Monday, November 20, 2006
USI’s Madrigal Feaste is rich with Irish tradition
 When Daniel Craig, director of music, joined the University 17 years ago, there was one choir, the Mid-America Singers, and a major annual choral event, the Madrigal Feaste. Under his tutelage, the Mid-America Singers were supplanted by the Women’s Choir and Chamber Choir. “Ten years ago, we decided to broaden the horizons and do more fine art music instead of the show choir music,” Craig said. “Now the choir focuses totally on a rich selection of choral music and has traveled in Europe, Canada and throughout the states.” In addition to vocal music, the program also includes the USI Jazz Ensemble, formed by Craig in 2001 to represent the University through performance of outstanding jazz and contemporary instrumental music. The Madrigal Feaste, which Craig calls USI’s “oldest living tradition,” has evolved with his own interest in Irish musical traditions. During a spring 2007 sabbatical, he will travel throughout Ireland, collecting and recording Irish folk songs. He also will gather concert sites for a May 2008 USI Chamber Choir Concert tour of Ireland. The sabbatical will afford Craig the opportunity to spend three weeks in Doolin, a seacoast town on the western shore of Ireland, where he will compile and write pieces for the choir. From the songs he gathers and arranges, Craig will create a concert of 45 minutes of Irish folk songs that will include his Irish traditional band, Rowan Tree. “We will take that concert of music, now called the “Sean-Nos Project,” throughout the Tri-state and back to Ireland to do concerts for Irish charities,” he said. In the past, the USI Chamber Choir has raised money for an AIDS hospice and a church restoration project in Ireland, performing at churches and community centers. “It’s a wonderful way to tour. The charities do all of the publicity and receive 100 percent of the profits. In this way, our choir can work on the mission front as well as provide wonderful music. It brings music into the focus of service.” For the past four years, the Madrigal Feaste has been set in Ireland. This year’s Feaste includes a fanfare with bagpipes, Irish traditional music provided by Rowan Tree, and pieces from Russia and Italy, in addition to carols from Ireland, England, and Wales. “Ireland was one of the major sea hubs, with ports in Dublin, Galway, and Queenstown. Continental music was very much alive in Ireland and its history,” Craig said. “We’ll be mixing in some of our favorite carols as well.” The 37th Annual Madrigal Feaste will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, November 30-December 2, and 6 p.m. Sunday, December 3, in Carter Hall in the University Center. The menu includes salad, hot wassail (spiced cider), breast of chicken, vegetables, His Majesty’s royal bread pudding with rum sauce, rolls, water, tea and coffee. “It is the perfect opportunity for someone to begin their holiday season in the midst of the holiday rush,” Craig said. “If you come to the feast, you sit, you are taken care of, and for two hours you don’t have to do anything but enjoy. It’s the ultimate start to the holiday season - full of good laughter, great delicacies, and stirring music.” Tickets are $30 for adults and $27 for children, students, and senior citizens. For reservations and group rates, call 812/461-5237. Payment in advance is required; there will be no refunds for cancellations, and no sales at the door. Make reservations by November 24 or order online. |
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