#brool the minstrel

[maxpawb]

shout out to whatever this thing is

[muppetydyke]

Muppet Mainstage, May 24th, 2024

“Music Makes us Real (Ping!)” was written by Philip Balsam and Dennis Lee for season 2, episode 7 of Fraggle Rock (1984). The song is sung by Cantus (Jim Henson) and the other minstrels (Steve Whitmire as the guitar playing Murray, Tim Gosley as the stringed instrumentalist Brool, Terry Angus as the cymbalist Brio, and Jerry Nelson as the bongo playing Balsam). Together the group explains the life of a traveling musician, through song of course.

[eightmuppetynotes]

Muppet Song of the Day: "Lose Your Heart (And It's Found)"

Music: Philip Balsam

Lyrics: Dennis Lee

[sidebottomjeansbootswiththefur]

a bunch of The Minstrels hc's I own

read under the cut tl;rd; Cantus was born when Fraggles did not have hair, Murray is a skenfrith, Brool is a warrior (naturally), Balsaam was a monarch, Brio stills a apprentice.

Cantus was born when fraggles did not yet have technicolor plumage over their head. Unfortunately for him, he was first fraggle to have this plumage all over his body, that's the reason of his chicken-like appearance (????????????) Since he was so different from other fraggles, he decided to isolate himself. He began to study the various musical styles. He also liked to sit on complete silence while listening to the different sounds that came from the caves to get inspired and create his own melodies. One night, a mysterious invisible (who was very mysterious and very invisible) approached him and handed him their magic pipe. This flute was capable of reproducing any song that has already been found and its mission to complete is to find all the music ever made, this is how Cantus began to wander around the rock, in his endless search for every piece of music.

Also, him being very old its why he is so wise tho.

Murray is a skenfrith. If we assign a verse of the song Music makes us real for each minstrel in their respective order, the first one would be assigned to Murray. Which says "Make a minstrel out of stone". Taking into account that in the culture of these critters the sculptures are made mostly with rocks, it could mean that Murray was created. (Obvs, without any rock in between). This is also supported by the existence of creatures that roam the rock and that do not have a defined appearance, so they are dedicated to asking other creatures what their final appearance is to adopt it for the rest of their lives, who are called Skenfrith. They have a very strong resemblance to Murray in terms of structure and fur. So it could be that in one of his journeys in search of music, Cantus met one of these creatures, to whom he gave that strong personality and love for the music.

It also could explain why Murray follows Cantus everywhere he goes without a doubt.

Brool is a natural warrior. By this, I mean his species are probably meant for war. This is mostly based on the "Make him from rag and bone" and "Everytime I turn around, I all heard it was battle sounds" verses. What do you find on a battlefield? Rags and bones, he also tells how before finding the minstrels way all were battle sounds (I've already said it sorry, im such a dummy). This is also supported by the large and burly appearance of him, but he just didn´t wanted to fight at he was meant to be, so he prefer to chose the mintrel path.

Also this explains when Murray asks something he always stays in a neutral answer.

Balsam was a monarch / something involving royalty. While he is quite clumsy, it can be justified by reading the corresponding verses from him. Being a member of royalty he didn't do anything on his own, but something that he surely could do is play music (I guess) then he left all behing to follow the minstrel path.

Although, Brio is the only one that does not have a verse at the beginning. She makes up for herself with her dialogues in the actual show. Brio is the most intelligent minstrel (and she stills an apprentice!). I base this on the way she has to interpret Cantus's responses in a more logical way. Being the youngest minstrel, it is most likely that she is also the most recent to join in. Given her intellect, I can interpret that her reason for joining The Minstrels was beyond music, but knowledge. My headcannon from her arrival is my favorite, so I'm going to elaborate a lot sccnjdcfnjunhf-Brio always stayed away from the rest of the fraggles by considering them inferior for not having the same knowledge as her. From her grayish colors I could assume that she is a cave fraggle, so she knew little or nothing about the different melodies that are in all the rock. When the Minstrel arrived at the cave, she was amazed at the different rhythms they brought, but even so, she did not stop questioning the strange way that Cantus has when speaking and tried to re-interpret it in a more understandable way, so she decided to join them in seeking knowledge about music . Also the trips around the rock have taught humility to the way of treating others and being more nice with other people.

Also she isn't in good terms with Balsaam, because she considers him really smooth brained (but he always take it as a compliment).

[sidebloggom]

that warm forest voice

wc: 941 pairing: none; implied, background cantus/murray warnings: descriptions of injury, some talk about war inspired by @maxpawb

The silk of the Purple Sproingers' cocoons is soft, flexible, and absorbent. When used with plants like marigolds, cloves, and lavender, this silk bandage can heal practically any injury that could come to a creature in the winding caves of the Rock. It was especially useful when you were away from a care station - or away from anything at all.

That was the case for a certain set of Minstrels - only three, at the time. Cantus, Murray, and their newest member, Brool, had set up camp in a small isolated cavern, lit only by their lanterns and the Ditzies that would fly in through the cracks every so often. Cantus and Murray had rescued Brool from the Nucifera Grotto, the home of a society that was constantly at war with itself. Brool was not one for fighting, and, because of this, had been specifically targeted by other citizens. Despite not being able to hear the Eternal Ping (his right ear had been bitten into and damaged, and his right ear was the ear the Ping sounded in), the two Minstrels known at the time were able to find him; they knew when someone Pinged, and who. They were able to assist him in his escape, but with many of his belongings - and a few parts of himself - left behind.

At the present, Brool was sitting on the floor, holding a green woven blanket - one of his last few belongings - in his hands, rubbing it up against his face and letting it twirl and tangle in his arms. Cantus was standing behind him, bandaging his damaged ear with the cocoons and flowers he'd stored in his pack on an impulse just a few days ago. Every so often, he'd wet a flower in a basket of water he'd retrieved, and tuck it underneath the bandage as he wrapped it around. He hummed as he worked, and Murray, sitting a few feet away, would strum his guitar idly with him. At one of Cantus's touches, Brool's ear and head flicked back, and he hissed. A few petals fell out of the bandage Cantus had just applied.

Cantus peeled back the bandage and bent down. "Brool, I apologize for the pain this cure may cause you. But the aid lasts longer than the ache." He picked up the fallen marigold petal and flicked them off of his fingers into the dark.

"I know, I know..." Brool sighed out, twirling the blanket around one of his wrists. His mouth and his head felt empty, but still he felt dread. He felt as if this wasn't going to last - as if he would be found and taken back - but he stored the thought away, and let it puff back into darkness. If he still thought it, he at least wouldn't make it look like he did. He had grown to become good at that as the days went on. He took another heavy breath, resisting the urge to pull away as Cantus continued to wrap his wound.

Once he was finished, Cantus tucked the end of the bandage into the rest of the wrap, allowing one small piece of lavender to sit at the threshold. "It's all finished," Cantus said, gently placing his hand on Brool's shoulder and bending down to meet his eye level. "How does it feel?"

"...Fine..." Brool stated, still not quite comfortable with that level of eye contact yet.

"Alright. How are you?"

"...Tired."

Cantus smiled. "You can sleep in my tent, then. It's fairly well-covered and the bedroll is a lot softer than the rock. If you like, we can find you another bedroll tomorrow."

For the first time that day, Brool actually gently smiled back. "I'd like that," he said, chuckling softly and clearing his throat.

✿

Brool had laid awake for the past four hours.

He didn't feel safe here. He didn't feel safe enough to sleep - no, not with strangers. Though they had saved his life, he couldn't help but feel apprehension. The paranoia had been ingrained into him; this was something he'd known since he was born. After a while, his good ear tuned into the outside noise - whispered conversation, between the two he'd met. He couldn't quite remember their names.

"...I'm worried about him," one said. His voice was deep and velvety; that was the one that had fixed his ear a while ago. "I'm worried that I don't know how to help him."

The other... Laughed, at first. "I'll be honest: That's the most frank you've ever been about your feelings with me, Boss." The other one's voice sounded scratchy - scratchy and strong. It was the voice version of his blanket, Brool noted in his head, and he listened further. "I don't think it's anything t' be concerned about. He'll be fine with us... We just gotta be careful, y'know?"

"...Yeah," the first said. "Should I do anything special?"

"Just be cool, and if he asks to avoid something, do that."

"Alright. Thank you, Murray."

"Of course. Now get some rest, 'kay? You did say we had t'find that bedroll."

"Right... Right. Goodnight. I love you."

"Love ya too, Cantus."

Brool sat and thought about that for a while. It had been a long time since anyone had cared for him - and that's just talking about those he actually knew. He'd just met these two, and they were already discussing how to make him feel comfortable. A warm feeling swelled in his chest, and, for the second time that day, a smile crept onto his face.

He let out a sigh as he laid back down, shutting his eyes and letting sleep take him as well.

[singingcave]

to heal is to touch with love that which was previously touched by fear.      stephen levine

uhhhhhh i love brool a lot... he had a lot of close memories w the ditzies bcause they helped him remain calm, even in situations where that was hard. i love him sm sgfgjfg

[mandalorianmuppet]

I got a friend of mine into Fraggle Rock recently, and we were wondering why Cantus sometimes appears without the other Minstrels. We decided that he probably just up and leaves in the middle of the night, and blames his leaving on a “disturbance in the Force” sort of thing when the rest of the Minstrels track him down again.

Murray the Minstrel is one of my favorite minor characters on the show, by the way. He takes his job SO SERIOUSLY-- he sings an entire verse about it in “Music Makes Us Real.”

[sleepingbackstage-blog]

Magic Is As Magic Does

Theme 16: Nightmare

‘Every time I turned around, all I heard is battle sounds.’ ~ Music Makes Us Real

A shiver.

A shudder.

A shout.

Brool wheezes as he wakes. In the seconds before his brain joins him in the waking world he chokes on ash that isn’t there, spits a wad of blood (drool, it’s just drool) onto his chest. Something lays heavy on him. The body of a brother, oh no, oh sweet Moon -- no, it’s just his blanket. He heaves it off of him and rolls onto his side, coughing.

“Brool?”

He tilts his head up. Murray stands over him. Behind him is their newest Minstrel -- though her name escapes him now. He never was good with names... Or people in general. Murray turns to her and murmurs into her ear, then hands her his lamp and nudges her gently toward her tent. She complies, glasses glinting in the dim light.

“Hey, brother,” Murray rasps. He crouches down closer, and his limbs bend and fold like noodles. His eyes are kind and serene.“Bad memories?”

“Yeah,” croaks Brool, and it’s all he can muster. He doesn’t have to say much, though. Murray understands what he needs. With a small nod, he slips his noodle-appendages under Brool and gathers him into his lap, curling around him as he lounges against the mossy wall of the cave. Once he’s sure Brool is tucked up and cozy he starts to hum. Brool doesn’t know the tune, but he feels as though he knows the song. 

A few ditzies appear and nestle themselves in Brool’s fluffy mane. He doesn’t mind. He’d rather it not be dark. Murray’s airy chuckle interrupts his lullaby for a brief moment, and the corner of his lips turn up in return. 

That smile remains on his face as he slips into peaceful sleep. 

[maxpawb]

[maxpawb]

[maxpawb]

drip drip

[maxpawb]

[maxpawb]

[maxpawb]

a

[maxpawb]

[brool voice] and uh. special thanks to brio fraggle for doing my hair and nails