idea supported by two minor ideas. It’s really easy to get lost trying to find an idea to start with. My take is to try to use what comes out fast.
Synths: Know what you have—cycle through synths that came with your DAW, and some that didn’t. I encourage people to get at least one synth that is an analog emulation of a classic model (Arturia does a great job at these) and another that is focused on a wide range of sound design options (I’m a big fan of Rob Papen and encourage you to test his products).
Samplers: Honestly, Ableton Live’s Sampler does the job for me. There are a few more alternatives out there but in the end, they all do a similar job except some have more bells and whistles. I always come back to the stock sampler because it’s simple and extremely versatile.
Once you have decided if you’ll generate a sound or use a sample, it’s time to play with it. Mapping a MIDI controller is very useful for playing different notes. Sometimes I see people in front of their keyboard and they are not sure what to do. This might sound obvious but when jamming, I test:
- different pitches by playing higher and lower notes.
- harder or softer hits to see how the velocity influences things.
- listening to the sound a different volume. Sometimes a sound at very low volume is much more interesting than loud.
- alternating between short and long notes. Depending on your preset, it can play differently.
- playing fast and slow notes to see how they feel.
Keep in mind that you can make a song out of any sound if you how to use it. The reason why we discard sounds is because we’re after something else. We’re not paying attention to the sound and its potential. Limiting yourself of only one tool per song eliminates a lot of exploration time. It also forces you to do something with what you have.
Same goes for reverb, compression and EQ. I’ll only use one or two, max. When I’m in mix mode, I usually explore different compressors.
If you use a modular, or hardware, you have your gear in front of you and you’ll just start working with what you have. This limitation forces you to be creative. But on a computer, you’ll have many ways to make music.
Templates. To speed up my work, I created a main template that I use to create macros and techniques, while recording everything. I mostly jam and will not spend too much time going into detail—raw on purpose. When I have something potentially interesting, I make a channel called “ideas” and put my clips in it. Later, when I start working on a song, from the left side browser, I can open the template and import the “ideas” channel in my new song to select from it. Have multiple templates that you import your sounds to, and in that other template, create sound modifiers. For instance, I have a dub template filled with tons of reverb modulators and delays. I can drop anything through it and something dubby will emerge.
Jam. I try to invite people to jam their song as much as possible. Whenever I have a loop as a main idea, I’ll automatically start recording and will mute it, play it, change volume and try different combinations. This lets me explore ideas I couldn’t discover if I just mouse-edit the clips in arrangements.
For the longest time, we wanted to have access to as many samples as possible, but now that we have them, we’re completely lost. Try to decide which snare or clap you want. Swapping out a sound isn’t super easy but I found this amazing step sequencer that fixed this problem. It’s made by XLN and it’s called XO.
If you want to make music quickly, you need to find your favourite sounds and create drum kits. Import them whenever you start a new song. Back in the day you’d have a 909 or a 808, and that would be your drum kit, end of story. So create a good main kit, then add a few different ones, and that’s it.
And for crying out loud, stop thinking that you need to do everything from scratch, all the time! Yes, it’s cool, but it slows you down a lot.
I mentioned that I’d “go backwards” this year. What I meant by that is that all my habits have to be upgraded or changed. Habits keep me safe and comfortable, while feeling uneasy forces me to be creative and think outside-the-box. Join me in this approach; I’m sure there’s magic waiting for you too!
SEE ALSO : Reverb Tips to Boost Your Creativity