2010 NSS Cave Ballad Salon

[Left mouse click to play, right mouse click to download (Mac users--control click to download)]

Chair: Barbara Anne am Ende

Here are the instructions for judging the 2009 ICS Cave Ballads.  Please listen the first time to the songs while reading the words.  Then listen to the songs a few times, even if you have them on while doing other activities.  After you’re satisfied that you understand your opinions on the songs, take the tally sheets and score them on a scale 1 to 10.  Ten is “good.” 

Be sure and spread out your scores as best you can.  While you may feel that none (or all) of the songs are good, please spread them out relative to one another.  That’s very important.

The Judging Criteria are guidelines.  You don’t have to follow them exactly.  For instance, not all ballads are humorous.  It the entry is supposed to be humorous and it falls flat, well then that should guide your scoring. 

All but two of the songs are in the Original category.  They all are were performed with real instruments, i.e., not karaoke.  Two songs are Traditional (i.e., parodies) that were performed by real people.

Cave Ballads

Categories

Original:  Completely original music and lyrics
Traditional:  New lyrics written for an existing song
Karaoke:  A Traditional song performed using karaoke technology
Avante Garde:  Entries that don’t fit the other categories, such as the inclusion of natural cave sounds, etc.

Judging Criteria
The 6 main categories will be scored by the judges.  The subcategories are guideline for the judges, but are not necessarily mandatory.

Music (only for Original entries, and possibly for Avante Garde):

• Does the music sound nice?

Lyrics

• Do the lyrics rhyme?
• Do the lyrics coordinate well with the music?
• If Traditional, are the words contrived to fit the original? (negative)

Performance

• If original, are the instruments well played?
• Do the instruments fit together well?
• Do the instruments match the genre of song?

Recording Quality

• Studio quality is not necessary, but probably will be scored higher
• Are there defects such as
• Excessive noise
• Tinny sound

Impact

• Is there humor?
• Is the song original in concept or just a rehash of old styles
• Is the song unique?

Caver Appeal

• Does this song say, “This is what caving is about?”
• Does the song say, “This hits the nail on the head regarding this one particular facet of the caving culture?"
• Would most cavers, or a particular subset of cavers find this song especially appealing?

Jurors:

Maglite Reggae (Original category) [4.3 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Howard Hurtt, ©2003

Why, Why, Whitenose, Why (Original category) [2.2 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Marian McConnell, ©2010

Mundus Subterraneus (Original category) [5.9 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Amanda Ray, ©2010

The Ballad of Devin Shane (Original category) [6.9 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Bobbi Nagy, ©1978

Packhorse Thighs (Traditional category) [7.1 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Howard Hurtt, ©2003

Cave Girls (Original category) [10.9 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Bill Cooke, ©2010

Winkelmeyer Cave (Traditional category) [3.7 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Lannis Hancock, ©2010

A Flowstone Away (Original category) [6.3 MB] Listen, left click; Download, right click
     by Amanda Ray, ©2010

Lyrics

Tally Form