Beginning in January 2013, at the Queen’s Meadhall in Carolingia, I am starting started my Gorsedd Bardic Challenge. This is where I’ll hold I held myself accountable.
I completed my challenges at the Marketplace at Birka in Stonemarche in January 2014.
“Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to perform a set number of pieces in a year, according to the criteria listed below. Pieces may be performed in any venue, be it bardic competition, feast, sitting around with friends at a post-revel, or any other occasion within the SCA. The year begins with the first performance.”
To achieve Level 1: Perform 5 pieces
At least one of these must be documented period
Must include at least
- one story or monologue
- one song
-Song-
1. “I Fight for You” original song performed (from book) at the Queen’s Meadhall (Feb 2, 2013)
2. “I am of the North” original song performed at Tourney o’Love during a break at feast. (Feb 18, 2013)
-Period Song-
3. “Three Ravens” performed for Lord Lucien, Queen’s Champion, at the Queen’s Meadhall. Documented period piece performed with voice and harp. (Feb 2, 2013)
4. “I Have a Younge Sister” performed with harp accompaniment at the Tourney o’ Love. Documented period piece. (Feb 18, 2013)
-Story-
5. “The Tale of Adolphus the Devourer” an extemporaneous story performed at the Mudthaw feast, while Adolphus acted it out around the feast table (March 23, 2013)
To achieve Level 2: Perform 7 pieces
At least two of these must be documented period
At least one of these must be original
Must include at least
- one story or monologue
- one song
- one poem
- either one physical performance (juggling, magic, dance, etc.) or one instrumental piece.
-Song-
6. “Follow Me” an original song performed at Mudthaw at feast for a table of listeners, (March 23, 2013)
-Instrumental –
8. Multiple pieces at the Smithwick End of Summer Gathering with other players playing harp and lute. During one cantiga I played the melody on soprano recorder as my partners played strings. (August 23-25, 2013)
To achieve Level 3: Perform 9 pieces
At least three of these must be documented period
At least one of these must be original
At least one of these must be on SCA history
Must include at least
- * one story or monologue
- * one song
- one poem
- * one instrumental piece
- one physical performance (juggling, magic, dance, etc.)
–Poem–
8. For Sir Brennan on His Knighting scroll reading at court – original poem written in the style of Norse verse (November 2, 2013)
9. Instrumental Jam with Mistress Afie and Baroness Emma at Crown Tournament (November 2, 2013)
–physical performance–
10. Middle Eastern dance at the Birka Hafla (January 25, 2014)
–period song–
11. Amarilli Mia Bella, performed at the Birka Bardic (January 26, 2014)
FINISHED!
To achieve Level 3: Perform 9 pieces
Period songs: Amirilli Mia Bella, The Herne, I Have a Young Sister, Three Ravens, several cantigas on recorder/voice/harp chords
Original songs: I Fight for You, I Am of the North, Follow Me
Original story: The Tale of Sir Adolphus the Devourer
Original poem on SCA History: The Tale of Brennan’s Knighting
Physical performance: Middle-eastern bellydance
There were many other performances during the year, of many kinds, but these are the ones I am using for my Gorsedd Challenge. The last, the dancing, was the hardest for me, but a small hafla is like a dance bardic circle and while there may be another person on the floor, the dance is a performance all its own. I enjoyed the challenges and would encourage any other performers to try the challenge for themselves!