Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 11:05:23 -0500 (CDT)
From: "J. Michael Shew" <jshewkc@cyclops.pei.edu>
To: Greg Lindahl <lindahl@pbm.com>
Cc: minstrel@pbm.com
Subject: Re: minstrel: Bardic, Period, and assorted rantings...
In-Reply-To: <199810011207.IAA09180@xkey.com>
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On Thu, 1 Oct 1998, Greg Lindahl wrote:
> Actually, no: there is "period stuff" which happens to be similar
> enough to modern stuff (sing along choruses, no weird modalities, etc)
> that it will fly even with a crowd who's used to a steady diet of 19th
> and 20th century folksongs. There are also plenty of period stories
> which are short enough and have enough of a point or moral that a
> modern audience will find them easily accessible.

	Not to be argumentative, and as those of you who know me can
attest, I hate to argue, The times I was refering to are when you are
asked to do SCA standards, (many of which are filk, or modern in
construction,) or times when the audience requests something in
particular.  I agree, I do a lot of period tales, period Norse poetry, and
I even write stuff in the period styles.  However, on occasion, the
material wanted just isn't period.
	One of the duties of a Bard, at least in this kingdom, is the
keeping of kingdom history.  This includes the less-than-period stuff as
well.  It shows from whence we came.

> 
> > 	I find this argument about period/non-period confusing.  If you
> > are only doing contests, or only doing feasts, I could understand it.  But
> > in order to grow, you have to do both.
> 
> I find this claim confusing. I can't imagine why you would NEED to do
> non-period pieces, in the SCA, in order to grow.

	See above.  Also, I find doing the non-period stuff allows the
audience, (particularly the newer bards in the area) to see just how
different the period melodies, phrasing, concepts in the tales are.
(okay, that was poor sentance structure.

 I also can't imagine
> why you would think performing for a contest, a feast, or at a bardic
> circle would be any different, except the audience at the 3rd is
> perhaps the most motivated and attentive.
> 
> -- gb
> 
	At a feast, I am at the command of the hosts.  If they have a
particular concept in mind for the dinner, (say 1400's) I am required to
submit material that will not destroy that concept.  If they are a bunch
of early SCAers that wanna recall what the SCA twenty years ago was like,
I do that stuff as well.
	In contest, I do the best, most period or period/original if I
wanna write something, that I can.  It is my turn to choose.
	In a Bardic Circle, (particularly since I am the dean in this
Kingdom,) I must model the kinds of things the newer bards need to do.  If
you are in the "fyrd-cave", (a fighter rich party zone, for those of you
who are not from Calontir,) they want to hear entertainment that does not
require thinking, and want to hear the "traditional" Calontir type songs.
The same nobles might want period material in their own camps, or even to
hear what you can create on the spot.  So I teach all three.  
	In our kingdom, it limits you to refuse to do any kind of bardic.
	Don't swet it, I encourage anyone who can regularly perform doing
only period/original-from-period material.  It must be nice.  In this
Kingdom, you need all the tools you can carry.
	Mikal Hrafspa
_______________________________________________________________________________
           Mikal the Ram, an annoying bard of no redeeming qualities
______________________________jshewkc@cyclops.pei.edu__________________________

                "The knowlege that you freely share
                You never really lose
                For Mistress and Apprentice
                Are just titles that we use
                When wisdom passes from your hand
                It travels back around again
                And the pupil gives more knowlege back to you"
                        (The Mistress' Song, composed for Lucianna)


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