The
2007 Olde English
Madrigal Feaste
November 30 and December 1,
2007
7 p.m.
McBryde Hall, Winthrop Campus
Tickets: $32.00
Tickets are available from the Department of Music Office, Winthrop
University, 803-323-2255 and from members of Delta Omicron Professional
Music Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity.
All tickets must be purchased in advance as seating is limited. Ticket
sales end Monday, November 26 at 5 p.m.
For a campus map and directions to
Winthrop, please visit the
Winthrop Visitors Center web page.
Notes on Parking for 2007
Parking for Mc Bryde Hall has changed as a result of the completion of
the new Lois Rhame West Center. Driving access to McBryde is
achieved by entering the campus either from Cherry Road, turning in to
the campus via Alumni Drive (formerly Water Street); Stewart Ave.,
turning on to Alumni Drive to the left; or Oakland Ave., turning into
campus and then making a left turn going around the front of the campus
to the back. (Alumni Drive is one way on the front side of the
campus.) On Friday night the campus (and Alumni Drive) can be
accessed from Cherry Road and Stewart Avenue only. Saturday night
the campus can again be accessed from Oakland Avenue as well.
There are four lots available in the area of McBryde, three of which are
quite small: the Margaret Nance lot, across from the
main McBryde entrance, McBryde lot, on the lower right side of the
building, the McLaurin lot with entrance at the far end of McBryde
Hall. These three small lots are accessed by Heritage Lane which turns
off of Alumni Drive and runs by the front of the West Center. The larger
lot is shared space for McBryde, the West Center, and Johnson Theatre
and is accessed by turning directly into the lot from Alumni Drive.
McBryde Hall can be entered from either end of the building.
There are events going on in the theatre both nights so some of the space
in that lot may be taken. Another location would be to park on the
front side of the campus (the front circle, in Front of Tillman Hall,
Margaret Nance, McLaurin) and enter through the breeze way (which
connects all of those buildings), coming into McBryde either through
the side door (the handicapped accessible door) or, if you come into
the breezeway between Tillman and McLaurin, going on through and out
the other side into the McLaurin lot and entering the hall through the
back entrance.
The
Feaste
Wassail Cuppe
Greene Sallade withe Pease
Ye Olde Engeland Rost Prime Rib of Beefe
withe
Horsradis Sause and Yorkshire Poddying
Parsley Butred Potatoes
Broccolye withe Limon Sause
White Wheaten Brede
Swete Butyr
Flaming Plomme Poddying
Coffee, Tea
Fresh Fruits and Nuttes from Strange Landes
(A vegetarian option is available)
Transport Yourself Back to the 16th Century
Open the door to McBryde
Hall and immediately you are transported back in time. The large hall is
decorated in the fashion of an English manor house of the 16th century
decked out for a festive Christmas dinner. The hall itself lends itself
to the re-creation with its high open-beamed ceilings and large open
space. There are banners hung throughout the hall and an abundance of
fresh greenery, holly, pine, and cedar. Candles glow in the windows and
a simply decorated Christmas tree is off to one side. Guests are seated
at long tables that are lavish with white clothes, red candles, and
loaded with fresh fruit and nuts. The smell of cinnamon and other spices
from the wassail permeates the air.
At 7 p.m. the real magic
begins when, after a brass fanfare, the Duke and Duchess of the Manor
House and their guests enter the room singing. There is a
ceremonial presentation of the Wassail and the Boar's Head, and the
various courses of the meal. The madrigal singers sing numerous
songs during the course of the ceremony and the feaste itself.
Entertainment is provided by the Early Music Consort, harpsichord, and
by the antics of the jesters, magicians, and the sound of the minstrels
moving through the hall. The brass quintet also performs several
tunes. It is an atmosphere of controlled pandemonium! The
feaste ends with a flourish with the flaming of the Plum Pudding at
every table.
After the feaste is
concluded a short concert is presented, featuring the madrigal singers
and the early music consort. Be prepared for some dances also by
various members of the madrigal singers. This portion of the
evening concludes with all guests in the hall joining in the singing of
some Christmas carols. The evening concludes with the withdrawal
of the Duke and duchess and their guests for the night. The
closing ceremony is sure to move you.
There are many guests who
have come every year for the eighteen years the Madrigal Feaste has been
in existence. People tell us that they can't start the holiday
season without the Madrigal Feaste. Come join us and make this
your new tradition as well.
The
Tradition
The Gamma Kappa chapter
of Delta Omicron, Professional Music Fraternity and the Nu Kappa chapter
of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Music Fraternity were both chartered in 1985.
These professional music
fraternities promote music through performance, service, grants and
scholarships, and provide fellowship among musicians The Madrigal Feaste
was begun in 1986 at the suggestion of Dr. Bruce Thompson and Sharon
Thompson, both of whom were, at that time, advisors to the fraternity
and sorority, respectively. Both of the Thompsons attended Indiana
University in Bloomington, Indiana where the Madrigal dinners have been
going on since the 1950's. When they first saw McBryde Hall, after
their arrival in Rock Hill in 1980, they both agreed that the location
was perfect for a Madrigal dinner.
Delta Omicron and Phi Mu
Alpha both wished to offer music scholarships and were looking for fund
raising ideas. Thus, the Madrigal Feaste was begun with the
purpose of using proceeds from the event to establish music scholarships
at Winthrop University. The majority of the performers are members
of the two fraternal organizations.
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