CARAAMON at 22:31, 1 October 2008

2008-10-01T22:31:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:31, 1 October 2008
Line 212:		Line 212:
	carries a fine selection of devotional jewelry and		carries a fine selection of devotional jewelry and
	robes for priest and performer alike.		robes for priest and performer alike.
	[[Category:Book]]		[[Category:Book]][[page type is::book\| ]][[guild association is::bard\| ]]

Maintenance script: Book:IsgFLS moved to For Love of the Song (book)

2007-11-09T19:30:03Z

Book:IsgFLS moved to For Love of the Song (book)

← Older revision	Revision as of 14:30, 9 November 2007
(No difference)

Maintenance script: New page: ===For Love of the Song=== Weddings, though often held throughout these lands, are truly unique experiences unto t...

2007-05-05T02:38:11Z

New page: ===For Love of the Song=== Weddings, though often held throughout these lands, are truly unique experiences unto t...

New page

===For Love of the Song===

Weddings, though often held throughout these lands,
are truly unique experiences unto themselves. One
wedding will call for a ceremony of kissing roses,
while another includes the offering of a pastry or
wine on the altar to appease the Gods. It is this
very diversity that can make weddings a challenge to
prepare, and also such a joy to behold. Other
differences you may notice in weddings is that
instead of a chorus or selection of musicians that
would perform music in the background prior to and
following the wedding, you may see a single Bard in
a wedding sing a song during the ceremony itself!
It is about becoming one of these Bards that I write
here.
 
When you perform for a wedding, you need only two
things: a love for music, and a love for play.
These two things alone will show themselves in your
singing and add a dimension to your performances that
cannot be matched by any other type of singer.
Everything else you think you may need (nice
clothing, song-writing, special accessories) comes
with time, and with practice as you begin to grow
more confident playing in front of a large group of
people.
 
To start your career as a wedding Bard you will of
course need a couple wishing to get married! There
are many ways to meet them, and more often than not a
Bard is found to be singing to a couple they
befriended earlier in their travels. You can also
find couples seeking a Cleric in their Guildhall, or
by acquiring one of the common speaking gwethdesuans
to listen for anyone asking for a Bard on the gweth-
net. Many people wish to get married each week, and
so long as you persevere you should be soon serenading
a couple with your song.
 
After you have been asked by a pair of young love-
birds to sing at their wedding, one of the first
things you should do is ask the Cleric when they want
you to sing. This will avoid any confusion later on
in the ceremony. If you have time to tailor your song
before the performance, too, this gives you a wonder-
ful set of ideas on which to base your performance.
For example, if the Cleric tells you that he or she
wishes you to sing just before the rose bonding
ceremony, you might sing a song containing hints
about roses or about the joys of staying in love
forever. It is not necessary, but it helps to tie
the performance of the Bard into the wedding
ceremony.
 
At this point you may also ask the bride and groom if
they have any requests. Often one or the other of
them will have a song that they have heard before,
and would like you to sing at the wedding. Other
Bards, too, have often written songs and would gladly
lend you one if you need it. After checking with the
Cleric about when it should be sung, you should be
almost set for writing up the performance. Don't
hesitate to offer them suggestions! After all you
are the one performing for the wedding, and may have
ideas they would love to use to spice up the
ceremony. Just ask them!
 
Song, check. Time, check. So, you think you are all
ready? Not quite! The actions you perform
surrounding the song enhance the performance, tying
in all of the details and making it into a true
Bardic performance rather than a minstrel's singing.
This is one detail that will most likely have to be
created with weddings in which you have some time to
prepare. Actions surrounding a song can include
acting out a story, dancing to the music or around
candles, or even the use of magical devices to
enhance your acting. This is where you can let your
imagination go, where it is most important that you
envision exactly what you are doing and make sure
that your performance is realistic for one performed
by a Bard. If you 'magically' create tarts from air
it will have less impact than if you invoked the
Cleric's blessing on a candle which then flamed up
and cast shadows in the image of a God's avatar. Use
your judgment about what is best to do, and do not be
afraid to ask other Bards for their opinions. It's
what we're here for. (At the end of this article I
have included some of my research into shops that
contain items I have found useful in performances!)
 
The use of playact for a Bard is a wonderful
enhancement, but not necessary for a perfect
performance. It is one of those little things we
have that adds the final touch to performing. If you
are able to use it, remember that your playacting
pool empties the more you use it, so be sure to spend
some time resting and working on your musical skills
just before the performance itself.
 
Another of those things that will tie in the Bard to
the performance is their clothing. Unless you are
acting out a jester in your performance, it may not
be wise to show up in a multicolored outfit spangled
with bells. Try to use little items to tie in what
you are wearing with what either the Cleric speaks of
in his or her ceremony, or what you have in your own
performance. It need not be expensive, either: a
simple raccoon charm pinned to your formal clothing
would blend beautifully with a song about Rangers.
Festivals provide an invaluable resource for small
objects like this, as they are often sold with
Clerical items or scattered among the tents. If
there is no festival, however, do not despair! Shops
around the mainland often hold inexpensive items that
you can use or wear.
 
After all of this, the final advice I give you is to
practice in front of your fellow Bards. They will
provide priceless praise, encouragement, and
suggestions about how to help polish up a song or
performance before the big day. If you find yourself
far away from any other Bards, such as on the
islands, ask the wedding couple or Cleric if they
could set up a rehearsal so you may get their
opinions. Always remember that no matter how good or
bad a performance may be, it will likely be one you
learn from. And don't forget to have fun with this,
you're a Bard after all!
 
-- Sunnie Goldragon

---------------------------------------------------
 
Listing of only a few of Elanthia's more useful
wedding supply shops: (Note: For flowers to last
longer than a couple hours they will need a flower
preservative potion from the Crossing Florist.)
 
While traveling in the province of Ilithi, the
Cleric shop found inside Shard's Temple of Light can
provide numerous useful touches to any performance,
such as votive candles, jewelry in the shape of
different animals, musical balls, and incense to add
a pleasing scent to the room. For clothing, one can
always visit the fortress in the Dragonspine
Mountains, Chyolvea Tayeu'a, where they make
voluminous robes for mages that will hide anything
worn between neck, ankle, and wrist.
 
Southern Zoluren contains one shop made especially
for preparing for a wedding -- Trevellyn's of Leth
Deriel. This quaint shop is located inside the
gatehouse of Tamsine's Abbey and contains a true
plethora of formal clothing for brides, grooms,
priests, as well as outer clothing and jewelry.
While you are here, don't forget to take a brief tour
of the Abbey's grounds, for their flowers are both
beautiful and available to be picked by the passerby.
 
Visiting the crossroads of Zoluren, The Crossing
holds several shops that can flesh out a performance.
Among others, the Estate Holder's Curio Shop holds a
variety of small trinkets from jewelry to odd foods
to fans with magical properties. The Crossing's
Cleric shop is not as extensive as its southern
cousin, but they do carry another variety of musical
bells there. Near the Barbarian Guildhall, the
florist here provides fresh flowers, preserved
arrangements that can be worn, and a real treasure --
a flower preservative potion. This potion you can
carry with you to preserve any flower you pick, and
you can easily test this by gathering up one of the
many fresh flowers to be found on Jadewater Mansion's
grounds.
 
In Therengia, few shops hold supplies for the per-
former, but the florist here is a must-see. Like
its southern counterpart, it carries several cut
flowers and arrangements, but be warned that any
fresh ones need to be preserved with a preservative
potion. While here, you should also visit the sweets
shop in the Halfling Quarter if you need any gifts
for the new bride or groom.
 
In the city of Ratha on the island of Reshalia you
will likely be traveling often from tier to tier, so
be sure to carry several coins for fare, or have a
map handy to travel the seedier ways among the tiers.
On the second tier you can find a simple clothing
shop that sells tartans and clothing pertaining to
one's clan, and also a leather shop whose wares serve
a dual purpose as armor and are fashioned in the
shape of wild beasts. While on either the first or
second tier, the bazaar of Ratha is a must-see. Here
one can find soaps, bath accessories, many varieties
of odd foods, and also an embroiderer who will put
designs on any soft container you own.
 
The island of Surlaenis, strewn with fresh flowers
along its slopes, streets, and graveyard, is truly a
sight to see. Perhaps this is why its flower shop is
so extensive, carrying dream pillows, wearable
arrangements, fine perfume, and a selection of very
finely made bouquets. One is advised only to explore
the graveyard during the hours of daylight, however,
as fearsome beasts prowl there at night. Preserve
any beauties you pick carefully, for the nearest
preservative potion can only be found in Zoluren.
Also located in the town, the island's Cleric shop
carries a fine selection of devotional jewelry and
robes for priest and performer alike.
[[Category:Book]]

For Love of the Song (book) - Revision history

CARAAMON at 22:31, 1 October 2008

Maintenance script: Book:IsgFLS moved to For Love of the Song (book)

Maintenance script: New page: ===For Love of the Song=== Weddings, though often held throughout these lands, are truly unique experiences unto t...