[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
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