Bards are one of the most popular character classes in Dungeons & Dragons, but what were their counterparts in reality? Join us as we take a look at the Welsh bard and Nordic skald legends (flyting was really Vicious Mockery), as well as real-life, historical musicians and jesters (yes, there really was a man called "Roland the Farter"). There will also be a demonstration of medieval songs on reproductions of medieval instruments (many of which are not found in the Players Handbook), to offer D&D players and DMs inspiration for their own games.

Christiane Truelove has been playing D&D since the original boxed sets came out, and actually misses THAC0 sometimes. She is a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, a 501(c) (3) organization devoted to pursuing research and re-creation of pre-seventeenth century skills, arts, combat and culture. While the SCA helped nurture her interest in medieval music, she has pursued private instruction with Medieval Music Besalu, a program through the University of Lleida, Spain. 

Registration is required. 

Enjoy this celebration of America250 and more throughout the Grundy Library’s From Pennsylvania Avenue to Radcliffe Street: Stories of a Nation Speaker Series all year long!

Questions? Please call the Grundy Library at 215.788.7891.

This program is offered by Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library in support of the PA Forward | Pennsylvania Libraries initiative. Libraries are key to powering progress and elevating the quality of life in PA by fueling the types of knowledge essential to success: Basic Literacy, Information Literacy, Civic and Social Literacy, Health Literacy, and Financial Literacy.