Madrigals at Christmas

Youtube Link

Many local high schools and universities hold a madrigal feast at this time of year, but many of us probably don't know why. Madrigals are an early form of choral music sung primarily in Europe in the Medieval and Renaissance periods of history. Madrigals are sung in many languages, the most common of which are English, Italian, and French. Nobility would have periodic feasts at their court to entertain their guests among the nobility or for their own amusement. Court usually included an elaborate meal with various courses and entertainment between those courses. The iconic court jester was the comedian of sorts who provided much of this entertainment, but singing was also a major part.

Visit Youtube Link to hear a performance of the well-known madrigal "Fair Phyllis", as sung by the King's Singers, the premier madrigal chorus in the world.

Madrigals were sung either by the nobles themselves at their dinner table or by the middle class entertainers, including the jester. Madrigals often have texts with double entendres, discussing presumably innocent texts about birds, flowers, and such, coded with keywords to represent sexual solicitation. In the Italian language, for example, the verb "morir" means both "to die" and "to climax sexually". Therefore, an Italian madrigal with a text about death was a very sad song to the uneducated peasants but one of great excitement to the self-important nobles.

We celebrate these madrigal feasts at Christmas because of the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas. In English culture, particularly, 12 nightly feasts were held every year at Christmas, starting December 25th and ending January 6th, the traditional date of Epiphany on the church calendar. Holding 12 feasts for 12 consecutive nights was a tremendous undertaking, having to prepare a large animal daily for eating, like a boar or turkey. Therefore, it was an event of significant importance. Many of traditional holiday carols today descend from this tradition, like the infamous carol "The 12 Days of Christmas". The partridge in a pear tree, the two turtle doves, etc., were gifts given the lord of the manor by the people of his estate over each night of the period.

Now, why I would post a blog like this on a music review site? Quite simply because there is nothing on SL to review with madrigals or other choral music! Our diverse population would have to have some interest in this music! Right now, my avatar is resting at an amazing shopping SIM full of diverse and rich medieval merchandise, but the radio is playing is hip hop?! I encourage my fellow choral musicians to branch into this amazing universe with some of the music we hold dear!