Seasonal Fyts and Challenges – Bardic Madness
The heart of Atlantian Bardic Madness II lies in its challenges.
Across the day, performers are invited to answer twelve themed prompts arranged into four seasonal courts. These prompts are meant to spark creativity, not confine it. Take them seriously, take them sideways, or take them somewhere wholly unexpected. Make them your own.
All levels of performers are welcome. Bardic Madness is meant to be an encouraging space where experimentation, collaboration, and delight in the bardic arts matter as much as polish.
Performances should generally be about five minutes or less so that many voices may be heard throughout the day. Unless a challenge calls for something more specific, pieces may take the form of song, story, poetry, spoken word, instrumental music, duet, ensemble work, puppetry, juggling, or other bardic expression.
Participants may sign up for up to four challenges, with one piece per challenge. Signup sheets for the first two courts will be available in the morning, with the remaining two set out at lunchtime.
Atlantian Bardic Madness : Journey Across the Heavens
-Format: as the Iliad was divided in Books, so are our challenges divided into
Four Books, each representing a season of the Zodiac.
Book of the Spring – the time of creativity, new beginnings, fresh green leaves.
Aries the Ram – Let the Ram’s Horn awaken the Heavens
– perform a lively piece to rouse us up.
Taurus the Bull – the symbol of strength, fierce in protecting the herd
– Provide a piece of martial might, prowess, or defense.
Gemini the Twins – the brothers, Castor and Pollux, connected the mortal and immortal
– Participants will start a story where each performer should elaborate and grow the tale from the previous tale-teller. This will be improvisation.
Book of the Summer – the time of growth and warmth, sun and gold.
Cancer the Crab – the water creatures that dwell with many others.
– Give us a performance requiring 2 or more. Scripts, duets, ensembles, etc. Grab your friends with your pincers and press them into service!
Leo the Lion – the leader, the King, commands to hear works of days gone by.
-Period music or spoken word -a documentable work of music, song, story, poetry, prose, or script from earlier than 1650. Briefly let us know the author and culture
-Bonus points for historically informed, non-English material adapted for a modern, English-speaking audience.
Virgo the Maiden – loves the voices of the poets
-Write a poem, in a poetic form of your choosing, about the Stars, the Heavens, the Voyages, or any of the signs of the Twelve.
Book of the Autumn – the time of harvest, of fruition, copper and red leaves
Libra the Scales – the balance of creation – those pieces shared among the bards
-Blow Someone Else’s Horn – Perform a work of another SCAdian that inspires you and tell us why you chose that piece.
-A special seat of honor will be provided if the author of the work is present.
Scorpio the Scorpion – tries to sting Ophiuchus in the heel, while Ophiuchus is trampling on the scorpion and simultaneously wrestling a coiled serpent.
–A list of words will be provided at the beginning of the day. Your challenge is to wrestle as many of these words as possible into a performance piece. Bonus applause if you manage to use all of them!
Sagittarius the Archer – is a centaur, half horse, half man
– bring a piece in any form, song, story, poem, whatever bardic form you choose, about joining unlike things together – people, lovers, resolving differences, however you wish to interpret this theme.
Court – join in the Palace on Mt Olympus for the Royalty of Atlantia. If there is time, we can showcase any challengers that wish time that did not yet have their opportunity due to overflow on the lists.
Book of the Winter – the time of rest, of planning, of creating by the fire, silver and blues. -During this Book, we will be having a Feast of Great Magnificence, fit for the Gods, each dish representing one of the Twelve Constellations of the Sky.
Capricorn the Goat – is many things at the same time – goat and fish, land and water, and
of course the GOAT!
– Raise a toast to Their Majesties, Their Highnesses, and Their Excellencies, and then any others you are moved to boast of or praise or remember.
Aquarius the Waterbearer– the cupbearer to the Gods, sweet Ganymede
-musicians, let sweet notes pour from your instruments like wine from the amphora. Instruments and instrumental music of all kinds is welcome, to provide a lovely showcase.
-Perchance you cannot bring your instrument, contact M. Simon de Spaldyng, fullersteaching@ yahoo.com, and we may be able to lend you an instrument.
Pisces the Fish– represent the realms of love, of Eros and Aphrodite
– Sing us a love song, or tell us a tale of your passion and desire for someone, something, the funnier the better!
After the event is concluded and the site is cleaned up, join us for a Post- Revel .