Challenges XXV

*Schedule is in EASTERN Time*

It is our wish to create a "Bardic Safe Zone"
- A friendly place to stretch yourself, and try new things. 
If you've never performed before, now's your chance.  If you are new to bardic and performing arts, recently returning, or perhaps an experienced performer with new material, (etc.);
No Matter What - You'll be hard pressed to find a friendlier and more supportive audience! 
We are always delighted to see lots of first time, returning performers, and 'masters of the craft'.

Read more about the challenges and the general rules & courtesy guidelines below!

  Challenge Patrons

Would you like to be a Patron?  Contact Deputy Hilla Stormbringer at hilla@bardicproject.org

Click here for the information page on being a Patron, and the list of challenges needing Patrons

Challenges

Many challenges are non-specific and say "perform a work/piece/something of..." etc. 
"Works" includes something found, created, or original of your choice
in song, story, poem, prose, with instruments, script, improv,
...and/or anything else that's a performing or movement art!

**Continued from 2022**  Bard Scribe Illuminator Challenge entrants are encouraged to create ahead of the event, visit challenge 4.3 for more information!  (4th fyt, 3rd challenge).

First Fyt - "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears!"

1.1  ~ Early Bird Merry Warm Up Challenge!

Boot up the braincells and warm up your cuppa tea, coffee, chai, (or other preferred beverage at whatever temperature ;) ) to join us in the first challenge!

Perform something of your choice in song, story, poem, prose, script, improv, etc... 
to merrily start us upon the day!

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1.2  ~  "As I am an honest Puck..."
Present a work telling of a bardic shenanigan or a plot for one

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1.3  ~ Dances of the Fairy Queen
Present a song or instrumental music fit for a fairy court to dance to

Second Fyt - "What's past is prologue"

2.1   ~ Shakespeare's Mazacroca - (Newly discovered under a totally different parking lot!)
Choose 1 of the 3 handouts and decipher what appears to be Renaissance gibberish scribblings that appear to be in style of soliloquy, a sonnet, or perhaps it's a dialogue snippet between 2 or more people?  (Or are these recipes for how to make lasagna?)
You decide, create your own "translation", and present your findings!   Perhaps even share bit of your (faked) documentation or methodology?  Challenge partly in honor of the grand and amazing Boreal Master!

Click images to display Mazacroca 1 & 2 and open each in Google preview, to print or download your own copy:
Or click on the links here:Mazacroca 1 - Mazacroca 2

- Mazacroca 3, is a work in progress by students on loan from students of the Great Boreal Master.  Are you one of these students?  The page is pretty dirty and faded, but It looks to be a Shakespeare style scene between 2 or 3 people.  And has scribblings that seems like it may be a draft of an unknown and unfinished sequel to Midsummers or a different comedy...   Create as a group at will!

*Handouts of these will also be available at the event.*

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2.2  ~ The Bardic Madness Anniversary Challenge
Comb through your own notes and folios - Perform a work you specifically created at/for any previous Bardic Madness, 'Ftys of Madness', or Madness related or inspired events (since Bardic Madness has been 'Franchised' to several other kingdoms in recent years.)  Tell us the challenge, if you remember, as you introduce your piece.

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2.3   Period Piece

(Doesn't need to be a Shakespeare Work!)  Bring out any historical works 400 years or older!
Perform a documentable work of music, song, story, poetry, prose, or script 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.   There is a staggering amount of fantastic material out there.  Find something, be it silly or sublime, and amaze us all.  *No documentation presentation needed*

Third Fyt -  "Therefore, another prologue must tell he is not a lion"

3.1  ~ 'The Stage is the Thing' ~ Open Stage Shakespeare!
Solo, With a friend or group - share one of Shakespeare's Sonnets, Soliloquies, Scenes ~ spoken or in song!
Perhaps try to do all or part of a Shakespeare play in about 5 minutes
(*To maximize number of entries, please keep entries to 5 Minutes or less, including any set up/strike needed)

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3.2  ~ "Perchance to Dream"
Present a piece prominently featuring dreams or that tells of a dream you've had 

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3.3 ~ 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.

A special seat of honor will be provided if the author of the work is present. 

Concert

There will be a concert the day of the event. 
Click Here for more information

Concert sign-up sheet is on the same table as the other challenges,
and will be available in the afternoon.

Fourth Fyt & Feast -  "Or say, sweet love, what thou

desirest to eat."

*2023 Note:  For at least one more year- due to the various changes COVID may continue to bring, during the 4th fyt/feast we will not be doing any challenges with singing, or wind and brass instruments, while also eating.**  (This fully aligns with the previous existing Middle Kingdom requirements, which were active when we started planning for 2022.  And keeps us compliant in the case any of these are brought back.)

4.1 ~ Pass the Tale, In Real Time & Impromptu *does not count towards 4 challenge total*
All those who wish to participate will be part of cooperatively creating a short impromptu tale from beginning to end.  To begin the tale - The patron may come up with a story theme or title, or call for one from the audience.  Next, will "conduct" participants by choosing whose turn it is to continue the tale.  Finally, deciding when it is time to end the story.   Sometimes, the patron may call on someone to provide a moral or lesson learned in the story. 

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4.2 ~ Toasting & Boasting or "Lord, What Foods These Morsels Be!"
Feast time is traditionally when we raise our glasses high to honor the crown and other deserving individuals.
Speak your toast (or boast) extemporaneously, eloquently, succinctly, and magniloquently, upon the person, theme, or subject matter selected.  Forsoothliness is encouraged!
On the sign-up sheets, some lines have a specific toast subject to prepare to give when signing up for the challenge.  The ones with blank will draw their random subject (a dish on tonights feast menu) at feast out of a pitcher.

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4.3 ~ Bard Scribe Illumination:  Now With 3 creative options!
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.  See your options for subject matter below.  Read the finished product and amaze those around you at feast!

  * Three options to choose from!
  * Instead of a "day of" challenge (doing all the work for this challenge at the event), take all the time you have from now until the day-of when you present your works at the event!

Option 1:  Create a Scroll Blank to donate to the Group/Kingdom of your choice.

Option 2:  Choose one of Shakespeare's Sonnet's as a scribal project

Option 3:  A lament on iambic pentameter, written in any form  EXCEPT FOR iambic pentameter
- An anti-form challenge for Bard, Scribes, & Illuminators!

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4.4 ~ Poetry Form Challenge:  Sonnets!
Ending the feast with one of the favorite Bardic Madness Challenges we look forward to every year-  and what's in a day of Shakespeare without inviting those inclined to try their hands at composing a sonnet!  

For extra fun:  write a sonnet responding to one of Shakespeare's sonnets,
or create further poetic recipes of the Three Witches ("bubble bubble toil and trouble...")!

Instructions:  The form of Shakespearean sonnets
- Shakespeare's sonnets are composed of 14 lines, and most are divided into three quatrains and a final, concluding couplet, rhyming abab cdcd efef gg. This sonnet form and rhyme scheme is known as the 'English' sonnet.
- Write your lines in iambic pentameter (duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH.
Format the sonnet using 3 quatrains followed by 1 couplet.
- (Other information that may be useful:  they are often around a central theme in a reflecting/meditative tone, resist straightforward narrative, some are written along the lines of an internal dialogue.  Often using metaphors and analogy instead of identifying the subject or who a Sonnet may be referring to.  Covering the wide range of subjects including time, change,  philosophy, nature, mythology, and especially love (for friends, romantic, platonic, filial, etc...). 
Lots of fun to be had with sonnets!)

Example:  Sonnet 124
No, Time, thou shalt not boast that I do change:
Thy pyramids built up with newer might
To me are nothing novel, nothing strange;
They are but dressings of a former sight.

Our dates are brief, and therefore we admire
What thou dost foist upon us that is old;
And rather make them born to our desire
Than think that we before have heard them told.

Thy registers and thee I both defy,
Not wondering at the present nor the past,
For thy records and what we see doth lie,
Made more or less by thy continual haste.

This I do vow and this shall ever be;
I will be true despite thy scythe and thee.

More information found here:
https://www.folger.edu/explore/write-a-sonnet/
https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/shakespeares-sonnets/

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4.5 ~ The Maybe Mysterious Mighty Meta (Fyt)!
IF TIME - All Depends on how close it is to 8:PM and/or dessert!  As we close out the feast, (or perhaps during a post-revel round) this is the time we may invite performers who signed up on lines `10 and up' of today's challenges- starting with those who have not performed at all yet, and working our way through to those who have performed their 4 entries of the day.

Here Endeth the Challenges,
On to the Post Revel!