The purpose of the challenges is to encourage participants' creativity and artistic growth.
They are not meant to be competitions - everyone who takes part can consider themselves a winner.
It is our wish to create a "bardic safe zone" - a friendly place to feel free to experiment, stretch yourself, and try new things. If you are a new to bardic and performing arts, recently returning, or an experienced performer with new material; You'll be hard pressed to find a friendlier and more supportive audience.
(Read below the challenges for general rules!)
Challenges
Would you like to be a Patron? Contact Lorelei at loreleiskye25@gmail.com
Click here for more info on being a Patron and list of challenges needing Patrons
First Fyt
Pass the Tale:
All those who wish to participate get up together, and tell a tale from beginning to end. The challenge's patron will 'conduct' by pointing to the person whose turn it is to continue the tale, and deciding when it is time to end. Perhaps sharing a lesson learned in the story.
Rite of Passage/Coming of Age:
In the Modern Middle Ages, turning 21 is a milestone marked by being able to legally purchase and consume "adult beverages." Tell us in song, story, or poem about a milestone event. Examples: where a person or group transitions from youth to adulthood. A ceremony, anniversary, or event marking an important stage in life.
Heads or 'Tales', A Game of Chance:
A chance 'roll of the dice' can determine the outcome of a game, or become a moment that determines the next course of one's life. Create or perform a work where chance changes the outcome.
Hit or hold? Turn right or left? Play it safe, or take the risk?
Second Fyt
Il Destino
In the middle ages many believed that one's fate was determined by an outside force. Conversely, there are stories of people determining their own or overcoming a predetermined fate. Present a song, story, or poem where any of these is proven true or false.
Poetic Form Challenge: Haiku - The Japanese vs. the Normans
Write both a Japanese and Norman Haiku.
Traditional Haiku:
There are only three lines, totaling 17 syllables. First line is 5 syllables. The second line is 7 syllables. The third line is 5 syllables like the first. Punctuation and capitalization are up to the poet, and need not follow the rigid rules used in structuring sentences. Haiku are often considered nature poems.
Interesting web article found with more information about Japanese Haiku for those interested: https://www.tofugu.com/japan/haiku/
Norman Haiku:
Rule 1: Touch on the themes of Love, Fashion, and Sheep
Rule 2: Must be 17 Syllables
Rule 3: Last 6 syllables must be "Icky, icky, icky."
(*Optional: A 4th theme: Death! Although not *required* at all, the truly great
Norman Haikists have always been able to work death into some of their poetry.)
Example of Norman Haiku: Acknowledged by the Boreal Master and all scholars everywhere - even those in unrelated fields - as THE purest and most classical example of Norman Haiku is this:
"No sheep, there I stood, courting Death in my shorts! Icky, icky, icky."
"Norman Haiku - A Made-Up Poetry Form From The West Kingdom"
As taught by Dahrien Cordell at KWCB VIII Saturday afternoon:
Long ago, Master Gerald of Ipsley told me that someone in the West taught him about this uproariously silly and fun form that really has little to do with any medieval poetic endeavors I've ever heard of. This class has even been taught at Pennsic University, which should lend it absolutely no additional credibility. So hide your rank, wear a mask, don't tell the Laurels, then laugh when they sit beside you! (Battery not included.)
Chance Encounter (*With thanks to Dahrien Cordell for the idea!)
What do you think this challenge calls for? Let's all see what we bump into in this Chance Encounter!
Third Fyt
An Ode to Favorite Beverages:
Midrealm Bardic Madness is old enough to drink! (...and has a bottomless pot of the 'Brew That Is True' available - coffee!)
Create or perform a work musing on, or praising, a favorite libation and/or other sorts of refreshments. Hail Hydrate!
A Picture is Worth 1000 Spanish Words: Images from the Spanish Peninsula (Spain, Portugal, Castilla, Aragon...)
Drawing and coloring supplies will be available in the morning, or bring your own. Event attendees are invited create an illustration/picture based on the theme. Participants will select one of these images at random before lunch, and set a song, story, or poem about/inspired by the image.
Period Piece:
Perform a documentable work of music, song, story, poetry, or prose from among the many eras and cultures explored by the SCA. Dig out those reference books, blow off the dust (try not to sneeze), and discover what wonderful treasures are contained therein. Find something, be it silly or sublime, and amaze us all.
*No documentation presentation needed*
(Concert)
Fourth Fyt / Feast
Toasts of Praise:
Strive to improve on the language and more eloquent presentation of one of our traditional SCA feast-time toasts.
Choose a toast to give when signing up for the challenge; each line on the sheet will specify a subject for your toast.
Bard Scribe Illumination:
Given a subject, compose the text, write in calligraphy, and illuminate the page. This may be done individually or as a team. (example: different people write the text, scribe the letters, and/or create the illumination.)
Blow Someone Else’s Horn:
Perform the work of some other SCAdian. Extra applause for matching the theme of the day and/or choosing something that is not well-known.
We’ll have a special chair up front for the author/composer, if they are in attendance, to be recognized for their work.
Challenges are not contests. You win by entering and striving to do the best you can.
Challenges are designed to encourage you to try your hand at something new, to stretch yourself, to enjoy, and celebrate the creative spirit.
Read the guidelines for the challenges carefully. Like exercises, they are designed to help you develop in specific areas.
Try to follow them as closely as you can, but stretching them into unexpected directions is good too.
Individuals are welcome and encouraged to give recognition to those performers whom they especially enjoy.
In order to allow the largest number of people to participate, challenge entries shall be limited to 3-5 minutes or less for Poems and Songs, 5-7 minutes or less for stories - including any introduction and set up/clearing of performance area.
Each person may enter a maximum of one piece in each challenge and a maximum of four challenges, including the concert. (**At the end of a challenge, sometimes time is available and extra performers are called; these do not count towards the four.)
Duets/Trios/Ensembles of 2,3 or more performing together can appear together in up 4 challenges, including the concert.
Individuals who participate in both group and solo performances are asked to use your best courtesy selecting challenges.