King & Queen’s Bardic Champions Format Announced
The East Kingdom Bardic Champions will take place in the Barony of Carolingia on February 2nd. The competition will take place over three rounds with the following parameters: performer’s choice, period piece, Their Majesties’ choice. Competitors will be judged by Their Majesties and an advisory committee on choice of material, artistic impression, audience impact, technical skill, and individual response.
Each performer shall submit, prior to the first round, an index-card-sized summary of types of performances and styles said performer would be willing to perform with little or no prior notice. This gives the performers a chance to display versatility as well as skill, and gives Their Majesties additional information as they consider their next bardic champions. Their Majesties will choose something from this list for the final round, so consider well what you may be called upon to perform! **(Examples are below.)
ROUND ONE
Their Majesties wish to understand and know the hearts of those vying to be their Royal Bards, and so, for the first round, the performer is asked to perform a piece about that which inspires you. This piece may be original, written by the competitor or another, or it may be period. First round pieces may not exceed five minutes. (Longer works should be performed in excerpt.)
ROUND TWO
This round requires a period (historical) piece on any topic of the competitor’s choosing. This piece ought to be directly historical or utilizing period styles (tunes, stories, music adapted from a primary source, etc.) Please provide brief documentation for this round, such as would fit upon an index card. This piece should also differ in some way from the first piece performed, e.g., lively/slow, spoken/sung, wistful/cheerful, etc. Second round pieces should be no longer than 10 minutes in length.
ROUND THREE
This final round will be Their Majesties’ choice, guided by the performer’s earlier works, the skills which have been listed in their performance summary, and a brief interview of the entrant. Performers will have a few minutes to prepare.
The new Bardic Champions will be announced and begin their service at Court this day.
Bardic Champions are expected to:
* Make an effort to attend at minimum the Crown Tournaments and Coronations during their tenure, and Pennsic if at all possible, as well as other Kingdom Events and Royal Progresses as the Champion is able.
* Be willing/able to perform at courts, feasts, and other functions (and at the whim of Their Royal Majesties).
* Be willing/able to perform something on the spur of the moment (especially in the event of a delay breaking out…).
* Advise and assist the Crown in the organization of the competition to choose their successors.
Time allowing, those not wishing to be considered as champions may perform for the recognition of the King and Queen.
**PERFORMER SUMMARY EXAMPLES:
Name (list relevant SCA info) – what you do that makes you “you” as a performer, and what you can do “on command.”
Romanus Gaius Cantus (SC, OTC, Troubadour) – Roman-style boasts, filk on any topic to the tune of the Maltese Bransle or Greensleeves, good at extemporaneous speaking, can chant war-style marching songs in Latin. Excellent at theatre-style reading text I have not seen before.
Skihald the Viking (King’s Bard to John VIII, Troubadour, Order of the Maunche, Order of the Laurel) – Perform and write Norse-styled poetry in English, tell skaldic tales from 4 to 10 minutes in length from hilarious to morose, excellent teller of jokes, intermediate juggler, have several magic tricks I have worked into period settings.
Ysibeau du Provance – Period pieces in French for solo voice or recorder, Latin sacred music of the 12th century, improvisational harp. Can write small praise poems in French and English with some notice. Familiar with some music from most SCA periods, and SCA-appropriate songs. I am good at selecting music for different occasions.
Haven Fortnight (Bard to Baron of the Place) – I know a handful of period pieces, but my strengths are really SCA-appropriate non-period songs composed by others (traditional, folk tradition, SCA-composers) or by myself. I also play guitar. I can write pieces on commission with some notice. I can play and stroll at the same time. I can write in rhyming verse on short notice on nearly any topic and present it.
Questions regarding the competition format or requirements should be directed to the current King’s Bard, Maitresse Linette de Gallardon, via email at <linette@winterwood.me> at least one week prior to the competition. For any other questions, please contact the event autocrat.
For more information about the event including making reservations, see the East Kingdom event listing (http://eastkingdom.org/EventDetails.html?eid=2380) or reserve online using the ACCEPS system (address to embed – http://acceps.ansteorra.org/index.php)
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