Vitalis Gabrielle Venier della Mare

Photo
Namron Beltane, May 3rd, 2025, 2022 Photo by Zubeydah Al-Badawiyyah
Information
Registered Name: Vitalis Gabrielle Venier della Mare Resides: Northkeep Status: Active Joined SCA: 2022
Order of Precedence
Vitalis Gabrielle Venier della Mare
Heraldry
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Vitalis Gabrielle Venier della Mare

Nickname(s):
Previously Known As:Vitalis d’Mare
Pronouns: He/Him

Pronunciation Guide: vee-tah-lee gah-bree-ell ven-yea dell-ah mar-eh

Preferred title: Misier (mee-soor)

Offices:

• Local Offices Held
  • Sable Tower Pursuivant - Herald of the Barony of Northkeep
• Regional Offices held
• Kingdom Offices Held

Persona History:

Vitalis claims he was born in mid-16th century La Sernissima, of noble birth; his family name registered in the Libro d’Oro. These claims have not been substantiated. Most recently he has been seen wandering the known world complaining of exile, false imprisonment, shipwreck, and the abject poverty associated thereof.

Interests:

• Period music- especially of western Europe in the late 16th and early 17th centuries: YouTube Channel of Recordings
• Renaissance lute, baroque guitar, theorbo and other associated stringed instruments

Vitalis at the TulCon Demo, 2022

Timeline of Activity:

2022

• Joined the SCA
• Wiesenfeuer "Brronial" 2022
• Tolkon Demo 2022
• The Fellowship of Castellan 2022 – May 21, Will Rogers Boy Scout Camp: Bedraggled, impoverished, bereft of title or status, Vitalis threw himself upon the mercy of the populace. With a measure of most extreme grace and generosity, the virtuous and righteous Don Facon du Pray granted Vitais a chair and a place in the shade to pursue his musical art. Starving, penniless, short on options, Vitalis begged upon the mercy of the kitchen for a scrap of food. Food they had, though only for those with coin in hand, or hands to serve. Outraged, Vitalis left, searching for a source of sustenance that did not require tiresome manual labor. Yet… there are unsubstantiated rumors of a Serenissian gentleman, dressed in a blue shirt with white cuffs of lace, serving food with a graceful smile to attendees of more fortunate means. The identity of this individual cannot be confirmed.
• Fall Crown Tournament, September 10, Will Rogers Boy Scout Camp: Though no longer friendless, Vitalis was still penniless. The wayward lutenist played for his keep among esteemed personages of Northkeep, sheltering in their tent and filling their ears with music. Recognized at last by the nobility of the land, owing no small debt to his love, the newly recognized Lady Milokhna, Vitalis was granted an award of arms. Thusly titled, Misier Vitalis graciously, perhaps even obsequiously thanked the noble personages who bestowed upon him some measure of security and stature.
• Northern Border Skirmish: October 21, at Burnt Cabin, Lake Tenkiller, Tahlequah OK: Here it may be marked, for weal or woe, that Misier Vitalis first entered a bardic competition. The theme was “Tears, of joy or sorrow,” and so he played upon his lute the tune Canaries and I long for Thy Virginitie from the Straloch Lute Book, seeking to pull on listener's heart strings with tales of love from the Isles. He was given a place in the final round, where Vitalis presented the tune Il Bianco Fiore by Cesare Negri, a Milanese dance tune from the early 16th century. The title of Skald was to be another's that day, the honor bestowed to one Grimbjorn Sigmundson for his skill with lyre, drum, and tale. It has been rumored that the Misier was seen among the serving folk at feast, bereft of coin and working for his supper. This is denied fervently by the gentleman in question, saying he would "Never risk his beautiful fingers lifting dangerous crockery" and "Cannot be expected to tolerate the infernal heat of a kitchen for even an instant." "
  

2023

Vitalis at Gulf Wars, 2023

• And Now for a Beltane Completely Different! April 29th - Camp Dakani: Missier Vitalis performed in the bardic competition. The pieces selected were Kemp’s Jig an English folk tune of uncertain providence, and Curent out of the Rowallen Lute Book. There was no final round, for the bards came in the hordes to Beltane that weekend, and thus was the day full of music.
• Castellan XXXIII: The Two Towers - May 19th to 21st - Will Rogers Boy Scout Reservation: At the bardic event, Misier Vitalis played "I never knew I loved Thee", unknown composer, from the Rowallen Lute book, and “Preludium #98” by John Dowland, from Diana Pulton's Collected Lute Music of John Dowland. This offering was enough to qualify him for the final round of that competition. Misier Vitalis entered the A&S competition with a performance of Joan Ambrosio Dalza’s “Tastar de corde col suo ricercar, #4” published in 1508. In the Bardic Finals, the competitors were tasked with performing a piece that signified the light among darkness of the Two Towers. Promptly, Misier Vitalis dashed into the woods. Upon his return he played a rendition of Bregolad’s Song, a lament of the ents set in the form of a baroque passacaglia in G minor. Their excellences were much pleased by this offering, and Misier Vitalis was selected as the titled Bard of Northkeep.
• Vindheim Coronet 2023 - June, 17th - Payne County Fairgrounds: Misier Vitalis was seen playing upon the lute with direction from Her Excellency, Mistress Rhiannon Redwulf, OL among many other merry musicians. The company played out of Pennsic Pile 50.
• Steppes Artisan - August 5th 2023, Misier Vitalis presented his body of work for the assembled artisans, including a performance that featured three different Taster de Corde con so suo Ricercar by Joan Ambrosio Dalza. Vitalis performance for Her Excellency
• For Ansteorra's 2023 Kingdom Arts and Sciences competition - September 9th, Vitalis performed a suite of music by Joan Ambrosio Dalza, an Italian composer from the early 16th century. See his performance on YouTube.
• Mooneschadowe Presents: Trade Day(s) - Sept 30th, 2023. Misier Vitalis attempted baking for the first time, and made Ciambelline al vino “cookies” to use as trade goods. Reviews were… rather mixed. Vitalis left his lady Milohkna in charge of the trade goods. She acquired a rather frightening array of animal parts. Not to be trusted again.
• Namron Protectorate - October 6th-8th, 2023. Misier Vitalis performed the “English Huntsuppe” on lute and baroque guitar for the A&S competition. For this submission, he was named the Titled Artisan of Namron.
• Northern Border Skirmishes - October 20th-22nd, 2023. Submitted three Branle by Adrien Le Roy for the Arts and Science competition. Vitalis recommended that the royalty use these court-approved versions of a peasant dance to quell the brewing revolt. It is unfortunate that the music does not seem to have satisfied the unruly rabble.
• Queen's Champion November 10th-12th, 2023. Dame Delphina de Champeaux requested the Merry Musicians of Moonshadow come down to support Her Royal Majesty’s tournament with the sounds of fine music. Misier Vitalis happily joined the expedition to fulfill that request, and engaged in much merriment.
• Wiesenfeuer Yule, Weasels in Winter - December 16th, 2023 - Presented “Brawling in Paris” for the A&S competition. Vitalis said he prepared these pieces special in order to embrace the spirit of the famous weasel war dance. Also performed with Milokhna d'riga in the Bardic. The couple performed "Now O' Now I Needs Must Part" by John Dowland, and "Come Back to Me (Eurydice)", a filk Vitalis wrote of “Wake Up” by Coheed and Cambria. Mistress Rhiannon Redwulf captured the performances on video. "Now O' Now I Needs Must Part" and "Come Back to Me (Eurydice)"

2024

• Laurel's Prize Tourney - February 10th, 2024. Misier Vitalis displayed his music on the 8 course lute, alto lute, and baroque guitar, including 11 recorded lute performances, available here on my YouTube Channel.
• Wiesenfeuer Baronial - April 20th, 2024. A pleasant event- if entirely uneventful. While there was a rumour of robbers, and worse, tax collectors about, Misier Vitalis remained blissfully unbothered by both. If some individuals remarked upon certain golden coins that may or may not have exchanged hands, well then it was most likely a simple currency exchange in order to provide liquidity in the tax season in return for a future promise of local currency returned in the fall. Completely above board, involving no usury, and certainly no counterfeit coins of any sort. Were there suspiciously heavy pelts of potentially poached game also exchanged? Perhaps. Who can say?
• Northkeep's Castellan - May 18th 2024. A secret project unveiled! For many months, Misier Vitalis had worked on a vocal motet version of their Excellencies Baron Perrin and Baroness Jehanne’s service award, La Battisuer, and it was at this event that Misier Vitalis had the opportunity to unveil his creation. With the help of his most trustworthy clandestine choir, the Motet was performed in court for both nobility and populace to enjoy.
  • Choir Members: LADY Alecia, Drotin Grimbjorn Sigmundsson, Honorable Lady Cicily Bridges, Signora Caterina Veronica Cavalieri, Lady Uallach inghean Uí Dhubhshláine, Baroness Beatrix Funteyn, Susan Montz, Mark A. Montz, Lady Serena (Sierra), Lord Francois de Beaujeu, Viktor de Champagne, and Niko

However, there was a second deception. The melody of La Battiseur was woven into a lute intabulation by Misier Vitalis, and presented as an unnamed “fantasia” in the A&S competition. Unknowingly, their Excellencies were swept away by the music, and Misier Vitalis named as Artisan of Northkeep. Link to performance on YouTube

• Wiesenfeurer Yule December 21st, 2024. Vitalis performed again in bardic with the lovely Lady Milohkna, this time they paired Fortune my Foe with a rendition of Vitalis’ original Motet, Le Battisuer, with the lute picking up the other two melody lines.
  

2025

Kingdom of Animals portrait by Mariana Von Kul

• Winterkingdom - February 1st 2025. Misier Vitalis entered the bardic competition (leaving derelict his duties as the A&S champion to be generously covered by Lady Milohkna and His Excellency, Baron Beorhlic Folcwineson, OL, OP, Defender of the Dream), and performed two toccatas on the theorbo. In the finals he composed a prelude based on the lydian mode to demonstrate the inspiration he finds in the flexibility of 16th century music. The misier also taught a class on playing period music on modern instruments.

• Laurel's Prize Tourney - February 8, 2025: Stephens County Fairgrounds. The year of All the Instruments. Misier Vitalis brought and displayed his 8 course lute, his 6 course alto lute, his 14 course theorbo, his 5 course baroque guitar, and his 4 course modern ukulele, which has been restrung to play period vihuela pieces.

• Vindheim Missile Academy II - May 31, 2025, Cottonwood Flats, Guthrie, Oklahoma. Misier Vitalis entered into the premier arts and science competition of the principality of Vindheim. He performed 3 lute pieces from the 16th century, demonstrating the development in the ricercar form throughout those 100 years. To his visible delight and astonishment, he was named the Premier Champion of the competition.
  • Tastar de Corde and Recercar by Dalza (1508)
  • Ricercar by Francesco (Il Divino) Milano (1530)
  • A Fancy by John Dowland (1610)

Vitalis at Steppes Artisan, 2025

Notable Contributions or Accomplishments:

• Bardic Champion, Barony of Northkeep, May 2023
• Titled Artisan, Barony of Namron, October 2023
• Pilgrim's Token. Received for performance entry at Kingdom Arts and Sciences, Sept 2023
• Artisan of the Barony of Northkeep, May 2024
• Premiere Arts & Sciences Champion of the Principality of Vindheim, May 2025
• July 13, 2025: Congratulations from the Society Minister of Arts and Sciences for becoming the first Principality of Vindheim A&S Champion with his lute performance.
• Pilgrim's Token. Received for performance entry at Kingdom Arts and Sciences, Sept 2025. Recognized as the highest scoring entry in the performance category at the event.

Classes Taught

• Lute Music for Guitar: File:Class Handout - Vitalis d'Mare - King College Lute for Guitar.pdf

Non-Armigerous Awards and Recognitions

• Fountain of Vindheim. Given at Northern Border Skirmishes, 2023.
• River of Vindheim. Given at Castellan, 2024
• Esprit de la Tour Noir for Arts and Sciences. Given in Northkeep Populace, June 2024
• Le Bâtisseur, Northkeep service award created by Baron Perrin and Baroness Jehanne. Given in Northkeep Populace, June 2024

• Thunderbolt of Vindheim. Received as recognition for "extraordinary talent" displayed in Kingdom Bardic entry at Kingdom A&S, Sept 2025.

Affiliations:

• Married, mundanely, to Milokhna d'Riga
• Clan Blue Feather

Mundane Information:

In Case of Court

Vitalis usually travels to events with his wife, Milohkna. He would prefer to only receive awards when she is also in attendance.