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Websters Unabridged Dictionary
defines "bard" as
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one of an ancient Celtic order of poets.
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a person who composes and recites epic or heroic poems, often
accompanying himself on the harp, lyre, and the like.
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(loosely) any poet."
In the classical sense, the Bard
was all these: a musician, a singer, a storyteller, a historian, a collector
of lore both magical and mundane.
Before the advent of the printing
press, books were costly and scribes costlier still.
The bard maintained the oral tradition of a people.
For instance, the miller couldn't rely on the Daily News to learn
what was happening in the land. Every stranger found himself eagerly
questioned about news from afar. But their information was scant
at best. But a bard, now. Well, a bard's business was knowing
the business so to speak. A bard knew what's happening at court,
which nobel was allied with what house, that the crops failed in the west
and the drought had finally ended in the east. Moreover, the bard
can regale his fellows with stories of past glory, songs of derring-do
and mystery. Thus is a people's history, culture and values maintained.
More than this, though, the bard
was a magical individual, though of application rather than ritual. His
song was his work of magic and could be loving and compassionate or cold
and harsh as the case warranted. His was the wielding of words and
submission to their power. In Druidic culture, bards kept the people's
tradition. They were the custodians of the sacredness of the Word
and represented the first level of training of the Druid. Even though considered
the "first" level, still they were held in high esteem.
Bardic training lasted for a
long time, from 12 to 20 years in some cultures, usually under the tutelage
of a more accomplished bard. Emphasis was on memorization, learning
by rote, strengthening the memory and learning the huge repertoire of poems
and tales that constituted the knowledge of the bard. Another of
their responsibilities was to record the lore, law and genealogy of the
tribe. They were also expected to compose original works.
This was no mean feat, considering
that the ancient Celts believed that knowledge and inspiration were "lost"
once written down. The ancient bards had no textbooks; all was by
memory. Theirs was an art inspired by the gods, and they stood as vessels
to receive and relate that creativity. Though not priests in the
strict sense of the word, they nonetheless were honored with the respect
due those who speak for the gods. Priests may hold a people's spirit
and warriors their strength, but the bard it is who wields their soul.
A bard held a position of trust.
Without the bard, the culture failed. Conquerors knew this.
Throughout the history of Wales, Scotland and Ireland numerous attempts
to suppress Celtic culture can be documented. But it wasn't just
plaids or bagpipes or shamrocks. The very music that sustained the people
was banned. At one point in Wales it was illegal to own a
harp, much less play one.
And what of the bards of today?
Must you be an ancient Celt to be a bard? Of course not. Do
you have to be musical? No, but it helps. Certainly bards have
in interest in music and lyrics. Most do play an instrument of some
sort. If they don't play, they sing. And not all sing "well."
I've heard many with weak voices and questionable tonality, but--and this
is an important but--they all had a mesmerizing quality, an ability to
transport listeners to a place far from the mundane to a place where words,
thought and feeling hold sway. |