Inside Iowa State

Dec. 12, 2008

Step back in time a few centuries during ISU music's 44th annual madrigal dinner, Jan. 16 and 17, 2009. During the three-hour event, guests will feast on a three-course meal and enjoy medieval music and performances by ISU students, faculty and alumni. Photo by Dave Gieseke.

ISU music stages its 44th madrigal dinner

by Paula Van Brocklin

Calling all lords and ladies: Iowa State's music department invites you to experience the lavish lifestyle of 17th-century English royalty during its 44th annual madrigal dinner, Jan. 16 and 17 -- the weekend after spring classes begin.

Guests will dine on a three-course meal. The first course is a garden salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. The entree includes a boneless pork chop, courtesy of the Story County Pork Producers Association, herb potatoes and stuffed yellow squash. Dessert is plum pudding with either a lemon or cream cheese sauce. A vegetarian meal also is available, and a wine cart will offer cash sales.

Other highlights of the evening include a trumpet fanfare introducing the king and his court, strolling minstrels, a jester, town crier and dancers. A light-hearted play with audience participation also is planned. And no madrigal dinner is complete without a boar's head on a platter (yes, it's real) and toasts with hot wassail, a spicy tea.

Who's performing?

Nearly 90 students from the Iowa State Singers and the ISU Orchesis II dancers will perform in small groups at the three-hour event. Four-member ISU faculty ensemble Musica Antiqua and The Music Men, an ISU alumni quintet, also will perform period choral and instrumental music throughout the evening. Don Simonson, professor of music, plays the king.

With all the medieval music and mischief, guests may think they've been transported to an English castle. That's the idea, said Jim Rodde, professor of music and co-director of the dinner for the ninth time.

"What we hope to achieve is a dinner with some of the traditions of merry old England," Rodde said.

Rodde's other goal is to expose the students to another musical genre.

"[The students] get some small-group experience," he said. "That's part of the chamber music experience we want for them."

The madrigal dinner will be held in the Memorial Union Great Hall. Social hour begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $38; $34 for ISU students, senior citizens and groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be purchased at the MU ticket office (located in the Maintenance Shop), by mail (form is online) or by phone, 4-8349.

ISU madrigal dinner

5:30 p.m. Jan. 16-17, 2009
MU Great Hall
Tickets: $34 or $38