Jongleurs and Japes December 5, 1998 in Chicago

Anyone who is interested in teaching a class at the event, please contact
the class coordinator.  (Class schedules are still being filled in, if
you'd like to teach, we'd like to hear from you).

Herein are the challenges issued for the event:


The challenges for Jongleurs and Japes have been designed to encourage
participation by practitioners of many divers arts, from choral and ,
instrumental, to solo voice, juggling, poetry, recitation, and even
subtlety. Entrants are encouraged to be creative in their interpretation
of the different challenges. 

          Herein are the challenges put forth for the day:

Challenge Period 1 - Prologues 

Tangle Box 	Given a list of 20 words and a list of tunes, compose a
		song to one of the tunes that uses as many of the words as
		you can.

                                                    
Rouser 		Compose and/or perform a musical fanfare, or a poem,
		speech song, or other work which introduces someone or
		something from period or the current middle ages, or
		which is designed to rally the people.  Props may be used.
		This may be done individually or in a group.

Riddle 		Compose/Perform a Riddle in a period style or from period. 

Challenge Period 2 - For a Muse of Fire

                                         
In the heat of the moment 
		Given a topic chosen out of a hat and five-fifteen minutes
		to prepare, present an argument for or against the topic.
		(In prose or verse, with or without props or music.) The
		topic will likely be creative, as they will come from the
		participants.

                                                  
Firestorm 	A poem, song, musical performance, story, or other
		presentation on the theme of fire, war or conflict. This
		should be either a piece from period, or one composed in
		the style of a period piece. 

                                                
Making Sparks 	With someone else, perform a dialogue presenting two
		opposing views on a period or current middle ages topic. The
		dialogue may be spoken or sung, in prose or verse but should be
		modeled on a period example.  

Challenge Period 3 - For the Fairest

                                                 
In Praise Of 	Given random partners, speak in praise of your partner.
		Participants will have 5 minutes to ask questions of each
		other in advance of the challenge. 

                                              
Hope and Longing 	
		Compose/perform a poem, song, story, musical performance,
		or other presentation about longing for something that one
		does not have, the place where one wishes to be, or that
		which has been treasured but lost or given up. 

Hidden Meaning 	Compose/perform an acrostic poem which speaks in
		praise of something praiseworthy related to the acrostic. 
 
Challenge Period 4 - In Remembrance of our History

Once Upon a Dragon 	
		A piece in any medium (bardic, musical, subtlety,
		juggling, whatever)  which commemorates in some way the
		history of the Middle Kingdom. Please note that there are
		no kitchen facilities available for on site preparation or
		storage of subtleties.

St. Niklaus  	This is the eve of the feast day of St. Niklaus.
		Compose/Perform a piece (using song, story, music, or
		mayhem) that describes his actual history, his legend, or
		the impact he's had on us today.
                                              
Let Us Not Forget 	
		In honor of a figure from history, either Medieval or
		Current Middle Ages, compose/perform a piece which
		explains why we should remember them, the deeds they have
		done, or about their qualities.

Challenge Period 5 - To Revel Until Dawn

Pass the Tale	Each participant will add to the tale from its
		beginning until its ending.

Trip the Step	Play a tune that could be used for dancing. (Live
		instruments only, no boomboxes). If there is a dance to go
		with it that can be prepared and performed by one or more
		people, so much the better. 

Drink and Be Merry 	
		Something to encourage drinking and conviviality.  
		This should be something that either original for the
		occasion or is not commonly heard in the current middle
		ages.

Special recognition shall be given for:

Pentathlon	For those driven to excess, enter something in all five
		challenge periods and amaze your friends.

Challenge general rules:

       Challenges are not contests. You win by entering and striving to do 
	the best you can. 

       Challenges are designed to encourage you to try your hand at 
	something new, to stretch yourself, to enjoy and to celebrate the
       	creative spirit. 

       Read the guidelines for the challenges carefully, like most
	exercises, they are designed to help you develop in specific
	areas. Try to follow them as closely as you can. 

       Individuals are welcome and encouraged to give recognition to those
	performers whom they especially enjoy. 

       In order to allow the largest number of people to participate,
	challenge entries shall be limited to five minutes or less. Each
	person may enter a maximum of one piece in each challenge period. 

We look forward to seeing you all there.