As the leaves start to change colors and a cool chill settles in the air, you know that the Hall High Madrigal Dinners are just around the corner.  If you’ve ever wondered why choir members come to school in funny costumes one day a year, this is the reason. The choirs at Hall will suit up in medieval dresses, tights, and jester outfits in preparation for this beloved tradition, which happens during four consecutive nights in November at the beautiful St. Thomas Seminary. The bright, sprightly period music and Renaissance theme give the show an infectiously fun energy.  The revelry, under the presidence of the madrigal queen and king, also includes a comedic play both written and cast by students.

Some songs are Madrigal classics that are sung at the show year after year. You can expect energetic chants of The Gloucestershire Wassail, a hearty toasting song, as well as requests for toasts coming from the toastmaster weaving in and out between the tables in case an audience member wants to toast a friend or loved one.  The toasts are often funny, and some are quite touching.  In addition to the hearty wassailing — with performers gleefully brandishing their mugs — you can expect the soft and lovely We Gather Here Together and Dona Nobis Pacem, which are sung with the performers seated all around the audience. The sound coming from all sides coupled with the heartwarming words make these moments overwhelmingly joyous. The balance of light-hearted cheeriness and sweet moments make the Madrigal Dinners what they are.

In addition to celebrating the old, I, as a performer in the Madrigal Dinners, am excited about the new music we’re bringing to the show this year.  The Choraliers are singing some gorgeous pieces that I think are heart-wrenching, as well an energetic Italian piece which I suggested — I remember the Choraliers singing this piece at the Madrigal dinners when I was an underclassman, and I fell in love with it.

I’m particularly interested in seeing what ACafella has cooked up this year.  They are singing four pieces this year instead of two, as they have done for the past two years.  Perhaps this move is due to their new director, Dan Luongo, who joined us last year. I am excited to see the direction he is taking the group, as well as the group’s performance.  The fellas’ fun and often cheeky performances never fail to delight.

This is my fourth and final year participating in the Hall Madrigal Dinners, so thinking about the Dinners is bittersweet.  I can clearly see the basement of St. Thomas Seminary, where the performers mill around before shows and during intermissions, while chatting, singing, and discussing necessary repairs with the generous adults who help with costuming.  During my first show as a freshman, Madrigals was new to me, and even though we didn’t get costumes, I loved every second of it.  I remember one show night in the basement of St. Thomas when the costume people had extra doughnut hats, so they laid them out and let the Freshman Men’s Choir take them: a big, festive one immediately caught my attention. It was red, green, and gold, and I lunged for it.  I was so happy to have that one hat, but this year, it’s going to take a bit more than that to satisfy me.

The Madrigal Dinners this year will run from Wednesday, November 15th to Saturday, November 18th at 7PM each night.  Dinner is available during the Friday and Saturday shows.  Ticket order forms (yellow) are available in the choir/orchestra room on top of the piano.  You can email HallMadrigals@gmail.com for ticketing information or questions.