November 30, 2005
Madrigals musical feasts
Presbyterian Church, West Senior High stage Renaissance inspired dinner concerts
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
With not one but two madrigal dinners on tap for the Christmas season, Traverse City residents have plenty of opportunities to revel in the Renaissance holiday spirit.
The Presbyterian Church's 38th annual Advent Madrigal Dinner opens tonight for a three-show run at the church. Next weekend, Traverse City West Senior High School's vocal music department will debut their Ninth Annual Elizabethan Madrigal Feaste at the school for six shows over two weekends.
Both events feature a full meal plus a tapestry of entertainment that includes singing, skits, dancing, a juggler, a jester and a magician.
The Presbyterian Church's dinner is an annual outreach and celebratory event put on by volunteers from the congregation and community. The evening features performances by Traverse City Central High School's Choral-Aires as well as Renaissance court dancing by the Ballet Royale de Courtiers, a troop based at Ballet, Etc. In addition, musicians, a juggler and a magician will put in an appearance during the evening.
"It's just something we do for the congregation and the public during the advent season," said Debbie Rhoads, the church's secretary. "It is a fun time, it just sets off the holiday season and it just touches a lot of people."
With their sights set on an upcoming musical tour of Europe this summer, members of the West High School Chorale, Choral-Aires, Westman and Bella Voce ensembles will be serving, singing and satirizing in part as a fundraiser for the trip. The tour will include musical performances at cathedrals in Italy, France and England as well as a hoped for appearance at the prestigious Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales.
Besides learning medieval and modern Christmas songs for the show and serving a six-course gourmet meal, the Madrigal Dinners are a magical time. Being in the annual event is something that many participants have anticipated for years.
"I think everyone waits to be part of it, it is so fun," said Mandy Jervoe, an 11th grade member of Choral-Aires and Bella Voce. "The music is pretty varied, we have the madrigal music along with a skit to make it more enjoyable. We get to take some of the songs we're singing to Europe to perform."
Donning creations of velvet and brocade, gold braid and satin, participants in each organization's Madrigal Dinner are transformed into medieval lords and ladies for the evening. Over the decades, volunteers at the Presbyterian Church have amassed an array of costumes for the performers and servers.
A large, meticulously organized closet off of West's choir room holds nearly 100 costumes for the singers. Joann Larimer, choral director Russ Larimer's mother, has handmade most of the outfits over the years; every fall she is on hand to make alterations as needed.
"I think the costumes are probably the best part because we get to dress up in the period," said Jervoe.
Central High School's Choral-Aires members are just coming off a long, successful run of the school's fall musical 'Children of Eden'. These singers have tucked in rehearsals for the Madrigal Dinner around their many other commitments, mastering up to 20 new songs.
Jeff Cobb, choral director at the school, chooses the music every year but welcomes input from his students. Some of the songs are drawn from a fall performance while others will be heard again in a spring concert, but the majority of the pieces are learned just for the Madrigal Dinners.
"A lot of them grow up having been to the dinner and remember older groups and what they performed," said Cobb. "Or they just have a favorite Christmas Carol they want to sing."
"It's a great opportunity and the kids love being a part of it," he added.
The Presbyterian Church's 38th annual Advent Madrigal Dinner will be held on Wednesday, November 30, Thursday, December 1, and Friday, December 2. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. each night. Tickets are $14 for adults and $6 for children under 10. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact the church at 946-5680.
West High School's Ninth Annual Elizabethan Madrigal Feaste will be presented over two weekends on December 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18. All shows start at 6:30 p.m. and will be held at the school's commons banquet area. Tickets are $25 per person and can be reserved at 933-7509.