Madrigal:  Scripts

Director Interview Author Interview Script 1      Script 2      Script 3 Script 4      Script 5 Historical Notes

Script 1

S1 What Ho?

S2 Arise, arise!! My Lord & Lady approach. 

S2A For in this hall we do resort. 

S2B Resort for many a day.

S3 Good evening all ye gentle folk from places near and far.
We bid you welcome to our home to see the Christmas star.

S4 The spirit that so long ago swept o'er the world like fire,
Does cause us now to act and sing and strum upon the lyre.

S5 So enter now and take your ease. Enjoy the drama within.
'Tis time for us to feast our eyes....

S6 What ho?  Let us begin.

S7 Chambermaids & Stewards
Let us greet our guests and make welcome be.
(Begin calling the courts one by one -  each court will be led by the servers/singers into the banquet hall) Nottingham, Berkshire, Dorset, Essex, Norfolk, Oxfordshire, Sussex, Hampshire

* * * Brass Fanfare * * *

 (10-12 minutes as guests enter hall)

S8 Welcome merry gentlemen & ladies all.
We greet you with tidings of joy in this banquet hall.

S9 We bid you to enjoy these festivities great.
The singers we welcome into our banquet hall.

S10 Attention lords and ladies of far & near,
Let the singers begin and bring all good cheer.

* * * A GREAT AND MIGHTY WONDER * * *

S11 Masters!  Masters of the Hall!
News from o'er the water has come

S12 Of a Babe born in a stall.
Hopeful are all folk on earth, Noel, Noel sing we all!

* * * MASTERS IN THIS HALL * * *

S12A Lords & Ladies of this Court, I have noticed we have in our midst a special guest from afar. Ladies/Lords of the Court, would you please escort Lord/Lady _____________ to our center court. (To Honored Guest) Please kneel.

Lord/Lady ___________, we welcome you to our court.  (FOR LADY GUESTS: Your beauty & charm has proceeded you throughout the lands. We rejoice in your presence. FOR MEN GUESTS: We honor your triumphs and rejoice in your return). I dub you SIR/LADY _____________ of Nottingham.  Rise SIR/LADY _________________.  Let us welcome thee.

S13A Welcome SIR/LADY _______________!

S14A Let us continue with the celebration.

S13 Before we feast, we thank our God for friends and loved ones dear,
The ones that gather in our homes as the holidays draw near. 

S14  Our heads we bow, our hands we fold, our hearts we offer as of old
In thanks for food and fellowship, and shelter from the cold.

* * * DOXOLOGY * * *

S15 The stewards doth bring the wassail bowl to keep our spirits bright
So let us fill our cups, good friends, and begin our feast this night.

* * * Brass Fanfare * * *

(5 minutes as wassail is poured)
        (The wassail is brought to each table and poured)

S16 I beg a toast - a toast is in order - let us all stand and toast to this festive occasion.

S17 This winter's night with frosty snow has yet a nippy chill
To rid us of our feeling cold, our glasses we will fill.

S18 WASSAIL!!

S19 A toast! What Ho! We give to you a cheer that never fails. 
We drink to one and all, my friends, a cup of hot wassail!

S20 WASSAIL!!

* * * GLOUCESTERSHIRE WASSAIL * * *

S21 One final toast . . .Wassail - to your health - may success & good fortune be with you all!

* * * HAPPY HOLIDAYS * * *

S22 WASSAIL!! 

S23 Bring on the soups, cooked meat and pudding aflame,
So that we may eat and please our good dame (the queen).

S24 The new Yule log awaits to light the new year
So come, my dear friends, and bring all good cheer! Merry Christmas.

* * * We Wish You A Merry Christmas * * *

S25 Before you eat, instructions in table manners we'd make clear.
For in the Book of Courtesy, written in 1430 or near,
The author most explicitly set forth most serious advice
To make yours and others evening of eating nice.
Guests must have clean nails or they will disgust their table companions.
Guests must avoid quarreling and making grimaces with other guests.
Guests must not tell unseemly tales at the table, nor soil the cloth with 
their knife, nor rest their legs upon the table.
Guests must never leave bones on the table; always hide them under the chairs.
Guests must not wipe their greasy fingers on their beards.
Guests must not lean on the table with their elbows nor dip their thumbs in their drink.
Guests must retain their knives lest they be forced to grub with their fingers.

S26 Good lords and ladies, raised on a dais so high
Partake of good food, enjoy the repast,
Nod to the country-folk, minstrels, and me.
These twelve days of feast before lean ones of fat
Cause every good man to enjoy revelry.

* * * TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS * * *

S27 So let us eat, drink, and be merry!

* * * Brass Fanfare * * *

(5 minutes of brass - 10 minutes of harpsichord/recorder - strolling minstrel)
          (Soup & Salads are served & eaten)

S28 Even now by the fire, the stewards do stand
To carry aloft for all to see
The finest dish in all the land
Fixed especially for me and for thee.

S29 Behold the boar! The head does come bedecked so merrily. . .

S30 Come, good friends, hurry forth! Hold it high so all may see!

* * * THE BOAR'S HEAD CAROL * * *

S31 So drink and be merry. Prepare for a feast of delight
Brown bread of bran, sweetmeats a-plenty, and everything right.

* * * Brass Fanfare* * *

(5 minutes of brass while main course is being served)
           (The main course is served. 15 minutes of recorder music/harpsichord)
              Strolling minstrel  (15 minutes)

S32 Attention, Lords & Ladies. The feast is now over! Let us rejoice and be merry!

S33 My good lord, with the feast being over. I do think our guests have enjoyed themselves.

S34 My dear, you are right although I fear that some our guests have enjoyed themselves too much. . . especially the food!

S35 I fear so also, my lord. Some of them have been heard guzzling, munching, and worst of all...chomping!!

S36 I heard them asking to pass the salt and the pepper and the mustard and the vinegar... (Everyone react out loud in disgust)

S37 And, sire, someone even had a fly in his soup! (Everyone gasp) Not to worry, sire...it did not eat much.

S38 And he did not need a doctor. (All look relieved)

S39 But finally, sire, I must tell you, someone in the audience even... (cuts off and whispers in the lord's ear.... the lord reacts.... he whispers to the lady... she gasps)

* * *THE BANQUET FUGUE* * *

S40  Such a delightful meal. Did you hear about my lovely little white hen. She is beautiful with her fluffy white feathers. She looks for food, for golden grain.
She lays such perfect eggs.

S41  But she cackles too much!

S42  She looks for food, for golden grain and lays such perfect eggs.

S43  But she makes too much noise!

* * *THE LITTLE WHITE HEN ***

S42   Now rest thy forks awhile, I pray, you seated in the hall.
          To sweeten thy digestion some, the lords and ladies all,
          Centuries ago, the minstrels brought to England's Isle 
          From Italy, a dainty madrigal singing style.

S43  Sung by chambermaids, masters, stewards and dames
         In court and hall, the fashion it became.
         Tonight we will share such songs with you
         Basking in the candle lights hue.

S44      Allow us to sing for our friends so dear
            And fill this hall with holiday cheer.

S45  In Catalonia villages on Christmas Eve
        Children & adults can be heard singing

S45A  Come O tiny Child. Come into our hears as we prepare to meet thee.
           Come O tiny Child. Let our voices sing a song of joy to greet thee.

S45B   Let all the earth be glad.
           Sending the message ever ringing

* * * COME O TINY CHILD * * *

S46  Ding dong merrily on high in heaven the bells are ringing.
         Ding, dong, verily the sky is riven with angels singing.

S46A Pray you dutifully prime your matin chime ye ringers. 
         May you beautifully rime, your evetime song, ye singers

S46B Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis
         Glory to God in the highest!!

* * * DING, DONG MERRILY ON HIGH ***

S47  Many ancient prophets told that He would come
        Now within our own time we know it has come true

S47A Let's no longer tarry our love and faith to give
         Since He came to live just as good Saint John related.

S47B O Great mystery, may you safely guard us.
         Never shall we fear, God saves the meek among us.

* * * RIU RIU CHIU * * *

S48   Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells
        On on they send, on without end
        Their joyful tone, to every home.

S48A Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
         To every home, meek and the bold.

* * * CAROL OF THE BELLS* * *

S49  Ladies and gents of this royal court,
       The songs you've sung as a holiday gift
       As we listened carefully, our spirits you did lift.

S50  It's been a time since last you ate, so bring dessert in here.
       Pray thee, lords and ladies, see - there beyond yon Christmas tree..
       Tis something the folks do hide from us.
       It's large and round, and carried on high,
       Now what can it be?  And what's all the fuss?

S51   Oh ho! Now I do see; It's the pudding so grand!
        Toot your horns! Strike up a song! Rejoice and be merry, good folk!

* * * Brass Fanfare * * *

(Dessert is served & coffee/tea is poured)
(10 minutes of harpsichord/recorder music is played)

S52  When gentle Shakespeare strolled the Stratford lanes, and country folk danced on the village  Madrigals were sung. And William Byrd, who wrote "Psalms, Sonnets, Songs", these seasons gave why everyone, he thought, should learn to sing:

S53  First, it is a knowledge easily taught and quickly learned where there is a good master  and an apt scholar. Second, the exercise of singing is delightful to Nature and good to preserve the health of men.

S54  Third, it doth strengthen all parts of the breast and doth open the pipes. It is a singular good remedy for the stuttering and stammering of the speech. It is the best means to procure a perfect pronounciation and to make a good orator.

S55  It is the only way to know where Nature hath bestowed the benefit of a good voice, which is so rare as there is not one among a thousand that hath it, and in many that excellent gift is lost because they want the art to express Nature.

S56  There is not any music of instruments whatsoever comparable to that which is made of the voices of men. Where the voices are good and the same well sorted and ordered.

S57  The better the voice is, the better it is to honor and serve God therewith; and the voice of man is chiefly to be employed to that end.

S58  Tonight good friends, we welcome you to join our Christmas cheer. 
         The feast is oÌer, we now present more songs for you to hear.

S59 Of the Father's love begotten Ere the worlds began to be
        He is Alpha & Omega, He the source, the ending he,
         Of the things that are, that have been, 
         And that future years shall see, evermore & evermore.

* * * OF THE FATHER'S LOVE BEGOTTEN * * *

S60   Rejoice!!! All in one accord to the Son of God our Lord
          On this day is born to us our Saviour and Redeemer 
          Come see the Heavenly Child, so gentle meek and mild.
          Lowly in a manger laid, how sweet the little Babe
          Rejoice!!

* * * PSALLITE * * *

S61  A Christ Child is born of the Virgin Mary
         All praise to thee.

* * * GAUDETE* * *

S62   Let us sing! Let us celebrate this festive day.
         This beautiful morn the child was born.
         LetÌs dance with mirth to honor his birth
         LetÌs sing & rejoice.

* * * WE SHEPHERDS SING * * *

S63  Advent time is coming to a lonely house
        Put a new candle in the candle holder.
        Something is going to happen in the frosty Advent:
        I am expecting a gift that the Lord has sent.

S63A  This gift is the kind of gift that
           We give each other each day.
           Open the door of your house,
           Let the little light shine in.

* * * ADVENTSTID * * *

S64  How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is given
        So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heaven
        No ear my hear His coming, But in this world of sin,
        Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.

* * * O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM * * *

S64A  Welcome all to the stable. See the newborn king.
            The angels rejoice, with carols they sing.
            The three kings give gifts, rich and rare
            None can compare
            O come greet the Christ Child

* * * COME TO THE STABLE * * *

S65  Attention, lords & ladies, the entertainment you have planned
         For we have heard about your talent, even to our far off land,

S66  Do watch, good folk, for dancing now they'll do.
         For in a while they'll get a chance to pavane, my friends with you.

S67 To places, then singers, rise up on thy feet,
        And musicians do play well, pray keep a steady beat.

* * * Harpsichord music * * *

(Play music until all have found their places)

* * * PAVANNE * * *

S68   Our gratitude go to you on your talent and grace you have shown
         Best wishes for a safe return are left to you alone.

S69  The feast is o'er, the hour is late. We must go. No longer can we stay
         But all the lords and ladies of this house have more to share before the close of day.

S70  Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost

* * * GLORIA PATRI * * *

S71  We singers of the madrigals and all who made the feast.

S72  Wish you a Merry Christmas, from the eldest to the least.

S73  And we add our sincere wishes that your New Year may be bright.

S74  AND BID YOU ADD OUR VOICES AS WE CLOSE WITH SILENT NIGHT!!

* * * SILENT NIGHT * * *

(When all singers have left hall and have ended in a moment of silence - then 15 minutes of Brass Music as singers and servers join in hallway for greeting of the guests)