Bard of Caid Competition Rules

Each a competition is held to determine the next Bard of Caid. This page collects the rules for past compeitions.

History of Competition Rounds

In each of the first ten competitions, the Bards were required to perform (a) a piece they considered their best and (b) a period piece or an original piece in a period style. Additional, each has a (c) piece about the following theme... and (d) an original composition from these words announced the day of the event.

Theme Piece

• 2005 - The topic of "Virtue"
• 2007 - The topic of the poet Rumi, or inspired by his life
• 2008 - The topic of honor, or inspired by same
• 2009 - About or inspired by the one or more of the Seven Knightly Virtues: Courage, Justice, Mercy, Generosity, Faith, Nobility, Hope
• 2010 - A piece themed on "Castle" or "Fortress" -- About, evoking, reminds one of, etc.
• 2011 - A piece themed on "Myths and Legends"
• 2012 - A piece themed on "Humor" (with an emphasis on Audience Participation) See -Bard of Caid Rules 2012
• 2013 - ???
• 2014 - An original piece about an event that occurred within the last two years of the Current Middle Ages

Three Words From a Hat

• 2005 - Moon, Hare (like the bunny), and Love
• 2007 - Hands, Honor, and Scion (heir to your estate)
• 2008 - Silver, Chaste, and Merit ...with bonus extra credit points for the extra word "Lentil"
• 2009 - Heart, Night, Blue ...with bonus extra credit points for the extra word "Sloth"
• 2010 - Travel, Oath, Love ...with bonus extra credit points for the extra word "Lemming"
• 2011 - Reflection, Loyalty, Iron ...with bonus extra credit points for the extra word "Strawberry"
• 2012 - Silk, Bubbles, Sloths ...with bonus points for a different random word given to each competitor
• 2013 - ???
• 2014 - Extraordinary, Vociferous, Punitive

Rules For The Competition (2012)

This year's Theme is HUMOR. The Competition for Bard of Caid shall consist of the following 4 rounds (subject to TRMs pleasure):

• Round 1: A period piece or an original piece in a period style. [Documentation highly encouraged. May be original or someone else's composition.]
• Round 2. A piece the performer considers his/her best. [May be original or someone else's composition.]
• Round 3. A piece that is humorous, and includes some audience participation [May be original or someone else's composition. May include props, but props are not required.]
• Round 4. An original composition to be composed on-site, which will include 3 words announced at competition. [Must be composed the day of the event, on-site. Competitors will be assigned the three words that must be included, at the end of Opening Court. If you miss the announcement in court, please see THLord Thomas Whitehart before the Competition begins.]

Please contact me [truethomas at sbcglobal.net] (or in person) that you plan to enter.

Supporting rules for the four rounds

• (A) One piece, minimum, must be an original composition. You may have up to three pieces that are not composed by you, or you may have as many original compositions as you like.
• (B) The key words to be included in the original composition on site will be announced at Opening Court. The Competition will be held approximately 60-minutes later, to give the competitors time to finish their compositions.
• (C) Original musical pieces may be performed to existing music, as long as that existing music is either out of copyright, or the lyricist has the copyright holder’s permission. If a pre-existing tune is used, the judges shall show preference for tunes composed before 1650.
• (D) Documentation is required to describe the attribution and background of the historical piece, and to describe the style of the original piece. Documentation is optional for the piece the competitior considers his/her best.
• (E) Copies of lyrics, when appropriate, should be provided for the judges.
• (F) The judges will include the current Bard of Caid, Their Majesties of Caid (if possible), and others chosen by either Their majesties or the current Bard of Caid.
• (G) The longest piece may not exceed 8-10 minutes. Please be considerate. The total time of all four pieces for a given performer should not exceed 20-25 minutes.
• (H) Suggested performances can include (but are not limited to) singing, instrumental performance, dramatic prose, poetry, use of foreign languages, and story-telling.