Re: Bardic inspiration for role playing games.
"Bard" is a Gaelic word for a poet or singer. A Gaelic-speaking cousin of my grandmother in Cape Breton was known as Dan Alex "the Bard" MacDonald. He made folk songs about his home and neighbours (e.g., "Oran do Cheap Britain "). He spent his life as a farmer, and his songs, often composed while he worked, were sung unaccompanied. The mandolin is an Italian instrument, invented in the 19th century, which probably made its way into the Celtic-speaking world well into the 20th century. Bards and mandolins have nothing to do with each other, and since you're playing fantasy games, whatever you fantasize "bardic music" to be, go for it. I suspect so-called Celtic music will be to your taste. Try the tunes of Turlogh O'Carolan (not really for beginners) -- but don't think this has anything to do with historical bards.
Added,
Here's bardic music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsaZYyQvNZg
Last edited by Ranald; Sep-14-2020 at 8:02pm.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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