MADRIGAL MAGIC
Christmas songs to be focus of singers’ weekend concerts
Madrigal songs date back to the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The songs consist of several voices.
The Madrigal Singers in Albuquerque have been around since the turn of the 21st century.
After rehearsing for a good part of the year, the group will present two of its Christmas concerts on Saturday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Nov. 24.
The events are free, though donations are welcome.
“The group has gradually changed over the years,” says Bill Artman, a member of the group. “We have had a couple of different directors since (original founder) Bob Boughton left.”
Today, Miriam Whittam is the director and the group consists of 17 singers. On piano is Mindy Sampson.
The performances will focus on madrigal Christmas songs.
“Some of the songs will be familiar to many,” Artman says. “We are performing ‘Sing We Now of Christmas.’ There’s a parody from the 12th century and it’s been around for awhile. It’s clever and funny to hear it. Most of the songs we are performing are in English and there are a few that are in Latin. It makes for a very nice Christmas oriented concert. It’s a lot of fun for all 17 of us.”
Some of the other songs to be performed are “En Natus Est Emmanuel,” “O Magnum Mysterium,” “A Virgin Unspotted,” “Baby, What Are You Goin’ To Be,” “Bright, Bright The Hollie Berries,” “White Christmas” and “The Coventry Carol.”
The Madrigal Singers will end with the song “Peace,” which was written by Boughton.
“We sing this as the final song of every practice,” Artman says. “Bob will be 90 years old in March. He wrote it. The verse came from somewhere in the Bible and it’s his own composition. We’re very protective of the melody of that piece.”