The song's the thing
Archived article from Dec 3, 1999
By Douglas Frank
Camden-on-the-Delaware became Stratford-on-Avon for a day as six area high school singing groups performed and competed in the inaugural Rutgers-Camden Madrigal Festival Nov. 17 in the Gordon Theatre.
Madrigals, complex polyphonic vocal pieces of the 16th and 17th centuries, have become quite popular in the South Jersey area, which can almost be considered a "hotbed" of the genre, according to festival coordinator Julianne Baird, an associate professor in the department of fine arts.
"The Elizabethan period was rife with music," she remarked. "Shakespeare's plays are filled with songs. His audience expected them, talented actor-
singers performed them, and Shakespeare included them. Love songs, dance tunes, dirges, drinking catches -- all can be found in the plays," said Baird, a well-known soprano who presented a
noontime concert titled "Music from Shakespeare's Time" for the students.
During the daylong event, the high-school students were also taught the galliard, a sprightly dance, which, supposedly, Queen Elizabeth I danced each morning.
The young singers, chosen from among larger choruses at their schools, bring particular dedication to the music, which usually is more challenging to learn and sing than conventional choir pieces.
The 24 students from Moorestown High School, which won first-place honors at the Rutgers competition, practice every day after school, according to Kathryn Quann, a senior and one of two student conductors. "This is something we really have to study, and we spend a lot of time doing it. It's fun to sing, and I like the fact that it is hard music. I like the challenge."
Helen Stanley remembers starting a madrigal group at Gateway High School in 1980. "At first the guys didn't want to wear the costumes and tights, but now being in the groups is prestigious and really popular in the school."
Both Baird and Camden fine arts department chair John Giannotti were happy with the event. "The turnout was incredible," said Giannotti. "We had no idea that the high schools were taking the music so seriously. We heard they were targeting madrigals and about six months ago started asking local high schools about performing, and we got a very enthusiastic response."
"I think this was the first of many madrigal festivals here at Rutgers-Camden," Baird added.
Joining Baird as judges for the competition were Camden Professor W. Davis Jerome, Assistant Professor Martin Dillon, Assistant Instructor Joseph Schiavo and Larry Rosenwald, professor of English at Wellesley College.
The program was presented by Camden's department of fine arts and co-sponsored by the dean's office and the admissions office.
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