[Bryn-gwlad] bardic performances

[nweders at mail.utexas.edu]

Hopefully, these two stories will illustrate what I think a Bardic 
performance could be. I think that obviously instrumentals, stories, songs 
and poems can be incorporated - It's how they are done that really is the 
deciding factor.


One of my favorite memories doing the rounds of seeing performaces (not 
SCA) was when I got to see Robin WIlliamson. (not Williams) when he played 
once at the Cactus.  I think he best sums up what a Bard is.  Robin 
Williamson started out performing in The Incredible STring Band and then 
broke away when he started performing bardic pieces.  A typical concert 
started out with his singing and playing along on his harp, stopping to 
tell a story, then did a stomp type dance (sorta heavy jog).  Then he went 
back finished the story he had started, played more pieces and sang a few 
more songs and a poem or two.  The pieces all flowed into each other and 
even his introductions were part of the performance.

I think if you are a bard you could do some of several types of 
performances.  It's not what you do so much as how you do it and how the 
audience reacts to it.  Over the years, I have judged performances, both 
bardic and other.  I actually have competed in them (LOL- I have secret powers)
and learned the best way of doing something is to make sure the audience 
has a good time.

One of the best SCA performances I ever had the pleasure of seeing was a 
gentleman named Marcellus who lived in this Barony who performed a 
recitation of Chaucer in Middle England (Midland dialect) did the same 
piece in Modern English and then recited the Middle English version 
again.  He didn't tell us he was doing that he just did it.  Everyone at 
Yule really loved it.


Clare SJ