Synonyms
Seattle Madrigal.
Introduction
The performers use a bunch of suggestions from you and create a musical experience.
Description
The Madrigal is a social technological advance based on the Plain Chant of medieval Europe. A Madrigal involves multiple singers and harmonies which at one time were considered unholy by the Christian church. A Madrigal is expected to be sung unaccompanied, which means no musical instruments. However, this is a secular version of the Madrigal accompaniment is not forbidden.
The Mangled Madrigal does not follow a narrative, although it may. A Mangled Madrigal is more of an exploration of sound. The host will assign a pithy aphorism, saying, slogan, catch phrase or euphemism to each performer. The performers line up and face the audience. As each performer contributes their assigned phrase, they should step forward from the line and take focus. Unlike a Plain Chant a Madrigal is more musical and lyrical. The performer may add a flourish to their sung sentence. How the rest of the performers respond depends on how your house does a Madrigal. We will explain the simplest version here.
The first performer sings their assigned phrase and steps back into the line. The second performer steps forward and sings their assigned phrase. The first performer continues to sing, but they pull back on the volume. The third performer steps forward and sings their phrase. Performers one and two continue to sing background with their own lines. Once the line has been completed the first performer may repeat their assigned phrase or mix a bit from one of the other phrases. This process continues for a few passes until the assigned phrases are amusingly mangled. .
- First Performer – A stitch in time saves nine.
- Others are quiet.
- Second Performer – Cola adds life.
- First performer backgrounds A stitch in time saves nine.
- Third Performer –There is no eye in team.
- First performer backgrounds A stitch in time saves nine.
- Second Performer backgrounds Cola adds life.
- First Performer – A stitch in time saves cola.
- Second Performer backgrounds Cola adds life.
- Third Performer backgrounds There is no eye in team.
- Second Performer – Cola adds nine and nine.
- First performer backgrounds A stitch in time saves cola.
- Third Performer backgrounds There is no eye in team.
- Third Performer – There is cola in my nine eyes.
- First performer backgrounds A stitch in time saves cola.
- Second Performer backgrounds Cola adds nine and nine.
- Etc until hilarity or linguistic collapse
Synchronizing the ending to the story takes quite a bit of ensemble work. It is usually signalled by the most ridiculous sentence being created. All the performers will latch onto that sentence and trail off to silence at the end. .
Gimmicks
- None.
Variations
- Madrigal – Performers tell a story with each sentence..
- Plain Chant – Historical precursor to Madrigal.
Credits
- Information appreciated.