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<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>First,
I would like to commend Master Ihon for starting these conversations.
Having said that, I wish it had been myself. ;-)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
spent a lot of time working on a differentiation between bard and minstrel, and
it was really nicely worded, too! But after reading the thoughts of
Finnacan and Ulf, I realized that I've been confused, all this time, when
entering bardic competitions.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>You'd
think, said he, that I would have a clue by now.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>In the
past I have entered bardic competitions with instrumental pieces. But,
thinking upon it, that's an inappropriate piece to enter in a bardic
competition. Sort of like submitting a leather pot-holder in an A&S
competition devoted to cooking; close, but not quite on the mark.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
straddle the fence; I can act as either a court performer or a vocal (and I'm
working on my juggling). I've written songs about the history
of places, tried to capture a moment of time in a song, and play forever on
the field, in the hall, or at the table (really, anywhere I can sit my butt down
and people don't throw things at me - unless it's drink!). In the past,
when I've brought instrumental pieces to the competition I THINK I was trying to
be "lazy", in that I have about 40 or so perfectly period pieces committed to
memory for flute alone (another two dozen or so for soprano recorder, and let's
not even talk about the dances....). So. When I entered a
competition, I could use these as my period entry, and I could even talk about
the instrument being played upon (both are period reproductions, the recorder
more faithful than the flute).</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>The
number of period SONGS, on the other hand, reaches just over a double
handfull. And I haven't done any research on them, blah blah
blah.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>All
that having been said, I think that Finnacan has pretty much hit the mark.
Three categories gives us a good diversity without nailing down too many
particulars; vocal, physical, and court. I try to encourage whatever
category presents itself in any performer; but my leanings are towards trying to
encourage instrumental music (I get lonely!). So. I've found a focus
for my part of the discussion and it only took me seven
paragraphs!!!!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>One of
the things that I get to hear most often, when attending an event, is how my
music helped people find the ability to lift away the mundane trappings and
actually BE at a listfield, watching knights and squires in friendly
competition. That is a great reward unto itself. I make no bones
about the fact that I'm a music slut and will play at the drop of ... well, just
about anything. My problem is that many times seems as if I'm the only
one.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>As an
example, I personally know three people who own lap harps, yet only one of
them brings it to events. Granted, these gentles are active in other areas
of our Society as well and one is only now learning, but the lap harp is one of
those instruments that sounds good even if you're just musically diddling.
It provides atmosphere, a pleasant background noise, and playing on it would
give the owner more practice, whether they wanted it or not. There's a
madrigal group in my area that practices, but I'd like to see them perform at
the list-field between the callings; have someone coordinate with the list
mistresses or something. Heck, even perform a soft piece in a corner
somewhere while the fighting is going on. Recorder players who can play
but won't because of whatever reason, people who say they can't learn to play a
pennywhistle because they don't know how to whistle, the list goes
on.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>At our
last Gulf War I came upon an unusual (at least to my view) situation; a young
lady who plays flute had wanted to talk to me about playing a non-period
instrument at an SCA event, but was always worried that she would be
interrupting my playing, or when I was talking to people who wear brass about
their head. That was an eye-opener, I assure you. Fortunately, the
lady in question had BROUGHT her non-period modern-day flute and, after an
invitation, joined the band for the evening dances. I helped lead a
"practice" where three ladies were working on learning to play recorder and read
music. It was fun, we all had a good time. I even had the chance to
teach another young lady an Irish traditional tune via the oral tradition (no
written music involved). We played a duet for everyone that
evening.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I've
come up with practices that may help me down my path of bringing out the
instrumentalists in the woodwork. I run a "slow session" for Irish
traditional music in my area, and I've recently started emailing the local SCA
announcement lists about it as well. I've determined to take at least two
soprano recorders with me when I go to an event, as well as take music for
sight-reading. I'm going to try to figure out WHY people would think that
they'd be interrupting me by wanting to talk to me about music.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
can't determine yet whether the above paragraphs are a rant or just a statement
of my view of the instrumental side of the SCA. It is merely my (often
flawed) observation of my little portion of the world.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
think, at the higher level, that determining the different classifications of
performance (whether we use Finnacan's excellent model or not) might help each
of us who do what they can to help further the performance arts, whether they be
physical, instrumental, or courtly in their form. If some poor schlep,
such as myself, were to enter a bardic competition with an instrumental piece,
the judge(s) could provide a note, somewhere in the critique (and for
clarification, critique includes things like "Nice tone, good control of the
instrument, etc.") that the piece may have been well played, but might not carry
as much weight as vocal performances in a bardic competition.
</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>At
ground level, I think it will help those of us who try to encourage the learning
of different aspects of the performance arts to bring a person new to that
particular venue in focus. I find that people spend a lot of time trying
to tell themselves how they don't know enough, can't perform well enough, or
just plain aren't strong enough, to play, sing, recite, in front of
people. If we can use categorization as a method to focus on an
individual's talents, rather than as a restricting jacket that forces a person
to play that role only, then we NEED the categories, if for no other reason than
the fact that it's another tool in the teaching arsenal.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2>I
really need to go make a pot of coffee now. This took too long again, and
I fear that I rambled more than I would have liked, but... well.... there it
is.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006>
<P><FONT size=2>In service to the dream with a song in my heart, I am,<BR>HL
Gerald of Leesville<BR>A bard of Stargate </FONT></P></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=746253810-26042006><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff
size=2> ==================== </FONT></SPAN><BR>What do you see as the
categories that should be considered bardic? I think it can be said that
traditionally the term 'bardic' has been loosely limited to song, story and
poem. Are there other categories you would deem bardic or bardcraft -- say
. . . instrumental music, group sinding (madrigal), dance, juggling, ensemble
acting . . . or would you consider those 'performance'? What do you
see as the ramifications of your choices?<BR><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>