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Catlynn's Project
Table of Contents
- The Founding Of The Harper
Hall
- How Do People View The
Harper Hall
- The Interviews
- Interview Two
- Interview Three
- Interview Four
- Interview Five
- Interview Six
- Interview Seven
- Interview Eight
- Interview Nine
- Interview Ten
- Interview Eleven
- Interview Twelve
- Interview Thirteen
- Conclusion
The Founding Of The Harper Hall
Harper Craft is founded on a proud tradition of excellence stemming from
necessity. In order to keep up a learning atmosphere and a place for teaching
children during the day, a place was established for classes. Special
rooms were set aside for teaching different subjects. The Harpers started
as teachers to children in order to elevate children who had potential
or aptitude to certain Harper traits. Later the harpers would entertain
and tell tales from around Pern to keep people informed on what other
events where happening. The major Harper Halls purpose was and is the
dissemination of information. The Harper is the person who keeps Holds,
Halls and Weyrs in touch with each other to help preserve knowledge of
the past. Harpers taught the children about past events and helped to
keep the stories alive for future generations. With music, writing, and
singing the past has come alive again. People skilled in Music would often
come to the hall as students and begin as apprentices. Apprentices who
where sponsored by their Masters were sent to the Craft for more intensive
study and further evaluation. If the Hall accepts the apprentice he receives
instruction in voice, instrument construction, composition, writing, and
singing. They must also demonstrate proficiency in playing at least on
instrument other then percussion. The apprentice can be mentored to a
Master if the apprentice has a talent in that Masters particular field
of knowledge. Not every apprentice becomes a journeyman. The ones that
make journeyman get more duties and responsibilities. A journeyman Harper,
known as a route rider, teaches at lesser holds. He normally stays over
night and leaves the next day for other cotholds. That way they can over
a lot of territory in a small amount of time. The route rider's job is
to sing a few songs, to pick up information and pass important information
to the cotholder. A Holder or other resident may ask a well liked and
tactful journeyman to dispense justice or perform the vows at a wedding.
Harpers, due to the importance of their positions, have a near invulnerability
that prevents anyone from hurting or mistreating them. If a Harper feels
mistreated he can retaliate by writing a satirical song about the person
and spread the song from hold to hold. If a Harper finds a Holder is stingy
or dishonest the Hall can call the Harpers out of that hold. The Harper
Hall then blackballs the hold, and no Harper will go there until the holder
changes his mind or behaves. The other Crafts may then decide to withdraw
their people and boycott the hold. On Pern, the apprentice system handles
literacy and education. Since the colony days, the Craftmaster taught
reading, writing and basic accounting. The Hold harper then takes over
and teaches history and more specific subjects. The children learn the
Traditional songs and how to sing. The songs teach about the history of
Pern, advise, and warn. They were also fun to sing, which makes learning
more fun. The Harper's job is to maintain the history of a place so people
will know their background and be able to learn from their past mistakes.
He learns from studying the Archives kept at the Hall by the Master Archivist,
and passes his knowledge on to future generations. Under the Masterharper
in the Harper Hall, are the administrators and music Masters, journeymen,
apprentices, students, and provided by the Hall's headwoman, cooks,stewards,
and drudges. Outside the Hall, the Masterharper has charge of the Masters
and journeymen who work in other Holds and Weyrs. In cases of law, he
oversees the judgements of the Masters and journeymen. Information gathered
travels from Hold to Hall, or directly to the Harper hall if it is very
important. Apprentice or journeyman harpers are messengers, translating
the beaten measures and bringing the news from the Drum Heights directly
to the person in charge. The Masterharper has his own apprentices and
journeymen, who report directly to him. Normally these people have more
then just the ability to play music. He looks for persons who can think
on their feet and can make decisions on their own. The Harper Hall effects
social change by helping people accept new ideas and information. Another
part of the Harper's trade is making and repairing instruments. Apprentices
start out by making only the simplest instruments:pipes,tabors and sticks,
tambourines. The Craftsmaster then judges them to see if they are fasioned
correctly, after which the apprentice can move on to more complex projects.
Journeymen should know how to make any instrument from skins, frames,
metals, and wood. Instrument players in the Harper Hall have a wide choice
of instruments to choose from. The Harper Hall is an excellent place for
artists and people who have the ability to accurately copy the archives
to keep them updated.
How Do People View The Harper Hall
When I started this project I was curious as to how people in general
viewed the Harper Hall. I decided to pursue the idea and came up with
just a few simple questions that help to give me and others an idea about
what people really think about the Hall and how we as Harpers can improve
ourselves and craft. The following interviews are the result of alot of
time and effort, mostly just all the traveling time that was involved.
But I think the interviews speak for themselves as to how the general
public view our Hall. I started by asking different persons in different
Crafts, Holds, Halls, and I tried Weyrs but they where not receptive to
the idea.
The Interviews
This first interview is with Thorn of the Dolphin Craft.
- How has
the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Thorn's responds: HarperHall helped me in the past as an educator. The
teachings from the songs as a child. I guess I always liked the ones
that mentioned shipfish.
- What
sort of things has the Hall done for you in the present?
Thorn's responds: Not much really, other then opening up their archives
to us for searching for further information on Dolphins. Unfortunately
we haven't found much.
- What
do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Thorn's responds: What it has always done.
- What
is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall and your perspective of the
Hall? Thorn's responds: Well I wouldn't get rid of the Hall. Without
it where would Pern be? With no history, music or records.
- Do you
have anything you would like to add? Thorn's responds: Perhaps a few
more songs about Dolphins would be nice.
From this interview I learned a great deal about what a few people in
the Dolphin Craft would like to see happen between their craft and ours.
I like the idea of more songs about Dolphins and I hope you will take
it into consideration.
Interview Two
This interview is with Aligore from the Smithcraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Aligore's responds: It gave me a wife.
2. What sort of things has the Hall done for you in the present?
Aligore's responds: It has given me support for new ideas like the windmills.
It is the back bone of Ista. 3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could
do better for the future?
Aligore's responds: Organize a bit and have clearly defined areas of interest.
You seem scattered at the moment. No one knows what path the Harpers are
on. 4. Do you have anything you would like to add?
Aligore's responds: No, I am not trying to be harsh. I am just telling
you what I see with the Hall.
Interview Three
This interview is with Mairen from the HerderCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Mairen"s responds: My personal past, I learned to read and write from
a Harper and if that would not have happened I would not have had the
courage to become a Herder. It is the best thing I have done in my life
to become a Herder. 2. What sort of things has the Hall done for you in
the present?
Mairen's responds: I have learned more about laws and about Craft hierarachy
and etiquette from my Harper friends as well as my Craftmaster. There
is always the music. As for the Craft, they have been helping me plan
importation of some new stock, and how to handle the sales and the transfer.
3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Mairen's responds: I would really like to learn more about the laws. I
feel like I only have a scant knowledge of these. I think that could help
me and the Craft in that I will know better what types of things I can
do for my Craft. 4. What is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Mairen's responds" Overall I'm content with the HarperCraft. Individually
I have some close friends who are Harpers, and I have never had any problems
personal or otherwise with any of them. They are always willing to answer
questions and help where needed. 5. Do you have anything you would like
to add?
Mairen's responds: At some point I think more intercraft contact and training
without the need to crosscraft would be beneficial to both our Crafts.
With this interview Mairen brought up an interesting idea about cross
craft training. Another idea that is worth consideration.
Interview Four
This interview is with Rorie of the FarmCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Rorie's responds: I was taught by Harpers with the teaching songs when
I was a child. Harpers have settled problems between my father and other
farmers near his place in Telgar. I had a Harper marry myself and Samyan.
I also have alot of Harper friends. 2. What sort of things has the Hall
done for you in the present?
Rorie's responds: They have entertained me, and helped me deal with problem
apprentices. 3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the
future?
Rorie's responds: Having more accessable Harpers. Maybe one stationed
at Grinstead for example. Sometime the Harpers seem a little stuck up
and goody, goody. That should be tamed down a little. 4. What is your
opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Rorie's responds: Overall, I think the Craft is good. The Harpers are
doing what they should be, and they are very helpful. The ones I have
met are kind and fair. The do a good job, educating, keeping the peace,
and entertaining people.
Interview Five
This interview is with Dominic of the FarmCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Dominic's responds: It has influenced my life immensely, as I lived on
an isolated cothold on High Reaches the Harpers were the only source for
information and training we had. Catlynn smiles and nods"What sort of
things has the Hall done for you in
2. What sort of things has the Hall done for you in the present?
Dominic's responds: It has kept me informed of the happenings both in
the Hold, Weyr and Hall. It helped to educate my children and helped settle
disputes between Hold and Hall. 3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could
do better for the future?
Dominic's responds: The wandering Harper system could be expanded, there
are so many isolated Holds and cotholds that a traveling Harper is essential
to keep everyone informed and to provide stability to us all. 4. What
is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Dominic's responds: Well overall I feel the HarperCraft is a great boon
to all of Pern and is a stabilizing influence on Holder, Crafter, and
ordinary folk. Without it we'd be nothing but a bunch of little isolated
pockets of humanity without cohesion. This interview was interesting as
he mentions the route rider type of harper, and since we are going to
implement the route rider soon it is great that others look forward to
them also.
Interview Six
This interview is with one of our own Jueann of the HarperCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Jueann's responds: It has given me a home.
2. What sort of things has the Hall done for you in the present?
Jueann's responds: It has encouraged me.
3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Jueann's responds: Turn out more J-man. We need the desperately.
4. What is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Jueann's responds: Overall it is a home for me. The Harpers are like a
family even when the apprentices get on my nerves about lessons and such.
Interview Seven
This interview is with Kidwyn of the HarperCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Kidwyn's responds: My papa is a Harper, so I have grown up and around
Harper teaching and life. 2. What sort of things has the Hall done for
you in the present?
Kidwyn's responds: It has given me a home, and something to do with myself.
3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Kidwyn's responds: It seems like life here is centered around the Weyr.
Maybe Harper Hall should have a bit more prominence in peoples lives.
4. What is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Kidwyn's responds: I love it.
Interview Eight
This interview is with Fletcher from the HarperCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Fletcher's responds: I'd have to say the Craft has been a major influence
in my life. It has changed my life. I owe a lot of my changes to the MasterHarper,
who was my mentor back at Fort. 2. What sort of things has the Hall done
for you in the present?
Fletcher's responds: It has brought me good friends. Seamus and Jueann
are just wonderful, and I wouldn't have met them had I not been in the
Harpers. Yes, the Craft has brought me close to a lot of friends and interesting
people. 3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Fletcher's responds: I think the Craft is doing quite well. And nothing
terribly traumatic has happened to Pern, so we must be doing our job.
4. What is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Fletcher's responds: I think the Craft is doing beautifully, really. No
complaints.
Interview Nine
This interview is with Salania from the HarperCraft.
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Salania's responds: I learned to read. I have learned to play an instrument.
It has expanded my mind a lot. 2. What sort of things has the Hall done
for you in the present?
Salania's responds: The past is the present. I joined less then a turn
ago.
3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Salania's responds: The journeymen need to be more available for us.
4. What is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Salania's responds: I think it is the best Craft on Pern.
Interview Ten
This interview is with Danel from the HarperCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Danel's responds: The local Harper Janelis, at Misty Hold was kind and
help prevent my father from beating me when he was drunk. The Harper would
give me extra lessons and he mentioned I should go to the HarperHall and
apply. I had more of a talent for music then for farming. 2. What sort
of things has the Hall done for you in the present?
Danel's responds: The Hall has given me a home, and a sense of purpose.
And most importantly, the freedom to play music without getting beaten
for it. 3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Danel's responds: I don't feel I am qualified to offer my thoughts on
that question, if I had any. 5. Do you have anything to add?
Danel's responds: It is the best Hall on Pern.
Danel had written a song about his past which I felt needed to be entered
into this interview, it really helps you to understand his response to
my first question. A heavy hand, a heavy heart
bruises from one who should love
protect my kin, take the blame
another wound from my father
A mountains solace, for teary eyes
I walked this way alone
Till a man, pipes in hand
a song, then two did show
songs of joy, songs of love
music for a damaged soul
day and night, noone in sight
I played for a moutains gold
then a day, pipes taken away
after so long a friend
not a tear, last mountain near
away from there I did go
ran to music, ran to home
never a backwards regret
and sister trialing, three days behind
the home of music our home!
by Danel.
With Danel's feelings fresh in our minds after reading his interview,
you start to understand how important the HarperCraft is to so many people.
We need to keep this craft growing and help with the teaching of the children
of Pern.
Interview Eleven
This interview is with Talin Holder of Paradise Island
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Talin's responds: I didn't have much contact with the Harpers other then
that I depend on them to teach and perform many ceremonies. In these aspects
I've always thought the Harpers have performed well. 2. What sort of things
has the Hall done for you in the present?
Talin's responds: Currently they have allowed me to steal Armahd to perform
duties here such as ceremonies. As well their performances are always
a welcome event. I have been lucky to have my friends Fletcher to stop
our here and encourage other Harpers to come here to play and practice.
3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the future?
Talin's responds: I guess mostly to continue their tradition of excellence
in their duties. For me personally, I would like to see them use Paradise
more as perhaps preparation for concerts, practices, studies, or performing.
We have room, and I think it would give a nice change to scenery. 4. What
is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Talin's responds: I have been nothing but pleased with their services.
I can't recall when I ever felt bad about a Harper headed event. 5. Do
you have anything you would like to add?
Talin's responds: I just hope the quality I've experienced continues.
Interview Twelve
This interview is with Shaival from the SeaCraft
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Shaival's responds: Other then teaching, I can honestly say not at all.
I tend to stay aboard my ship. 2. What sort of things has the Hall done
for you in the present?
Shaival's responds: They may be officiating a handfasting for me in the
near future. 3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do better for the
future?
shaival's responds: They seem to be doing well as far as I'm concerned.
4. What is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Shaival's responds: Favorably. I've heard no complaints about the Harpers.
Interview Thirteen
This interview is with Thenar of the Guards
1. How has the HarperHall effected your life in the past?
Thenar's responds: The Harpers found me after my family was killed. They
brought me to a neighboring cothold where the people agreed to look after
me. They were very kind to me as a child of 8 turns and I've respected
the Craft ever since. 2. What sort of things has the Hall done for you
in the present?
Thenar's responds: The Harpers are presently helping me perform my job
as a guard at Paradise Hold. They have shown interest in a project I am
working on and have agreed to offer what help they can. At least the ones
I have talked with have. 3. What do you feel the HarperCraft could do
better for the future?
Thenar's responds: In the future I would like to see a closer relationship
between the Guards of both Ista and Paradise Holds. I believe that with
Harper assistance this is not only possible but highly beneficial to all
involved. The Harpers are able to travel much more freely then most folk
as they bring news and education to Pern. This would be an asset to any
guard force that has to make do without a dragon and rider for communication
with far lands. 4. What is your opinion of the HarperCraft overall?
Thenar's responds: On the whole I believe that the Harpers are doing a
good job. I would like to see them get a little more organized and would
love to have a few Harpers stationed here on Paradise to perform for and
instruct the people here.
Conclusion
With the interviews I have learned alot about what different people feel
and think about the HarperHall. We seem to have areas we could improve
on, but mostly we seem to be in very high standing with the community
at large. I hope this project has helped those who read it and they find
that the ideas that others have presented can be further looked at and
or implemented. We could expand on these interviews by talking to more
people and that way further help the people of Pern. The HarperHall is
a growing and great influence on Pern and its people, to better understand
the people we need to interact more with the general populace.
Converted to HTML from (#1695)Catlynns project on the Harper's Tale
MOO on Thu May 9 19:04:02 1996 CDT.
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