On the Nurturing & Protection of Bards

Whether poet, musician, storyteller or adventurer, a Bard is here to deeply feel the world for the rest of us. To feel the things we cannot, and reveal secret passages in our hearts.

In a way, music, being that wordless poetry so close to the silent realm, is the most honest of all art forms. We instinctively know when music is ‘bad’, or at very least, we know when we are deeply moved by music: when the music has soul. Whether it sends chills up our spine, brings tears to our eyes, smiles to our faces or makes us dance with joy, we allow good music to take us over. We let it in to work its magic.

The musician, therefor, has a very straight forward task: to enter the heart and mind of his listener, and make them feel alive in some way.

And the musician’s audience is the most honest of any audience. It is clear when someone is disinterested or unmoved. Listeners will seldom lie. No matter how much you talk up a piece of music, the music speaks for itself, and though there does exist – of course – individual tastes, the standard for music is typically very high: it must be exceptional.

So for the amateur musician, in my Guild’s case, the Apprentice-Bard, music is a tentative and fragile desire. For some reason, they hear it in their hearts, but cannot yet articulate it into the hearts of others, despite every desire to. This is a very noble intention. Perhaps one of the most noble and pure – at least in the heart of the beginner. A novice with some talent and a good attitude is worth his or her weight in gold.

But they must be protected. There is negativity everywhere, and there are also people who are resentful of the arts. Truly resentful, who 'hate’ certain artists or types of music. Who have a picture of artists as arrogant or egotistical or narcissistic. Whether because of jealousy or skepticism, this attitude can devastate the cornered beginner. The act of reaching out and expressing oneself in music may as well be the act of seeking love and approval. We fear rejection and are left hurt and foolish when it happens. It can set us back years, truly.

That is why I formed a Guild to protect and nurture artists. Though I call myself a 'Grandmaster’ Bard, I have never in my life felt like an expert at anything. My mind always looks to the unknown and yearns to live in its truth and its mystery. I know it to be vaster than my small pool of knowledge, infinitely so. So as a leader, I relate to those who come to me with only the sapling artist yet gracing the soil of their soul. I do not desire experience if it is to make me skeptical of art. I desire the hopeful dreams of youth.

Yet I am, of course, getting older now, and experience has been unavoidable. I decided to create a Guild based around what wisdom and vision I could share with storytellers, artists, and musicians, because I know how to lead such a Guild. I know the struggles (all too well) that you friends of mine face. For I struggle too – I will not hide it. I celebrate life in spite of struggle, and that is the truest of arts.

I have already met such honest souls. Such true friends, who helped heal my heart. And it is that honesty that permeates good music. That is the healing that music provides. And creating music demands of us that we live the life that is honest to ourselves – isn’t that the greatest challenge of our soul?

All music is a reference to that universal task, and that is why we are so honest with what we love and hate about the music we listen to. It is a dialogue with the human spirit, which continually attempts to seek expression. The musicians who hear their spirit cry out in this way, must turn themselves into the very tool which can dutifully meet music’s demands of them. I might say, the musician does not make music. Music makes the musician.

These are all very great words, and perhaps I have stayed up too late musing thoughtfully of the task ahead… planning the shelter and sanctuary I know must exist to keep beautiful people out of harm’s way so that they may awaken and share that unique and secret song within.

It is the song of the soul, an honest song. A song we search for all our lives. Just out of reach.

Wax Poetica,

Grandmaster Bard Holt Ironfell