Hay Madrigals was founded in February 2019 by its Musical Director Lucy Green, with help and encouragement from everyone involved. Based in Hay-on-Wye, the madrigals are a group of talented and experienced singers and players who love making music together. Some events include the whole group, while others draw upon a smaller number of singers, one-to-a-part.
People often ask what a 'madrigal' is: mainly, it's a type of song written in England and Italy during the 16th century, with several different voices all singing their own tune independently of each other, but in such a way that the whole thing blends. Instruments can also play some or all of the vocal lines, or put in chords, on their own or along with the singers. Very beautiful music!
However, a madrigal can be just a song for one singer, and they don't only come from the 16th century either, but have been composed ever since, including today. So basically, a madrigal can be lots of different kinds of song.
Whilst we do include 16th century madrigals in many of our concerts, we also enjoy performing mediaeval music and other repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries, up to Vivaldi, Haydn, and Mozart. Our concerts include a mixture of full vocal and instrumental ensembles, duets, and solo songs, often with spinet accompaniment, or in the mediaeval music, a hurdy-gurdy, and sometimes recorder and percussion.
If you would like to discuss putting on a fund-raising concert in your church, village hall, or elsewhere; or if you would like us to provide music in your historic building - anything from a full concert to just some historically-appropriate background music, in costume if you like - please get in touch.
We are a small group, and plan to stay that way; however, if you would be interested in singing or playing with us please do get in touch, as there are occasional openings.
For up-to-date information about our activities, see us on facebook
Lucy Green Read Biography »
Philippa Alexander, Catherine Hughes, Penny Lewns, Jenny Sully, Christina Watson, Richard Martin, Michael Molecey, Paul Sweeting, Terry Watson.
Steve Jones (violin), June Emmerson (violin/viol/recorder), Steve Heavens (bass viol/violone/baroque guitar), Valerie Whiston (chamber organ).
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