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Madrigal Dinner,
Saturday, December 8, Tickets are $16 and can be reserved by calling the vocal music office at 228-8701 X117 or e mailing Ms. Stoddard at astoddard@benton.k12.ia.us. ALL TICKETS MUST BE PAID FOR ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE MADRIGAL DINNER OR ALL RESERVATIONS WILL BE FORFEITED. |
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About the Madrigal Dinner |
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| About
the Madrigal Dinner Every December at Benton Community we lift our glasses in a toast to the Christmas season, we greet our old friends and we welcome our new ones upon this occasion- the celebration of our traditional Madrigal Dinner. Madrigal singing, brought to England from Italy in the 16th century, was at first an informal type of private entertainment at the castle and country homes of the landed gentry. Frequently, the lords and ladies performed the music themselves as they sat at dinner in the Great Hall. Naturally, during the twelve days of the Christmas season, there was much entertaining and singing of Madrigals. Madrigals are songs written for small groups in which several voice parts are skillfully combined so that each part is interesting and independent, both melodically and rhythmically. The Madrigals are sung without musical accompaniment, and are frequently based on secular text or fables of the times. The first Madrigals were quite spontaneous. It wasn't until the late 16th or early 17th century that many of these Madrigals were even written down and published. Madrigal singing continued to flourish in England, and the Madrigal Society, founded in 1741, still meets regularly in Carpenters Hall, London. Today, such groups are becoming more and more popular in this country with small groups of people getting together to sing as a pastime in the tradition of the Madrigal style, which first reached popularity in England's Elizabethan Age. With the sound of each fanfare, you will discover Christmas as celebrated in the ancient traditions of Merrie Olde England. We present this dinner for your pleasure at the Christmas Season. As we raise our voices in a toast to the meaning of Christmas, we wish you and your family a season filled with joy and beauty. |
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