ANST - The Bard's Road

[Karen Cutter]

Greetings,
I find myself agreeing with the good gentle who originated this topic
of debate. I seem to recall that my most memorable and enjoyable
moments listening to bardic offerings has been when I was sitting in
the camp of friends and a bard has spontaneously begun to sing, play,
or spin a tale.  The atmosphere can seem artificial at bardic
competitions, not that I don't enjoy them, I simply prefer a warm fire
at my feet, a good drink in my hand, and the wondrous sound of the
bard in my ears on a starry night.  It takes me so far away from
Mundania that I scarcely recall that I "play" at being Ly. Catrina.
                 In appreciation of bards, 
                 Catrina



---Lady Simone <margiejr at sprintmail.com> wrote:
>
> For Myself I enjoy roving Bardic Competions, were the judges are
anonymus
> people around diffrent  campfires. It takes away from some of the
stress of
> competion while allowing the bards to entertain the populace at the
same
> time.
> 
> when I first entered this kingdom thier were a few of such
competions wich
> ended at a main bardic fire.  my personal oppinion is that you get
to see
> the versitility of a bard when they have to perform for many people
instad
> of against other bards.
> 
> Lady Simone
> 
> 
> >I am autocrating an event in May in Loch Soilleir and since it is
> >our Baronial Championship where we pick our Bard and Artisan I have
no
> >choice but to make it a competition. What I would like is some input
> >from bards that are currently competing on how we could improve upon
> >the standard competition.
> >Since this event will be special because we will be welcoming a new
> >Baron and Baroness I wish to have lots of entertainment.
> >I myself prefer wandering bards. There is nothing like having a bard
> >wander in to your pavillion and entertain you with story and song to
> >make you feel special.
> >Basically what can I do to accomadate you the bards?
> >E-mail me privately if you wish.
> >Tegan Rhos
> >
> >Spatsman at aol.com wrote:
> >>
> >> Unto the good Gentles of Ansteorra,
> >> An interesting subject came up recently which has given my
forehead a
> >> concerned furrow.
> >> While attending a northern event, a few local bards, myself
included,
> found
> >> ourselves in a conversation concerning bardic competitions. Now,
I'm not
> going
> >> to waste your time talking shop, but the jist of this discussion
was the
> >> amount of competition in this Kingdom. It seems that most every
event has
> a
> >> bardic competition, and not just for the earning of a
representitive
> title.
> >> These seem to spring from honest, good intentions, ie; " Well, we
need to
> give
> >> the bards something to do".
> >> That's a generous attitude, and for it I am grateful.
> >> I simply wish to suggest that competitions are not the only bardic
> activity.
> >> If the time has come to choose your newest Titled bard, so be it.
If,
> however,
> >> no title is in question, why not devise some other gathering, of
a less
> >> competitive nature.
> >> Please understand, when you don armor, you prepare to face an
opponent,
> but
> >> when a bard breathes in his/her first words, they prepare to face
down
> reality
> >> itself.
> >> We strive to create those magic moments, and it's hard,...very
hard.
> >> If a winner is not required, why not have themed performances?
> >> A request night?
> >> Random adlib, suggestions from the audience?
> >> Or, encourage firewalking in your area? This particular tradition
is not
> being
> >> followed as it once was in Ansteorra. Some still welcome bards,
young and
> old,
> >> with welcome arms, but some make bards to feel most unwelcome,
and this
> is
> >> particularly hard on the new performer, whose confidence is shaky
to
> begin
> >> with.
> >> You could welcome bards to perform when drummers and
> >> dancers need refreshment.
> >> Landed nobility could call visiting bards to their tables.
> >> Warriors could make a pre-battle boast worthwhile to the local
bard.
> >> I will leave it at that, and I look forward to the opinions of the
> people,
> >> bards and audiences alike. Perhaps I have only scratched the
surface.
> Mayhap
> >> there are more suggestions out there.
> >> I hope so.
> >> ~HL Fionnagan
> >>            "Be useless to the spirit of passivity, the hands and
mouth
> rot
> >> soon enough"
> >>
>
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