Bardic at Pennsic 38
I took no Bardic courses. It isn't that I don't think that I have anything else to learn, but I couldn't find any that weren't beginner and that fit my schedule.
I did attend a bardic circle which was educational for me in how to not run a bardic circle. The (nameless) gentle who ran it began by announcing that he only wanted "happy songs" so poets, story tellers and those who knew tragic ballads were not welcome. Then he only called on people he knew. I contrast this to Marian of Heatherdale at Dandelion. Marian was extremely inclusive and encouraging to get as many people participating as possible. It wasn't a total loss. I did get to hear some talented vocalists and I got to see fire poi.
[note - I am not trying to imply that the gentleman who ran this bardic is a horrible person. I barely know him. I just disagree with the method he chose to run it.]
I didn't go to the harp exhibition because I went to a class on Persian costuming. At this point, I don't need to be inspired by good harpers; I just need to get off my butt and practice my own harp.
I did get to perform, but in bits and pieces. I did the Lineage of Skraling Althing for Jhone. I did Repaint the Scarlet Banner for Ragni and for Marihannah. It isn't that I wouldn't have loved to perform for a larger audience, but I couldn't find it. The aforementioned bardic circle wasn't open to me. The ship burning ritual had no time for story or poem sharing. If Ealdormere had a bardic circle, I didn't find out about it.
I had two interesting conversations about audience. I talked with someone who told me that performing for one or two people really isn't bardic performance. At this point in her SCA career, she only wants to perform for audiences of 50-150 people and would personally feel that individual performances are not something she wants to pursue. Then, I talked with Marihannah who approaches new people and asks if she can sing them a song. (This is in fact how I met her.) She sings before large audiences, but she also sings her songs for one person if one person is all she can find to perform for. Both perspectives are valid. At this point in time, I'm more like Marihannah. I like a large audience, but ultimately I like sharing my art. If that means one person at time, so be it.
Seeing both Commedia's was interesting given that I'd written a small one for Practicum. It was interesting to contrast how to perform with a larger cast and a smaller cast and see whhat each did with the stock characters and basic plots. I'd like to see Commedia done again in Caldrithig sometime - and not with children.
On a personal note, I used down time at Pennsic to finish a poem I'd been commissioned to write. They seem happy with my work.
And, I am almost finished my first song! I never thought I'd be able to write a song. It is not at the standard Rise or anything by Marian, but it is a (hopefully) cute piece ... and it is my first foray into a new medium.
One of the sweetest things that happened to me at Pennsic was talking with Hector of the Black Heights. He is kingdom bard and I am baronial bard. I asked if he had any words of encouragement as I try to build bridges in Skrael between the songs of Ealdormere vs. period singing vs storytelling and poems and put all the bardic pieces together. He told me to lead by exmaple. When I mentioned that I didn't personally know any of the songs of Ealdormere, he gave me - free of charge - his CD to learn them. Hector is a good example of a laurel - he really does try to encourage others in his art form ... and he makes awesome cheese too!
I did attend a bardic circle which was educational for me in how to not run a bardic circle. The (nameless) gentle who ran it began by announcing that he only wanted "happy songs" so poets, story tellers and those who knew tragic ballads were not welcome. Then he only called on people he knew. I contrast this to Marian of Heatherdale at Dandelion. Marian was extremely inclusive and encouraging to get as many people participating as possible. It wasn't a total loss. I did get to hear some talented vocalists and I got to see fire poi.
[note - I am not trying to imply that the gentleman who ran this bardic is a horrible person. I barely know him. I just disagree with the method he chose to run it.]
I didn't go to the harp exhibition because I went to a class on Persian costuming. At this point, I don't need to be inspired by good harpers; I just need to get off my butt and practice my own harp.
I did get to perform, but in bits and pieces. I did the Lineage of Skraling Althing for Jhone. I did Repaint the Scarlet Banner for Ragni and for Marihannah. It isn't that I wouldn't have loved to perform for a larger audience, but I couldn't find it. The aforementioned bardic circle wasn't open to me. The ship burning ritual had no time for story or poem sharing. If Ealdormere had a bardic circle, I didn't find out about it.
I had two interesting conversations about audience. I talked with someone who told me that performing for one or two people really isn't bardic performance. At this point in her SCA career, she only wants to perform for audiences of 50-150 people and would personally feel that individual performances are not something she wants to pursue. Then, I talked with Marihannah who approaches new people and asks if she can sing them a song. (This is in fact how I met her.) She sings before large audiences, but she also sings her songs for one person if one person is all she can find to perform for. Both perspectives are valid. At this point in time, I'm more like Marihannah. I like a large audience, but ultimately I like sharing my art. If that means one person at time, so be it.
Seeing both Commedia's was interesting given that I'd written a small one for Practicum. It was interesting to contrast how to perform with a larger cast and a smaller cast and see whhat each did with the stock characters and basic plots. I'd like to see Commedia done again in Caldrithig sometime - and not with children.
On a personal note, I used down time at Pennsic to finish a poem I'd been commissioned to write. They seem happy with my work.
And, I am almost finished my first song! I never thought I'd be able to write a song. It is not at the standard Rise or anything by Marian, but it is a (hopefully) cute piece ... and it is my first foray into a new medium.
One of the sweetest things that happened to me at Pennsic was talking with Hector of the Black Heights. He is kingdom bard and I am baronial bard. I asked if he had any words of encouragement as I try to build bridges in Skrael between the songs of Ealdormere vs. period singing vs storytelling and poems and put all the bardic pieces together. He told me to lead by exmaple. When I mentioned that I didn't personally know any of the songs of Ealdormere, he gave me - free of charge - his CD to learn them. Hector is a good example of a laurel - he really does try to encourage others in his art form ... and he makes awesome cheese too!