[Steppes] Fwd: The Bardic Arts

[Noble Field]

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Date: Thu, 8 May 2003 21:03:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: Noble Field <noble at delafyeld.com>
To: Steppes at anseorra.org
Subject: The Bardic Arts
Reply-To: noble at delafyeld.com

   To all those who are Bards, want to become a Bard, have heard about Bards, or have always wondered what the word means:  These pages in the coming weeks will contribute to your education.  Stay tuned.

     WHAT WAS A BARD?  A Bard used to be one whom we would today think of primarily as a performing musician.  The main distinction between a Bard and a minstrel, or other musician, was in the content of the material sung about.  The peoples history, mythology, cosmology and spiritual perspective were the primary subject matter of a Bard's trade.  They told long tales in alliterative form at that time.  Transmitted orally, the bardic tales were not written down until about the fourth or fifth century of the common era.
     A Bard was also an initiated member of the priesthood.  As such they were highly trained in magick, ritual, music, language, the stars, healing and sometimes in the arts of combat.
     Always respected and sometimes feared, the Bard would receive food and lodging wherever they went.  In exchange, the host would be entertained and hear news from all the places the Bard had traveled.
     More than just an entertainer, a Bard was a spiritual teacher and healer who would travel the strands of the web of the people, cementing the bonds wherever they may be.

     WHAT IS A BARD?
     Since the time of William Shakespeare,  a Bard has been thought of as one who creates prodigiously in  the literary or musical fields, especially poetry.
     The preceding definitions are from "A Bard's Book of Pagan Songs" by Hugin The Bard.  More definitions and fun to follow.

Bre'nainn Mac Giolla Pha'draig

You know you're in the SCA when you consider Duct tape to be a 'school supply', as do your children.