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<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=847211804-30042007>Not
too much to add:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=847211804-30042007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=847211804-30042007>I
agree that large bardic circles lower the number of performances per
person. I"m not necessarily sure this is bad, but I can see that it is
from a performer's perspective.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=847211804-30042007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=847211804-30042007>Fewer
performers, more performances per person, but then it's a "closed" circle,
something I'm not necessarily up for either.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=847211804-30042007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=847211804-30042007>I
think parft of the problem is that we're making bardic circles our only venue
for performing. At Stargate Baronial there were only ten of us, and it was
less a bardic circle and more a "whew! That's over!" gathering. We
sang, told stories, but more importantly, I heard three new voices that I hadn't
heard before, and all were in fine voice, along with others who are often
overlooked at "Official Bardic Circles (sponsored by the various brewing guilds
of your locale, your mileage may vary, offer void of any serious
intent).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=847211804-30042007></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=847211804-30042007></SPAN><FONT face=Arial><FONT
color=#0000ff><FONT size=2>I<SPAN class=847211804-30042007> agree with time
limitations, and it is something we should be teaching as bards. The edda
that calls to be recited in someone's mind is the mindless tolling of the bardic
death knell in another's. The long piece has it's place, but it should be
planned and in a setting that lends itself to the piece, not thrown by happy
accident into the lap of the audience. Perhaps as a precursor to any
bardic "happening" in the evening. Baron Thomas of Tenby and Master Cedric
did a wonderful piece one winter, long ago, and I was captivated. But
again, this bit of knowledge is something that needs to be taught or talked
about when those with aspirations of being bardic come to those who think they
are. </SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=847211804-30042007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=847211804-30042007>Modern Filk - My opinion only: It needs to be
very cleverly done to come off right; filk for filk's sake is similar to
masturbation; nothing to be shared with a
crowd.</SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial><FONT color=#0000ff><FONT size=2><SPAN
class=847211804-30042007></SPAN></FONT></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=847211804-30042007>I've
had the fortune to be in the middle of two spontaneous bardic "circles"; both
were right people at the right place and right time. Both were
entertaining, the performers had their fill, and the audience was happy to have
been at that point in time. This would probably be in that realm
where good bards can "wing it", as Robert Fitzmorgan speaks of. I'm sure I
missed other good performances, other good fires. But then, it's part of
what keeps me going.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=847211804-30042007><FONT
size=2></FONT></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=847211804-30042007><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></DIV></SPAN></FONT></BODY></HTML>