[Bards] Year-Long Challenge for all Ansteorran Bards

[Laura]

WOOOT! **ahem** I beg pardon, please allow me to rephrase that. HUZZAH!
VIVAT!  WOOT! **sorry, it just slipped out**

Great idea, great responses, and my input is LET IT BE CHALLENGING! LET
PEOPLE STEP OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT ZONES! It will only add to our
performances by giving us more information on how to present material. If
an element is not within aperson's persona, let it be claimed that it was
put upon them as a requrement by one whose respect ehy wish to garner, or
by their master, or their liege, or what-have-you.

And I'm a firm believer that period is period, period. We are given freedom
to select anything recorded up to 1650. It doesn't have to be a song, but
our SCA websites have TONS of good PERIOD songs to select from. Take a page
from young Matthias, who selected a soliloquy from a Shakespearian play.
Recite a sonnet or an ode if the music seems out of your ken.

I will gladly offer my own assistance to anyone who thinks performing an
ACTUAL period piece is too much. I will discuss period pieces with you the
options, find one that will work, and teach it to you, if you wish. I'll
even get up and sing it with you the first time you perform it if you want!
There are so many fabulous period pieces I think one of our highest
callings should be to bring them to the populace. I WILL say, however, that
I think a translated period piece should qualify, rather than requiring it
remain in the original tongue. I've been working on some translations of
French music that keep the meter and rhyme scheme as well as the meaning of
the original. I think that's the only allowance I'd work with.

As for writing, I will be glad to assist anyone who wants to try their hand
at a sonnet. I have throughly fallen in lvoe with the things. If that helps
anyone feel more confident in accepting this challenge, let's do this!

Just my two cents worth. With a two cent coupon.

-Lark
On Thu, Jan 8, 2015 at 12:19 PM, Jay Rudin <rudin at peoplepc.com> wrote:

> During my time as Premier Bard, I will hold a nearly year-long
> competition. It will start on February 1st, to give me time to get the
> rules down.
>
> Here is my initial idea:
>
> To qualify, you must show that you can meet several standards, so
> qualification will take time. I'll put together a sheet or ticket on which
> you can get signatures showing that you have fulfilled all requirements.
> This way, nobody qualifies the first week of February and then coasts for
> the year.
>
> Here are some initial ideas for qualifications. Please offer suggestion
> for how many qualifications should be needed, what ideas I've left off,
> which ones are too hard, or too easy.
>
> 1. Perform in three of Ansteorra's regions, or two regions and out of
> kingdom.
> 2. Perform a piece you've written yourself.
> 3. Perform a piece about Ansteorra or Ansteorrans.
> 4. Perform a piece written by some other Ansteorran bard.
> 5. Perform a period or period-style piece.
> 6. Perform in winter, spring, summer, and fall.
> 7. Entertain a countess. (I'm not judging it; she has to sign that she
> found you entertaining.)
>
> I'd provide a small prize for everyone who qualifies, and then have a
> final challenge or competition near the end of the year - either at
> Tournament of Champions or Eisteddfod.
>
> Any ideas? Any problems with it? Does this look like a fun challenge? We
> have the rest to January to iron it out.
>
> Robin of Gilwell / Jay Rudin
> Premeier Bard of Ansteorra
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