Class dinners are rarely anything truly special. But one group at Langley makes it a formal affair: clad in Medieval garb, the choir students treat their peers and families to a night of Renaissance songs and food.

“This is the ninth Madrigal Feast.  It was something that I inherited from my previous school,” said choir director Mac Lambert.  “I brought it here because I thought it was such a great experience.”

Decked out in medieval décor, the Capitol church was able to set back the clock to the Middle Ages that aimed to humor the audience.  The fifteenth century was truly awakened once more by this feast.  

“Once the audience walks in the door, I think it’s kind of a magical feeling for them. There’s music and dancing everywhere, and the decorations and costumes are so beautiful,” said junior Madrigal Isabel Hefner.  “We kind of try to make it like a fairytale for the audience.”

In selections of English, German, Italian, and French, the Madrigals included not only biblical music, but also popular Christmas carols with seasonal selections.  Of course, to truly recreate the medieval era, the feast also included a theatrical element.

“This is like a dinner theatre. There is a script, and lots of dialogue,” said Dr. Lambert.  “It’s mainly the acting that makes it different, and it is also a very interactive experience.”
Like a traditional feast, the meal was divided into courses, each of which was accompanied by a festive song.

“One of my favorite parts about the Madrigal Feast is the Boar’s head.  We bring it out, and it seriously looks like an actual pig’s head,” said junior Rachel Romananski, who acted as a jester in this feast.    

From waiters and waitresses, to jesters and pages, the Madrigals were not the only choir that played a pivotal role in this year’s concert.  Each role acts as a traditional staple in the Madrigal dinner.

“Unlike the other concerts, every choir has a bigger and more important role,” said senior Madrigal Leah Stein, who acted as the other jester.  “The servers and pages interact with the audience, as well as the jesters.”

The guests could mingle with jugglers, comedians, and in some cases, small groups of singers.
“Our job is to make fun of the audience,” said Stein.

In this day and age, with such an emphasis on technology, there is something magical about going back in time, hearing voices join together in beautiful harmony to celebrate such a festive holiday.