[Bards] What is a bard?

[Michael Silverhands]

On Oct 25, 2006, at 5:15 PM, Jay Rudin wrote:

> Michael Silverhands wrote:
>
>> Exactly. They have no other appropriate venue. I think that's one
>> reason why instrumental music just sort of limps along -- at best, as
>> a "dance band" for European or Middle Eastern dance. And that's why
>> I'd love to see a champion for instrumental music in the Kingdom
>> <whatever> of Bards.
>
> It's been my experience that, when building a church, you can't  
> build the
> steeple first.
>
> You need to build a foundation.  Hold an instrumental music  
> competition.
> Talk it up.  See who comes.  Get feedback.  Hold a few more.  If  
> the idea
> grabs enough people, then others will start holding them.
>
> The College could certainly sponsor such competitions.  I'd be  
> comfortable
> with the idea, and think it would help make it clear that we are  
> here to
> help people, rather than to exclude them.  You don't need a Kingdom
> Champion; you need venues.
>
> Build from the ground up, not from the steeple down.
>
> Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin

Not Champion (big C), but champion (little C) -- someone who is  
active within the Kingdom <whatever> of Bards, and who actively  
promotes the instrumental music performing arts by whatever means  
(perhaps to include but not limited to judged competitions).

champion. (n.d.). The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English  
Language, Fourth Edition. Retrieved October 25, 2006, from  
Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/champion
"3. An ardent defender or supporter of a cause or another person: a  
champion of the homeless."

I agree, build from the ground up. But I wasn't (yet) talking about  
championships or competitions -- just encouragement, education and  
(leading by) example.[1] :-)

I don't even know whether there's enough interest to, for example,  
host a regular musician's workshop here in the Stargate area. I'm  
pretty sure it's been tried, and (looking around) I don't see an  
active guild, so it must have faded away. But maybe there's enough  
interest to support less regular workshops, drawing from a larger  
base. In fact, there have been workshops for musicians in concert  
with the Kingdom Dance symposium.

But I don't remember seeing one lately. :-/

Michael

[1] "the three Es"? note to self: refrain from too much thinking  
while juiced on cold medications... ;-)