[Bards] Eisdedfodd, my experience...

Genie Barrett ladymaggie at justinanimator.com
Mon Dec 17 07:03:43 PST 2007


At 08:35 PM 12/14/2007, you wrote:

>Someone should take good notes and be prepared to enthuse on the list
>about the competition tomorrow.
>
>Very best,
>Rhiannon

While I didn't take notes, I was there...sorry to everyone I don't 
mention, or whose name I have forgotten.  I'm so terrible with names.

Judging where Master Finnacan, of course, Prince Aaron--who 
volunteered to judge, in true Ansteorran fashion, and Master 
Tiggy.  Our Stellar King, and honored Princess also sat through the 
entire competition and granted it much honor  and dignity, I must say.  GRIN

Dragonsfire Tor set up two pavilions for us.  They set them up in a T 
so that overflow from the beautiful pavilion the performances could 
still be in out of the weather.  There were two heaters, much 
appreciated, and plenty chairs and a table for the judges.  They also 
provided coffee and tea for all.  They were very gracious hosts.

The first round started with Master Ihon doing a period poem about 
Death, and holding a mummified head as he did it.  Then we had a 
Master Darius' song "For Just One Time" by.... Sorry, I am so 
horrible at names... some great alliteration by Nix, an Italian song 
by Mea, some great stories, Mulan (Me) and finished with an original song.

As each performer finished, they took a slip of paper form the 
"Dreaded Box of Doom" and the expressions were awesome.  Master Ihon, 
who got the first one asked for clarification, but received a 
simple... "That's for you to interpret."  Subjects included Classic, 
creepy, happy, cheerful, rousing, something like marshal or warlike, 
and several others.  What was NOT pulled were some of the easier 
ones, like patriotic.

Then the second round began.  Same order, so Master Ihon began 
again.  He gave the judges a choice of Period Classic, Current Middle 
Ages Classic, or Classic Ansteorran (guess who got classic).  The 
judges chose number two, and he performed a wonderful piece that most 
people knew, though I didn't.  Very beautiful piece.  Then things got 
cheerful with Nix and Mea and then I changed the mood with my 
"creepy" song.  GRIN  Why is it, that the subject you get is the 
hardest one for you?  Me with creepy, HE Namron with "cheery"... What 
can I say.  Things got fun by the end, and then finished with another 
original piece that brought tears to an eye or two.

---An aside, here.  HE Ihon and I were talking before the competition 
about how one should save Born on the Listfield for the second round, 
because it fits so many subjects, but I'm sorry, creepy just isn't 
one of those subjects....

We had a break for a half hour, and then we all gathered back in the 
pavilion to hear the finals.  Master Finnacan gave much deserved 
complements to each performer, and then announced who would 
advance.  Master Ihon, Nix, and Mea.

The final round was to be a performance to thank Dragonsfire Tor for 
their hospitality.  Mea started with a beautiful poem of gratitude 
and honor.  Then Master Ihon told a story of how Dragonsfire Tor came 
to be.  Then Nix finished with much alliteration in a poem honoring 
the Tor and their history.  This was an amazing competition, and I 
was glad that I was not judging it.

Some time later, maybe half an hour, the King and Queen opened 
court.  They processed in, and did just one thing... Announce, after 
much honoring and thanking, that HE Stargate, Master Igon, had 
won.  Then, because he had to go home before feast, Master Ihon again 
performed his piece for the assembled populace.  I even think it was 
better in the second telling than the first.

When Master Finnacan passed on the regalia, he started with a new 
bard's cloak.  He had commissioned HE Rixende de Rouen to make a new 
cloak.  It is beautiful.  Gold wool, trimmed in black, with a two to 
three foot harp on the back with a rose in the middle.  She has sown 
beads that catch the light in the center of the rose.  It is to be 
lined, a removable and washable lining, in red linen.  There is also 
a small trim to be added to tack down the edge of the black bordering 
(rumor has it, that they will be in the motley colors).  That has not 
been finished yet.  I cannot remember (someone help me?) the name of 
the lord who made the clasps, but they are also roses and 
beautiful.  Makes one really want to win next year.

Court recessed, and then feast began.

What a fun and enjoyable day.  The competition was fierce, the 
performances were all enjoyable.  An awesome day.

Maggie 




More information about the Bards mailing list