For the week of December 19 - 25, 2001

Wassail!

Carey celebrates annual Madrigal

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By PETER BOLTZ
Express Staff Writer

First came the ladies of the court escorted by lords. Then came the wassail bowl with the lord and lady of the manor not far behind.

The lord and lady were the only members of the court who were not Carey students. They were Carey residents Dusty and Brittney Simpson.

Brittney is a teacher’s aide at the school.

After Lord Dusty toasted his guests, a huge boar’s head on a platter was carried into the hall to the tune of "The Boar’s Head Carol."

If you weren’t at the Carey School on Thursday night, you missed all the action, music and food of the school’s 13^th Madrigal Dinner.

A madrigal is a form of vocal chamber music that originated in Northern Italy in the 14^th century. It caught on as a tradition in England in the 16^th century.

About 250 guests came to the "manor house" at the Carey School’s gymnasium on Thursday night, despite the snow storm that kept Blaine County schools closed the next day.

The school’s music teacher, Max Stimac, began the madrigal tradition at the Carey School 13 years ago.

"I did madrigal dinners in high school and then for five years at Montana State University, so it just seemed natural to start up a tradition here," Stimac said.

Members of the Carey Concert Choir and Concert Band kept their professional cool throughout the noise and bustle of fifth-graders serving dinner, and the manor guests were generous with applause.

So, the wassail toast by the lord of the manor, Dusty Simpson, at the beginning of the event must have worked.

"Be of good health," he said, "be of good fellowship, and be of good cheer. Wassail!"

 

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