Index
This entails singing a medieval song or a song that could have been medieval in public. In public means at an event, in court, at the feast or any other time and place where there are enough listeners.
II. Playing a musical instrument in public
This, too, means playing a piece that is or could have been from the Middle Ages. It is understandable that not everyone can afford medieval instruments, but it is important that instruments are played in a way that could have been done in the middle ages as much as possible.
III. Telling a story in public
Tell a story and make people listen. This isn't as easy as it sounds! We want to look into techniques like repeating lines, using different voices to make the characters come out, etc.
IV. Making musical instruments
In the Middle Ages many of the musicians could make their own instruments, because there weren't so many instrument builders around. This is an important point, because if you make an instrument you get a much better idea how it works, and how you can differ the sounds of your instruments. Also, making your own instruments can be the only payable way of getting a medieval musical instrument. We want to look into instruments like psalters, flutes and many others.
V. Researching medieval songs and instruments and publish your research
Research is important, too, because there is not enough known at the moment about medieval music. It's good to share information with others, so we can learn from each other. Publishing this kind of information can be done in all kinds of SCA related newsletters, like your shire's or barony's newsletter, the annual Arts & Science issue or even in the Guild Newsletter (that would probably be best for us).
VI. Writing texts
We hope to get more stories or song lyrics that people make themselves. Remember that the lyrics or stories should sound period!
VII. Writing music
We'd also like to get more music that was made by people in Drachenwald, both songs and instrumental music.
Everyone in the Guild will start as a Novice. If you have practice enough in the arts of music or storytelling you can become a Journey(wo)man, or even a Minstrel. How that works you can read later.
So, if you have written a song, you take the music and the lyrics and whatever documentation you can come up with. If you have made an instrument, take it with you! If you have published an article, take it with you! If one of the points you have chosen is a performing art, you will have to perform at the event.
The Minstrel or Minstrels (if there are more) will decide if your work is adequate to become a Journeyman or Journeywoman. You don't have to be dazzling in your performance, or be able to make a lute or something like that, we require just basic skill in the two points you have chosen.
If you have finished your masterpiece you contact the guild. Together you decide on an event where you can show what you've been doing. This will have to be done early, two or three months in advance. Events where we try to get as many Minstrels together as possible are the following: two coronet tourneys [3] a year and two university events. If there are other events that are also suitable the guild will decide if they will also be used for candidates for the Minstrelcy. In the guild newsletter we will announce that you want to become a Minstrel, at what event you're going to try this, what your masterpiece will be and you'll have to introduce yourself then.
Any Minstrel who is interested in you can contact you then. Every Minstrel who is interested should come to the event at which you are going to show your masterpiece. All the minstrels that attend that event will have a vote. At least three Minstrels should be present [4], or have given an opinion by mail to make a Journey(wo)man a Minstrel. A majority of the votes have to be in favour of the candidate for him or her to become a Minstrel.
If you go to the chosen event you bring your masterpiece and other material to show your skill in your chosen five points. Performing can be done at the event (if you want to be a minstrel there will always be one performing point in your chosen points (there are only four non-performing points!)). When you have performed and showed your work the Minstrels will decide if you are worthy of the title 'Minstrel'.
We prefer that candidates come to an event to show their skill in music and storytelling to become a Minstrel but sometimes this is not possible, because the candidate lives far away and cannot afford to come to an event where three Minstrels will be present. For those people we have the following option: The candidate contacts the Guildmaster [5], and they will discuss if there are possibilities for Minstrels to come to the candidate. If no direct contact is possible, it is also an option to show your skill in the chosen five points by photos and a videotape (it would be best if the performance was put on videotape, with the added description of the performance by a local specialist, for example a Guild member or the local Minister of Arts and Sciences). This information will be circulated so all Minstrels can have a look at it. If a majority of the Minstrels agree, (votes should be sent by post to the Guildmaster) the candidate will be a Minstrel. It is possible for a Minstrel to give a vote without having seen the material of the candidate (for example because he or she has already seen the candidates work), but every Minstrel has the right to see the work of the candidate.
Minstrels are expected to help members of the Guild and of the SCA as much as they can manage with the arts of music and storytelling. It is strongly recommended they take at least one student if there are people who want to be their student.
There is one Minstrel that does not have to pass this test to become a Minstrel. That is the current princess Bard or Dragon Bard or whatever name they come up with later. This person is a Minstrel and has a vote in the Guild for as long as he or she carries the title. Then the vote will go to the next Bard. This is because is it good to have some new blood now and then in the Guild, it keeps us from being frozen in our habits! [6]
There will probably be less Minstrels than students, so if you cannot find a Minstrel to study with, you can also study with a Journey(wo)man, as long as you are satisfied that this person can teach you. If you cannot find a Minstrel or a Journey(wo)man on your own, contact the Guildmaster or -mistress. There we will see what we can do for you.
Taking a student is a more formal way of saying: I will help you and teach you what you want to know in the points that you are interested in. If you take a student you should have regular contact with him or her, preferably once every month or even more often.
The Chronicler can be any member of the Minstrels' Guild. This person is also chosen by the Minstrels and needs a majority of votes. The term of his office will also be two years. After that, the same person can again be chosen for another term, if the Minstrels approve. After the second term the Chronicler can only be chosen again if there are no other suitable candidates. The task of the Chronicler is to ensure the regular appearance of a Guild Newsletter, preferably once every three months. For this newsletter any person can send in songs, stories, music and other material that is interesting for the Minstrels' Guild.
The Exchequer can also be any member of the Minstrels' Guild. This person is also chosen by the Minstrels and needs a majority of votes. The term of his office will also be two years. After that, the same person can again be chosen for another term, if the Minstrels approve. After the second term the Exchequer can only be chosen again if there are no other suitable candidates. The task of the Exchequer is to keep a list of Guild members and to keep track of any money that comes in or goes out.
There is also a fourth office that can be filled if there is a candidate for it. This is the office of the Librarian. The task of the Librarian is to keep lists of known books about medieval music, order them (on subject for example), and add any information on where these books can be had. This can be a big help with research. The Librarian is appointed by the Guildmaster or -mistress.
Because of practical consideration voting can be done by mail. Every Minstrel will receive a form on which he or she can write her choice. The Guildmaster, the Chronicler and the Exchequer are responsible for ensuring that the correct procedures are being followed.
If according to a majority of Minstrels , an officer does not perform his or her job adequately, the office will be reopened, and if there are other candidates, the Minstrels will have to vote again.
If there are Guild members who do not agree with the decisions made or who want to put forward issues that are ignored by the current Minstrels, they can ask for a general vote in the following way:
2. Information on the subject and voting ballots are published in the newsletter and will be distributed to all members. Votes will not be anonymous. Every interested member can send in his or her vote. There will also be a given date when all votes have to be entered to be counted.
3. When the day has come that all votes should have been entered they will be counted. The decision for which the majority of the votes have chosen will be followed, no matter how few votes are entered!
When a general vote is held, the Guildmaster or -mistress will not vote, except in case of a draw, when his or her vote will be the deciding one.
The colours of the Minstrels' Guild are white, black and red. The members of the Minstrels' Guild can wear these colours in ribbons wherever they want as long as it shows respect for the Guild.
A novice can wear a white ribbon. A Journeyperson can add a black ribbon to the first one. A Minstrel can wear all three colours [7]. The ribbons can be put in one's hair, on one's instrument, on one's clothing etc.
These things are also important in the SCA, they tell much about the history of the SCA and are often quite fun. They should also have their place in the Minstrels' Guild. But if you look at the amount of songs sung at a Bardic Circle for example: more than half of them are usually filk. So it is important to emphasise the authenticity of songs and stories. This does not mean that no filk can be sung, but it has no place in competitions or tests for Journeypersons or for the Minstrelcy.
Still we have chosen a guild structure for a number of reasons. First, guilds are familiar within the SCA. People know what the name means, what they can expect from a guild. Second, a guild has more hierarchy than a loosely organised troupe. We wanted to make the people that have skill and can help others easier to recognise. Now guild members will know who they can turn to with their questions. Having a Minstrels' Troupe with a clear hierarchy would be much stranger than having a Minstrels' Guild.
We have chosen the name Minstrels' Guild and not the name Bardic Guild. In the SCA what we do are called Bardic Arts, and there are Bardic Contests. But the name Minstrel is much more authentic for the kind of things we do than the name Bard. A Bard is a person who lived in the religious organisation of the Druids in early Celtic societies. He was the one who told stories and sang songs that told the history of the people. His task was more a religious and historical one than the entertainment we have in mind. A Minstrel was a name used in the 12th to 15th century for the performers who would play for the nobility. They didn't all write their own songs, though some did. They would sing the songs of the Troubadours, that were part of nobility, because the Troubadours would not sing their own songs. They were also expected to tell stories and provide other entertainment.
(This information comes from 'Music in the Medieval World' by Albert Seay)
Footnotes:
The charter of the Minstrels' Guild was written by Lady Sarah bat David in
1993 C.E.. Put into html, slightly edited and footnotes added by Ingeborg Thorulfsdottir
in 1999 C.E. Whatever changes might have taken place in between I do not know
of.
[1] This was changed at Bard's Night II in 1998 C.E.. To become
a journeyperson, you now have to cover 3 points, or you decide to do a 'Journeymen's
Piece' (like a Masterpiece, but more simple) and cover only 2 points [back].
[2] This was changed at Bard's Night II in 1998 C.E.. Now you
can become a Minstrel by having two masterpieces, but covering only four
points total. [back]
[3] Since 1994 C.E.: Crown Tourneys [back]
[4] There are only three Minstrels in Drachenwald right now
and getting them all on one Event might be difficult. Don't let it stop you,
though, we'll find a way to manage. [back]
[5] You can mail
me. [back]
[6] AFAIK there hasn't been a King's or Queen's Bard for quite
some time, probably as far back as the reign of Prince Karl and Princess Leia. [back]
[7] This was changed at Bard's Night II in 1998 C.E. The new
ruling is: Members a white ribbon, Novices white and black, Journeypersons all
three colours, Minstrels all three colours with a pendant of a lyre. [back]
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