Music

Na'ar, I would like to quickly thank you for remembering to bring your plate, mug and utensils to the kitchen after feast. That seems to be something that many people in Travance forget every time.

Carlotta, you wonder if the members of our town know civility and manors due to their actions during performances, I assure you that many don't know manors due to the fact I am constantly cleaning up dishes and cups left by town members after every feast. I wish for a feast that afterward I only have to whisk crumbs away from the table.

And Lord Abendroth, if you send me the music and lyrics, I will see what I can do to get it sung at feast.

You'll have to talk to the bards that sung this past feast. It was the song sung second to last. The Baron has suggested that we might make it our anthem it struck us so favorably.


Lord Abendroth

To Lord Abendroth; you and the Baron both honor me deeply with your words, my Lord. The song you refer to was my own composition, a piece I wrote in ode to Travance and our victory at Markovia- and something I really put a great deal of myself into. I fear that perhaps the citizens of Travance will tire of hearing the same song every moon, but if you and the Baron both wish it, it will be done. The original title of the song is "Banners Fly".

To Carlotta; I thank you for your concern. It can be very difficult to perform under such circumstances, so it means a lot to have someone from outside the band acknowledge that. However, I do not see this as a kindness I would expect to be shown to the performers, but rather I wish the audience would give themselves more of a chance to get involved with the music. As a performer, I believe that it's our responsibility to hold the attentions of our audience, but I do think people should challenge themselves to pay close attention and find personal meaning in the music, rather than dismissing it and leaving for a more immediate activity.

To Paetros; I cannot speak for any other bard, but when I sing a ballad, a dirge, or a tragic song of battle, I do not ever sing for myself. I sing because music is about more than just escape; it's about catharsis. It's about coming to terms with the harsh realities of our existence. It's about singing the anthems of war beside your brethren, and getting wrapped up in the stories of heroes, battles, and tragedies long past, and from other lands.

Drunken revelry has its place indeed, and you will see me up there singing songs that everyone knows to make people laugh, sing along, and forget about their problems. But if most of my performances were like this, I would do dishonor to my calling as a Bard. I can see how my approach might be less immediately successful, but my experience of playing a tough crowd leads me to think that rather than capitulating and giving us the easy songs, a Bard should believe in his music, and believe in his audiences' ability to appreciate it... and that by doing so, he will get the crowd to believe with him.

I almost decided against performing "Banners Fly" at the last feast. I was worried it was too dark and involved for the listeners- that it would not only drive people away, but leave the remaining listeners morose and dissatisfied. I conquered my fears, believed in my music, and the performance received the best reception I've yet had in Travance... so I've never been more sure about this than I am now.

To Erim; I've worked plenty of tough crowds. I've been driven off stages, and run for my life because I caused mortal offense with the subject of a song... but I've also moved an entire room of people to tears. If I only played the songs that the crowd expected, while I might ensure a lack of thrown mugs and chipped teeth, I wouldn't be half the bard I am.