In AS L (AD 2015), I competed in the Bard of Caid competition, for the honor of becoming my kingdom’s bardic champion.

For this competition, entrants were asked to perform three pieces at three different events, according to the guidelines outlined below, and were judged on a numeric scale by each judge for each performance (more information, including rubrics, available here). After the completion of these preliminary rounds, the three entrants with the highest scores were announced and invited to compete in the final round at Coronation/Twelfth Night.

I had the honor to be named a finalist, along with Baron Beorn of the Northern Sea and Lady Colette la trouvere, who was ultimately amed our 11th Bard of Caid! Thank you to my fellow competitors for challenging me throughout all four rounds in which I participated in.

See below for details of each of my four entries:

1. Round One: period piece (documented to pre-1650)
Event: Festival of the Rose of HRM Sigriðr
Entry: Bryd one Brere – early 14th C English lovesong
Score: 17.5/20

2. Round Two: A piece to be performed around the campfire
Event: Highland War 2015
Entry: Cadair Idris – original song in the style of a 13th C ballad, drum accompaniment
Score: 17.5/20

3. Round Three: A piece composed on-site using secret ingredients announced that day
Secret Ingredient: “Something that happened at war”
Event: Great Western War 2015
Entry: Darling, My Love – original lovesong, psaltery accompaniment
Score: 17/20

Final Round: Bard’s Choice
Event: Caid Twelfth Night AS L (2016)
Entry: Culhwch and Olwen by Mistress Marian of Heatherdale