Madrigal Singers & MRT Give Voice to Winter Holidays

 HSU’s 22-member Madrigal Singers perform their annual winter holiday concert in period costume, with the Mad River Transit jazz singers on Sunday December 8 in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

It’s a North Coast musical tradition to welcome the season with old English madrigals by classic composers like John Dowland and Henry Purcell. The Madrigal Singers also perform Martin Shaw’s “Fanfare For Christmas Day,” Thomas Campion’s “Now Winter Nights Enlarge” and provide instructions on “Which is the Properest Day to Drink,” plus news of the day from the year 1600.

 Mad River Transit takes over for the second half with jazz singing in a variety of tempos, including swing, be-bop and blues. With a rhythm section backing, the 18 singers in various combinations perform songs by composers ranging from Neil Young to Muddy Waters. Staff accompanist John Chernoff doffs his Renaissance robes to play some solo jazz piano.

 Directed by Harley Muilenburg, Madrigal and MRT singers perform on Sunday December 8 at 8 p.m. in Fulkerson Recital Hall at HSU. Tickets are $8/$5, free to HSU students with ID from HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Produced by HSU Music Department.

Media: Mad River Union, Humboldt State Now