Shire of Côte du Ciel
Bardic Resources
The Bardic Arts are one of several arts available for participation and research in the SCA: In history, the duty of Bards, Troubadours, and other designated entertainers around the ancient world, was to preserve history, and/or entertain the masses.
If live performance is up your alley, this page is a great resource to get started!
Historical Performance:
Below are a few resources intended to get you started on researching and performing historical pieces.
Storytelling
"People need stories, more than bread, itself; They teach us how to live, and why."
— Storyteller
(Arabian Nights TV Mini Series, 2000)
Aesop's Fables and stories from One Thousand and One Nights are some of the oldest tales in history - there are hundreds of these tales, all perfect as a starting place to research storytelling:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Aesop%27s_Fables
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_stories_within_One_Thousand_and_One_Nights
Music
“Where words fail, music speaks."
— Hans Christian Andersen
There are several surviving Medieval and Rennaissance manuscripts that have survived the past several centuries: Below are links to an overview of illuminated sheet music, and a portal to the Cantigas de Santa Maria, well documented and preserved worship music:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Music_illuminated_manuscripts
Magic
"Many secrets of art and nature are thought by the unlearned to be magical."
– Roger Bacon
(as quoted in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction : An Illustrated A to Z by Peter Nicholls.)
In the Shire of Cote du Ciel, we are pleased to have in residence, the foremost expert in Medieval Magic and Sleight of Hand, Master Aslak the Awful. Visit his website (listed below) or contact him at a Shire Fighter Practice for more information!
Theatre
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts."
– Jacques
(William Shakespeare's 'As You Like It')
Theatre is another form of storytelling, which can be done with as many or as few people as required. Whether you want to perform a monlogue, or work in an ensemble, or even work with puppetry - there are many options through classic playwrights such as Sophocles and Shakespeare:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=list+of+Sophocles+plays&title=Special%3ASearch&ns0=1
Poetry
“Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.”
― Cassandra Clare
(Clockwork Angel)
Poetry is another form of storytelling, which usually involves rhythm and rhyming. There are long, or epic poems, and there are short poems - whatever your fancy, there is something for all poetry enthusiasts if you look hard enough.
https://interestingliterature.com/2015/01/10-short-medieval-poems-everyone-should-read/
Original Performance:
Below is a guide to help you find the confidence to create your own performance pieces - whether you take a modern approach, or create something new as a tribute to historical pieces, both are encouraged and welcomed in the SCA!
What Qualifies?
Inspirations for Bardic Arts come from playing in your local SCA group, or using historical circumstances and figures.
Whether you are writing a story, a song, a poem, a theatre piece, or even a magic trick, you can do one of two things:
1) Use a modern format you feel comfortable with, that evokes historical imagery.
2) Write an original piece that follows a historical outline and format.
Whatever you choose, we would love to see your effort! :)
Topics to Inspire:
Courtly Love
Wars/Battle
The Noble Life
The Peasant Life
Religious Themes
Agriculture
Archery
Arts
Origin Stories (Why the world works the way it does)
Historical Formats:
Latin Gregorian Chants
Use of Historically significant Instruments (Lyre, Harp, Wooden Flutes or Recorders, Drums, etc.)
Haiku
Lymerics
Sonnets
"True" Accounts written in the ancient language of your choice.
SCA Performance:
SCA-specific performance is a sub-section of Original Performance: this section relies exclusively on SCA culture and experience, whether you make your own memories, interpret another SCA member's history, or you envision your persona in their everyday life.
What Qualifies?
Inspirations for creating SCA-specific performance material uses the same requirements as Original composition:
Using a modern format you feel comfortable with, that highlights SCA culture/experience, or Persona imagery, is the main format.
Seldom will a composer write an original piece that follows a historical outline and format for this focus.
Just because it's not exclusively historical, doesn't mean it's not welcome - try your hand at SCA-specific performance!
Formats:
"No lie, there I was..." (retelling a personal SCA event experience)
Creative Retellings (of other SCA members' experiences)
Filking (putting your own lyrics over a well-known song)(Master Alask has some examples of this on his website above!)
Places to Find SCA-specific Performances:
http://www.calonsong.org/songbook.php
https://stursula.lochac.sca.org/songs
YouTube: "SCA Songs":
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sca+songs
(You can also look up the name of songs found in the above songbooks)
Bardic Overview
So, you have decided on a piece to perform - now what?
Let's take a quick dive into Bardic Etiquette and what to expect at Bardic Circles and Bardic Competitions!
Bardic Etiquette 101:
If you are familiar with live performances, or going to the movies, then audience Bardic Etiquette will be easy for you:
Turn off or silence your cell phones and/or electronic devices at the beginning of a performance event.
Do not talk during a person's performance, and quietly discourage others from talking during a performance.
If you are in the vicinity of a Bardic performance, but not part of the performance area, do all you can to carry on your business in a quieter, respectful manner.
If the performer encourages audience participation, feel free to join in; if no participation is asked for, leave them to perform solo.
When volunteers are asked for, consent is key - do not volunteer anyone except yourself, if consent to be volunteered is not given.
If you need to leave a performance space for any reason, remove yourself as quietly as you are able to.
Educate children on acceptable performance behavior, or remove them from the performance space.
It takes a lot of time to prepare a performance. It also takes a lot of courage and energy to perform in front of other people. Distractions and blatant disrespect affects everyone in attendence to the performance, including the performer. So please: regardless of a performer's skill level, regardless of their material being "appropriate" or not, and regardless of anyone's titles, do all you can to be considerate of any person's willingness to perform.
That being said, Performers also have a Bardic Etiquette to follow when they are performing:
Take the time to find appropriate materials for your performance - in a pinch, the resources listed above are a good starting point.
Practice your performance ahead of time. With practice comes confidence in your ability to perform.
If you are participating in a group performance, ensure that you and everyone in the group performs with balance; try to not upstage anyone.
Use a reference sheet if needed - if looking at your material helps take your mind off the audience and helps you concentrate, by all means use it!
Take as many deep breathes as you need to feel comfortable in front of people before you perform. You should feel calm and confident before you start.
IF someone or something interrupts the performance, stop the performance to allow the interruption to run its course, then take a moment to breath before starting your performance again. Start at a place that makes sense for the audience, not exactly where you were interrupted (IE, the start of a line, as opposed to the middle of a sentence or thought)
Respect your audience - they are not required to sit there and listen, they are choosing to sit and listen. Make their time worth it.
Be polite during others' performances and give quiet or gentle encouragement when you see others struggling.
If you are a Bard who finds live performance to be difficult, you are not alone - it takes many hours of composing, and/or practicing to get to a confident level of performance. Every great performer had to start somewhere, and that is the same reality for you.
Let's all work to promote respectful etiquette for Bardic Performance - Thank you in advance ♥️
What is a Bardic Circle?
A Bardic Circle is an informal gathering of SCA members, where eveyone has the opportunity to perform as many pieces as they desire - usually, this gathering occurs around a bonfire during a camping event, or at a member's home. These are opportunities to practice and grow your craft in a relaxed atmosphere, but no one is expected to perform - all have the choice to sit and listen, or rise and perform when the opportunity is available.
Keep in mind the following when participating in a Bardic Circle:
Some Bardic Circles have restrictions - it is up to the host to determine whether a restriction is in place, and as a participant, it is your choice on whether to participate or not depending on the restriction. Below are a few common restrictions:
Public vs Private Bardic Circles - sometimes a group or household will host a circle when the camping event is not hosted by them. They may determine their circle is open for anyone to join, or they may restrict it to private invitation, or they may restrict it further to household or group members only. There are various reasons why this might be - maybe it's to foster shy talent, maybe the group is particularly close and does not have any other opportunities in the year to get together. If you learn a circle is private, respect the hosts' wishes, and find another circle to join.
Themes - sometimes a circle is restricted to songs, or stories only. Sometimes it's a topical restriction, such as "Only Pieces about Courtly Love".
Tone - sometimes the tone of a Bardic Circle comes organically, sometimes it is enforced at the start of the circle (Comedy vs Drama).
Historical Only - most Bardic Circles allow a mix of historical, and modern pieces. However, a respectable goal in the SCA is to recreate history, and bring "The Dream" alive. Some camps want to bring history alive through performance, and so, they will require all performers to prepare and perform only historical pieces at their Bardic Circle. Please respect the atmosphere.
Family-Friendly vs Age Limits - most Bardic Circles are family-friendly. That being said, there are some adults who prefer to enjoy adult-specific content. It is not up to a participant to enforce their own morality on a Bardic Circle with an age limit: if a Bardic Circle that started family-friendly then progresses to an adult only circle, no one is expected to stay where they are not comfortable.
Reference Sheets - Most of the time, no one will discourage a person from using their notes, or sheet music. No performer is inherently better because they don't need a reference sheet. In the specific case of circles with Historical pieces only, however, the use of phones and electronic lights, or modern paper or binders may be discouraged, as it takes away from the Historical atmosphere. Do your best to memorize, or find historical ways to have a reference sheet.
There is usually an opportunity for all in a Circle to perform - the host may have a specific way to ensure everyone has an opportunity, but doesn't always:
"Perform, Choose, or Pass" - usually going clockwise in the circle, each person's turn has the choice to perform a piece, choose a theme or piece for the next performer, or simply pass their opportunity to the next person. This is a slower paced environment, good for new players and people wanting to build confidence without pressure to be perfect at their craft.
"Open Format" - this is a free-for-all, where if you have the confidence to jump in, go for it! It will be more difficult for a new player or introverted player to have their opportunity to play, but you can always enlist the help of the host, or a more experienced or outgoing person to interject for you. This format is designed for more experienced performers to be quick and lively so the energy from performance doesn't die.
"Feedback Welcomed" - this kind of Bardic Circle encourages positive feedback for performance. Those Bards who are struggling with their performances and don't know how to fix them, can find support and advice to improve. This format is slow, as each person has the opportunity to give their constructive feedback - if your opinions are not going to help a Bard improve, this circle may not be for you. If you struggle with confidence, or struggle finding encouragement from correction, this circle may also not be for you.
"Sign Ups" - some Bardic Circles may implement signing up for a turn. Whether people sign up multiple times to fill the night, or each person is listed once, with performers chosen by order of the list or by random choice, it can give some order and opportunity to an otherwise open format.
If you are planning to host a Bardic, choose a remote location, or make sure your camping neighbors are aware - some Bardics can go very late into the night. If you are able to find a remote place away from others, this is ideal for hosting a Bardic. If this is not possible, be respectful of your neighbors and let them know of your plan in advance. Most people don't mind a Bardic nearby if it ends at a decent hour, or the volume is kept low. Either keep the volume down, or move your circle to another location if going late into the night would disturb others.
What is a Bardic Competition?
A Bardic Competition is a formal performance that is scheduled to occur during an event: performers will have practiced one piece, and sign up to perform that piece in front of an audience. There is an expectation of at least one winner, and with that winner, may come a title and/or prize.
Every member of the SCA is allowed to compete, except for the host of this competition - the host is most often the winner of last year's competition, so it would be unfair for them to compete so soon after their win. Competition is meant to motivate members to excell in their chosen performance avenue, bringing out the excellence of each performer. For beginners, there may be a different motivation, which is to gain experience in a formal setting. Whatever your goal, all are encourgaged to try their hand at winning a competition!
Keep in mind the following when participating in Bardic Competitions:
Some Bardic Competitions have restrictions - Similarly to a Bardic Circle, there may be a theme or restriction; The most common restriction is a time limit of 5 minutes or less. These themes or restrictions are advertised before the event so the performer has adequate time to find and practice suitable material. Check the event notice (on the Kingdom/Group website or the Facebook event page) for specifics as soon as an event with a Bardic is advertised.
There may be more than one winner - The most common restriction to keep in mind is that most Bardic Competitions are hosted by a group to find a champion in the Bardic Arts. For example: the winner of the title and regalia of Bardic Champion of Cote Du Ciel must be a registered member of Cote du Ciel. Even so, members of the SCA outside the group's membership may still compete, as other prizes may be available. So two winners may be declared for one competition, instead of one winner.
Winners are determined in various ways - the most common way winners are determined is by popular vote - this can be shown by public raise of hand, or anonymous voting. At other times, there may be a panel of judges. No matter how the winner is determined, sometimes the winner may not be who you expect - art is subjective after all, and people have varying tastes and preferences when judging competitions. Don't let the judging opinions discourage you from performing again in the future; take the time to seek feedback from people you trust at the end of a competition so you can learn from the experience and improve your skills for the next competition.
Last, but not Least, Have Fun!
Live Performance must be fun, otherwise you wouldn't participate in it - make it fun for yourself and others in a variety of ways to break up monotony, and compel people to watch you perform again and again!
Thank you so much for visiting this page! Good Luck on your Bardic Journey! ☺️
Compiled by Lady Isabel Cordera, of Cote du Ciel, in the Kingdom of Artemisia; May 2024