Message-Id: <199810041518.LAA15082@xkey.com>
Subject: Re: minstrel: Bardic, Period, and assorted rantings...
To: rdeaver@swbell.net (Rex Deaver)
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1998 11:18:02 -0400 (EDT)
From: "Greg Lindahl" <lindahl@pbm.com>
Cc: minstrel@pbm.com
In-Reply-To: <3.0.3.32.19981003102307.006da290@mail.swbell.net> from "Rex Deaver" at Oct 3, 98 10:23:07 am
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> >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. 
> 
> Because a full-grown bard/skald/minstrel is a poet & a composer.

You shouldn't be surprised that a few people disagree strongly with
your definition. Historically, there were many minstrels who were
neither poets nor composers. There were some times and places in which
"bards" were all poets and composers, but that was only a fraction of
the times and places that the SCA covers. You might want to use this
definition for yourself, but I hope you don't want to apply it to
everyone else.

>  By
> definition, original work is not Period.  Cannot be.  The closest it can
> come is Periodoid.  

Ditto for this. A work that has period theme, style, musical style,
etc. is just as good as a real authentic song. I save "period-oid" for
something that has some period aspects about it but other aspects
which are screamingly non-authentic. We, as a community, should
encourage authentic original work, not lump it with the non-authentic.

> Do nothing original, ever, and you gain no growth rings

I disagree. Performing an authentic piece requires ornamentation, and
that requires innovation and originality. So even though I have not
composed, I have done much original work. You may feel that
composition is the only way you can be original; that's fine. I hope
you don't want to apply that to everyone else.

> Apprentices learn other people's work to perfection, Journeymen learn to
> "filk" to fit the need, Masters write verse and tune on demand.

I disagree. I don't think this matches any period bardic model,
either. If it does match in a few times and places, it doesn't exist
in most. Again, you may want to apply it to yourself, but I hope you
don't want to apply it to everyone else.

> Again, 'tis a measure of growth to be able to judge the audience.  If you
> can't take an audience, any audience, grab them and make them yours...you
> have failed.

I frequently play backround music for feasts. This means I don't want
to grab the audience and make them mine. This does not make my music a
failure. And, historically speaking, there was lots of background
music and it was highly valued. So no, this is not a measure of growth
in most times and places that the SCA covers. It might be how you want
yourself to be, but... 

> Now everyone has their own approach, their own theories on how to succeed.  
>
> We can share those that we feel have worked/not worked, and we can discuss
> them.  
> 
> Or, we can turn them into Giant Idols(tm), put them on carts, parade them
> in a big circle while everyone in the circle takes potshots at everyone
> else's Giant Idol(tm).  We can get all wounded and defensive when someone
> shoots our Giant Idol(tm) and then turn around and shoot *theirs* with
> towering self-righteousness and total belief in the sanctity of our cause.

I have not been wounded nor defensive. Nor do I think that I know the
one true way for everyone else. So I hope you weren't talking about me
in these 3 paragraphs, although it's fairly clear that you are. If so,
then you have misinterpreted most of what I've said. Such is life.

-- gb

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