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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Christianna,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Welcome to the SCA and to the Ansteorran
bardic community! I’m pretty sure you will get a variety of answers to
some of your questions simply because there aren’t any really “hard
and fast” rules concerning bardic performance in the SCA, competition of
not. As a matter of fact, it may surprise you to know that some of us who have
been doing this for 20 years (OMG that makes me feel old;)) are STILL asking
these very questions!:). <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>So here are MY opinions on what you ask. But
as I said, mine aren’t necessarily the RIGHT answers, since in a way,
there really aren’t any.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><</span></font><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'>. If I Filk a melody, is it
supposed to be a period melody with SCA related words/theme or a non period
melody with SCA related words/theme? Or a period melody on any theme?> <font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>Are you going to the King’s College
event? If so, you might want to take a class or two from my Lady, Mistress
Adelaide. One of the classes she’s teaching is on Period Filk. She will
discuss what was actually done, filk-wise, in our period, as well as what is
and is not considered appropriate for SCA performance. One thing I think many
of us agree on is that while it can be very funny to filk to modern tunes
(since so many people are familiar with the tune already), you should, as a
general rule, not perform those at bardic circles or competitions. They might
be performed at unofficial gatherings, or “after-revels.” Like I
said, there are exceptions. What most of us try to do is keep the atmosphere
on an SCA event as magical as possible. This usually involves hiding obvious “mundanity”
(not sure if you’re familiar with the term we use to describe “modern
life,” mundane has come t mean anything not of the SCA. “mundanes”
are either your modern clothes…(“I’m getting into mundanes
now”), or sometimes even people not in the SCA (“Let’s be
nice to the mundanes”). So when at feasts, we try not to put coke cans
on the table, wear blue jeans/sneakers, play heavy metal music on our
boom-boces, etc.). In keeping with that effort, we don’t want to sing
filks to “We Are The Champions,” or Beatles songs, etc. since that
might break the “medieval mood” that so many of us try to capture.
On the other hand, if you filk to a modern song that isn’t going to be
well-recognized by folks, that might be OK, since it probably wouldn’t
ruin the mood unless it were 12-bar blues or something. Do you see what I’m
driving at? Basically, you don’t have to filk to a period tune, though
it would be really cool if you did;).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><For example, the words to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> the Brave, while lovely,
were actually written in the 20th century, and yet this song is performed at
Scarby. Is it appropriate to perform at a Bardic competition or not?>
<font color=navy><span style='color:navy'>As a general rule, no. Competitions
don’t have to be period songs. Obviously if you write a story, poem or
song yourself, it wouldn’t be period. But it is usually prudent to have “documentation”
for your piece, meaning you write up some research showing how your piece would
or could have been appropriate SOMETIME in our period. It does NOT have to be
in your own persona’s period…to answer another question you had.
There is an entire repertoire of bardic pieces out there, both period, and
written by SCA members. Any of those would be appropriate for a competition,
along with original pieces, of course. Documentation is not always required,
but usually a good idea. But it usually wise not to perform songs that are
known to be out of period for competition (but again, I refer back to the “it
depends” rule….since obviously songs written by you or other SCA
members are, by definition, not period).<o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><I have a nice piece I am trying to prepare for
Springfaire but I don't know how to find out if it is period, other than just
trying to do some searches on the Internet about it to see what I can find out<font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'>.> I would wager that any number of the
folks on this list have resources in their possession that could tell you
whether a certain piece is period or not! Just ask about the particular piece
on this list and you’ll almost certainly get an accurate answer. <o:p></o:p></span></font></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I hope that helps!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Kenneth<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.25in'><font size=2 face=Arial><span
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>
<hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1>
</span></font></div>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'> Liz Wilson
[mailto:ewilson618@tx.rr.com] <br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:44
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Ansteorran
Bardic list</st1:PersonName><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [Bards] Filking</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I am new to the SCA and the Bards List but I love Bardic
competitions and</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>performances. I'd like to try it myself although I am
a very average singer.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I probably could learn to tell stories. I don't have
much fear of public performance</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>and speaking because, although I am now a stay at home mom,
in mundane life</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>I was an attorney for 15 years (and I'm still
licensed). If you can do appellate </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>argument or argument in a courtroom when real money is at
stake you can </span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>probably do Bardic (although not necessarily well!)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>At any rate,one of my questions relates to Filking. If
I Filk a melody, is it supposed</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>to be a period melody with SCA related words/theme or a non
period melody with</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>SCA related words/theme? Or a period melody on any theme?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>If I'm performing at a Bardic competition and my persona is
still being</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>developed, do I have to stay in persona? For example,
if I compete at</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Springfaire, and my persona is 1315, can I do anything
in period or am I</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>supposed to limit myself to what would have been heard in <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> in
1315 (if</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>anyone even knows what would have been heard!) Can I
just be kind of a</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>generalized performer and do things in period from any time
frame?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>What happens if I do something that is out of period (but
not obviously</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>so)?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Also I am very familiar with repetoire from Scarborough
Faire because I've been</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>going for 20 plus years and I have a lot of
recordings. However these songs are</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>not always in period. For example, the words to <st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> the
Brave, while</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>lovely, were actually written in the 20th century, and yet
this song is performed</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>at Scarby. Is it appropriate to perform at a Bardic
competition or not?</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Any ideas on how I find out what is in period and what</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>isn't for the Scarby or any other repetoire,</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>and what WOULD be appropriate at a Bardic competition and
what</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>wouldn't? I have a nice piece I am trying to
prepare for Springfaire but I</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>don't know how to find out if it is period, other than just
trying to do some</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>searches on the Internet about it to see what I can find
out.</span></font> <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Any advice to a new Bard, who is taking herself way too</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>seriously, would be appreciated.</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>Christianna (hope they won't laugh at me)</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
</div>
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