[Bards] Eisteddfod as a stand alone event -- was Apologies

[Lou Burgin]

What great Ideas!  If we decide we want to draw the fighter's, what about a bard sponsored tourney?  To enter you must be sponsored by a bard ( like Rose tourney), and the bard should have a piece about his/her fighter.  Just a thought.  Amber Lea
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Hirling 
  To: Ansteorran Bardic list 
  Sent: Monday, December 17, 2007 9:36 AM
  Subject: [Bards] Eisteddfod as a stand alone event -- was Apologies


  Greetings all

  It as been a long time dream of Master Ulf and a somewhat newer dream of mine to have an event centering on performance.  The usual argument against such an event is that its draw might be limited without something to engage the populace militant who, it is assumed, would be elsewhere given the opportunity -- an argument that carries some weight, I believe, given the regional fighter practice set against Stargate's Yule, and the absence of some who I anticipated being present.  

  However, I believe it can be achieved and that Eisteddfod could be it's center piece, with other of HL Alden's fine suggestions included as well.  

  Basically, the vision (as I see it) is a fete with merchants and food and/or drink taverns -- ala a Gather for you Pern fans. There would be multiple venues interspersed for instrumental music, dance, vocal and performance arts and those who desire could wander as minstrels, jugglers and the like.  I see it as taking place in the low point of the fighting season but others suggest a more moderate climate might be beneficial. 

  What say you, bards?  Can we make it happen?

  ~ihon
  Premier Bard of Ansteorra
  Deputy MOAS for Bardic and Performance
  Lord of Stargate




  On Dec 17, 2007 8:18 AM, Alden Drake < alden_drake at sbcglobal.net> wrote:


    You've touched on one of my hot buttons.  Eisteddfod actually *is* the 
    event - it is a recognized kingdom calendar event.  Other groups tack
    their event onto IT.  The problem I've found in the few times I've been
    to Eisteddfod, is that Eisteddfod seems to be relegated to a peripheral 
    activity at the combined event.  As I see it, the reason for this is
    largely because both the bardic community and the non-bards generally
    view Eisteddfod as just a championship, not as an event.  We need to
    make Eisteddfod a grand event.

    Some of my ideas towards this:

    Pageantry - Start things off with a procession of heraldry and regalia,
    introducing the competitors.  Many hold branch championships - play them 
    up.  Get the branches behind the bards they sponsor.

    Specialty Competitions - In addition to Kingdom Champion, give smaller
    side prizes for things like a) best of the round, b) best poem, song,
    story, interpretive dance, c) best use of a side theme, d) best 
    documentation.

    Performance Honors- "The Bardy's" - like the Grammy's.  Create
    categories of awards and have nominations and voting, then have a little
    awards show to recognize bards for what they've done throughout the 
    year.  I could add something for this on the webpage.

    Make Eisteddfod a camping event - Move it to the Spring/Fall and make it
    a camping event.  Hold the competition at night with a roaring fire,
    afterward, have a huge bardic circle and plenty of libations - camping 
    means the party doesn't have to stop because we have to be out of the
    hall by a specific time.

    Classes - We haven't had an Ansteorran Bardic Collegium in the past two
    years.  Maybe add some classes in the morning before the competition. 

    A killer feast - Get the cooking artisans on board to show off their
    talents.  If Eisteddfod is a smaller event, it might encourage some
    cooks to do some really good stuff, that might not be as easy to do for 
    a larger feast.

    Cheers,
    Alden


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  -- 
  Rev. John F. Hirling
  Interim Pastor
  First Presbyterian Church
  Angleton, TX 77515
  (979) 849-5722 


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