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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> <FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>I can't
spell "eisteffod", I'm sure of it!</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Eisteddfod". It's a Welsh name -- when in
doubt, throw in some more consonants.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> 12th Night and the competition is fast
approaching -- if I'm correct in thinking</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> that the championship will be held at
this event.</DIV>
<P>> What are the rules for the competition? ... What are the documentation
requirements? </P></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>From Dona Antonia:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<P><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Eisteddfod, the competition for Titled Bard of
Ansteorra, will take place at Steppes Twelfth Night on January 8, 2005.
The rules are as follows. Participants will be required to perform in
three initial rounds: (1) campfire piece, (2) period-style piece, and (3)
Ansteorran piece. In the first round, the piece should be something you
might perform at a campfire – no restriction on period or style. In the
second round, the piece should be in a period style or written within period;
written documentation will be required, and the piece may be original. In
the third round, the piece should pertain to Ansteorra in some way, whether it
be history, myth, legend, or celebratory in nature. In the first and third
rounds, documentation is not required. After the third round, three to
five finalists will be selected and each will perform twice more. The
winner will be chosen from the finalists and announced in court.&nb! sp;
There is no restriction on repeating styles or requirement that any pieces be
original, but diversity is encouraged.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face=Arial><FONT size=2>"I am enjoying my current position immensely,
and when the time comes to turn over the cloak to my successor, I hope to lay it
on the shoulders of someone who will love and encourage all aspects of the
bardic community. I invite all the bards in the kingdom to consider
entering Eisteddfodd. If you are unable to enter but will be at Steppes
Twelfth Night, please come participate as an audience member. Further
details , such as starting time, will be published closer to Twelfth
Night. Please contact me if you have any questions. Thank you for
your consideration and support <SPAN class=590332421-01092004><FONT
color=#0000ff> </FONT></SPAN>– I hope to see and hear all of you
soon!"</FONT> </FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> What are the responsibilities of
winning?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>To be the Premier Bard. Travel the kingdom,
support bards, teach, perform, organize (or find somebody to organize) any
neat bardic idea that comes up.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Each person does it differently. The recent
bardic collegium at Three Kings was put on by Dona Antonia and her immediate
predecessor Master Pendaran. Master Cadfan organized an interkingdom
performance of Sir Orfeo, a medieval retelling of the Orpheus myth that was too
long for any one bard to do alone (about thirty minutes). </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> Is there any advice for performers who are
preparing, who haven't competed before at this level?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Enter! The best way to get the experience is
to get the experience. Have fun, spend some time polishing your pieces,
and recognize that the audience at an Eisteddfod are all bards, and therefore
all enjoy listening. When you're on stage, ignore the competition and just
perform for us.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>And have fun!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>> <FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Is it best
to rpesent and perform in Persona?</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I always think so, but I'm not in charge of this
competition. Introductions out of persona are like Bottom in *Midsummer
Night's Dream* telling the audience, during the play, that he's not a real lion,
he's just playing one in the play. Assume you're watching a King
Arthur movie. Which would you rather hear:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>1. Actor playing Arthur: "I'm going to simulate a
knighting ceremony so that we can pretend that the actor playing Lancelot is now
a member of the Round Table"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>2. Arthur: "Step forward, Lancelot, and accept
your place at the Round Table."</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>When I perform, I wish to be an Elizabethan
courtier entertaining the court, not a network engineer in funny
clothes.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Robin of Gilwell / Jay
Rudin</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>