Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 12:19:33 -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: <199810021627.MAA26681@xkey.com>
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On Fri, 2 Oct 1998, Greg Lindahl wrote:

> Ah. I don't know how this case even came up then: if somone asks you
> to do modern material, of course you find it difficult to do period
> material instead. I just say, "Sorry, I don't know that one". I'm well
> known for doing that at dances. But I don't expect anyone else to take
> a similar strategy.

	Nice.  I am wandering around a lot though.  And dances are
something I don't do much.  (I just drum on the Bodrhan.)  To be of
service to the Kingdom is my only drive...(Okay, I am very fond of
applause too!  I ain't no martyr!  :)   )
	And in Calontir we remember the old bards of the Kingdom, many of
which begain with nice folk-songs rather than research.  It might be nice
to do all period or period-inspired stuff.  Like I implied, we may be
arguing apples and oranges here.  

> 
> Perhaps you could create a new tradition in Calontir. You seem to say that
> you are showing newer bards to do the same thing you do, which involves
> a continuing tradition of mostly modern performance. That's not what
> I, personally, am in the SCA for.

	More power to you.  However, I have found that the new traditions
are best started here by introducing them as "one more option."  Not as
the only one.  If I start doing Elizabethian, a handfull of the bards dump
their personnas and dress the part.  It is the curse and blessing of the
position.
	Hence, the mix I described.  I do the period stuff in among the
SCA and "Original/Period inspired".  This gives the bard a chance to see
that everything is important.  
	Do you take part in an established group of bards?  Not to accuse
you of any mindset.  It just has different dynamics than being on your 
own.
Also many of the beginning bards sacrifice a lot of performance time if
they stick to period only venues.  This limits their air time in the
Kingdom, and puts them behind on the "awards list" that I personally
despise at times, but that seems so important to some.
	I suspect that you are like me; Having made a name for yourself,
you can limit your air time, can make decisions like "I will only do
Period", and not worry if anyone has an opinion about you decision.  
	I will agree with you, I would like to take a year or so and do
just Norse/Norse style material.  It would have a negative effect on my
students, though.  (at least from their veiwpoint.  Some of them are
angling for an AOA or a Swan...)

	(Snip of a great bard doing his part to educate an audience..)

> BTW, I don't think that doing Calontir kingdom history _requires_
> something blatantly modern I suspect that it would require extra
> work to build a history that is authentic in style but talks about
> Calontir, but it could be done. In the Elizabethan era, Thomas

	Uh, not the history itself, but also the songs they sang going
into battle, written about that time, or works by past Calontir Bards.  It
is not kosher to rewrite another artists words.  
	Okay, I know you were not suggesting that.  The history is not
just Calontir as a whole, but the Bards' collective history as well.  That
is one of my drives and projects.  If we know where we came from, we can
decide where to go.
	Yup, We are arguing-uh, discussing apples and oranges.  No prob.
I am just happy to discuss it with another dedicated soul.  I wish we
could swap material in person though.  
	Ah well, the real world intrudes...
	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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