Swords and Singing
Mood:
Tired But Good
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Just got back from a performance of Verdi's Requiem in York Minster. Given the venue, I couldn't pass up an aisle seat for only six pounds! One of the conservators participates in the local choir that sang tonight, and she said that as of Thursday, the choir had not practiced with the orchestra, that flew in from Germany. It didn't show, though, and I enjoyed the hour and half in the cathedral.
Since the weather threatened and delivered rain throughout the day, spending it at the Royal Armouries Museum down in Leeds seemed a good way to pass the time. They have all the good arms and armour that used to be displayed in the Tower of London up here in a big new building now, plus a whole lot more. Not only have they added numerous cases and dioramas of late medieval material, but have galleries of Eastern weapons and armour, and cases of guns, cannons, uniforms, etc., from every time period from Greek through the present.
Much of the additional stuff doesn't interest me that much, so one day's visit was just the right amount of time. The interpretive live-action offerings, such as falconry and jousting makes a nice addition to static, typical museum offerings. They have a permanent workshop display too, where visitors watch armourers and gunsmiths at work. Next door stands the menagerie, with several kinds of hunting birds and a stable of the horses they use in the tilting demonstrations.
Looking straight up the inside of a five-story staircase lined with arms and armour.
A helmet made for King Henry VIII.
Another helmet, which I've never seen before; its moustache is solid steel drawn out from the the main base metal in one piece!
A full-size knight display.
Another of the many full-size knights on display.
A great helm of 1370, the one on which my own replica helm was based.
The falconer, with a bird on his wrist; behind him is a staff member who was doing a western show when we had to evacuate the building for a while for some reason.
The tilting grounds as seen from the museum.
Watch the armourers at work here. Or visit the horses and falcons off to the right in the managerie.
Mail fascinates me. I'm now using this photo for a desktop image.
Since the weather threatened and delivered rain throughout the day, spending it at the Royal Armouries Museum down in Leeds seemed a good way to pass the time. They have all the good arms and armour that used to be displayed in the Tower of London up here in a big new building now, plus a whole lot more. Not only have they added numerous cases and dioramas of late medieval material, but have galleries of Eastern weapons and armour, and cases of guns, cannons, uniforms, etc., from every time period from Greek through the present.
Much of the additional stuff doesn't interest me that much, so one day's visit was just the right amount of time. The interpretive live-action offerings, such as falconry and jousting makes a nice addition to static, typical museum offerings. They have a permanent workshop display too, where visitors watch armourers and gunsmiths at work. Next door stands the menagerie, with several kinds of hunting birds and a stable of the horses they use in the tilting demonstrations.
Looking straight up the inside of a five-story staircase lined with arms and armour.
A helmet made for King Henry VIII.
Another helmet, which I've never seen before; its moustache is solid steel drawn out from the the main base metal in one piece!
A full-size knight display.
Another of the many full-size knights on display.
A great helm of 1370, the one on which my own replica helm was based.
The falconer, with a bird on his wrist; behind him is a staff member who was doing a western show when we had to evacuate the building for a while for some reason.
The tilting grounds as seen from the museum.
Watch the armourers at work here. Or visit the horses and falcons off to the right in the managerie.
Mail fascinates me. I'm now using this photo for a desktop image.
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