[SCA-AE] Darbukkas (was:Doumbeks) & bardic

[KaziBrionSCA]

Greetings again from Brion:

Dur, haven't you and I had this discussion in person?  At Oriana's, wasn't
it?

As I recall we ended up in more or less complete agreement.  There is no
particular reason why bardic (songs, poetry and storytelling to use a simple
definition) cannot coexist and complement even complement each other.  It's
simply a matter of making that happen.  That said, my comment about the
drunk-and-horny crowd was aimed at the stereotype and certainly not at your
circle.  Do you really think that bardic can coexist with belly-dance
circles at some of the big parties that either of us could name?  Probably
not, but maybe if you had just the right piece . . .

On the other hand, at a circle that kept that crowd in check a bard could
fit in better.  My point all along has been "use your eyes and ears, and you
might find a way."  In fact, you were one of the people I had in mind when I
emphasized the importance of judging the environment and asking the host.  I
KNOW what your reaction would be because we've spoken about it.  You would
spread your arms, make people welcome.  For the record I would do (and have
done) the same, more than once.  My universal answer has always been, "Of
course you're welcome!  Sit here, have something to eat, and let me know
when you're ready to perform.  What did you have in mind . . .?"

If you want to pursue the idea some more, please call me.  I would love to
work on it with you; as you know, I have many friends on both sides of this
supposed "divide" and would greatly enjoy playing with both.  Please note,
however, that words like "lack of courtesy" send exactly the wrong message.
It sounds defensive rather than welcoming, and it doesn't give people
practical advice about how to overcome whatever vague impression they're
starting out with.  Compare an order to "act polite!" with "ask the host if
it would be okay."  In practice they may be the same, but someone new and
nervous won't hear them that way.

Peace to you as well, and don't be a stranger!  I've yet to give you all the
nudging you deserve for having the unmitigated temerity - gall - nerve even!
- to look so good in Murder At The War.  Couldn't you have done something
mischievous like calling your coronet a Smoky the Baron hat?  Or putting it
over the bunny ears?  [Ahh for the days of shtick . . .]

Brion

P.S.  The solutions ARE simple - they just require humans to act like people
is all, and for we-who-are-senior to remember how terrifying all this can
be.  If the answers weren't simple I certainly couldn't do it!  There aren't
many people who are simpler than me, after all.


-----Original Message-----
From: Baron Dur of Hidden Mountain [mailto:baron-dur at lazerlink.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 26, 2007 7:05 PM
To: discussion at aethelmearc.org, KaziBrionSCA at worldnet.att.net
Subject: Re: [SCA-AE] Darbukkas (was:Doumbeks) & bardic

Bismallah Assalam O Alykum Wa Ramatullah Wa Barakatuh

On 1/26/07 12:39 PM, "KaziBrionSCA" <KaziBrionSCA at worldnet.att.net> wrote:

> 
> As said in another post, I think the problem with combining bardic 
> stuff with middle eastern dancing comes without fault from either 
> side.  No matter how hard the dancers may focus on art, the audience 
> will often focus on bodies instead.  It's really hard to find a piece 
> that will match the views of those two groups without clashing against 
> either, and it may be impossible when you have a decent percentage of 
> drunk and horny young men around.  When you add in the cultural point 
> that you really ought to stick with middle eastern stuff . . . I've 
> got a big repetoire, but if I've got half a dozen pieces that could 
> qualify for that type of situation I'd be surprised.

And where do they get boozed up?  Your bardic circle?  (Not mine, don't have
any to offer.)  What makes them horny?  Have you heard a bawdy song in
Arabic?  (Most of the folk songs that we sing are really silly.  With
choruses like "Daddy, I don't want to merry that one either!")

> 
> In addition doumbeks tend to come in groups, and even one can produce 
> a serious amount of volume.  This is all to the good when working with 
> dancers
> - you WANT a drum that can cut through ambient noise - but it can easily
> overwhelm a single voice.   OTOH, I have heard people use doumbeks with
> great success as a support for bardic performance.  There was a lady 
> at 12th Night, e.g., who performed a villanelle to the gentle 
> accompaniment to two friends with well muted doumbeks.  It sounded
marvelous.

Have you heard any of the Near and Middle Eastern (as well as Spanish) music
that is now being performed?  Perhaps not, but you are invited to join us.
We do encourage singing and other vocal arts...

> 
> So IMO it's really a "simple" matter of applying the basic bardic rule
kit.
> (a) You have to match your piece to the audience, which is 
> particularly tough to do in this environment, and (b) the drummers 
> have to be extra careful to support the show without getting in its 
> way.  It has nothing to do with courtesy on either side.

I would disagree (courteously, of course) that it has much to do with
courtesy, and the lack of it that makes the difference between an "us vs.
them" or a "lets all have some fun" bardic/jalsah sort of thing.  (Jalsah
means "to sit and listen", while hafla means "celebration", in the cultured
tongue.)

Not so simple, IMNSHO!  ;)

> 
> Brion Enkazi
> 
> 


Masalaam, have peace.

Regards,

 
end
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<Baron Dur of Hidden Mountain>                    Member # 02933
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