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Tapestries presents medieval celebrations
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Video
Hear ye! Hear ye! Lords and ladies of Tapestries of Ohio doth perform at the pleasure of their subjects in the Valley.
Partake in upcoming madrigal dinners during Tapestries’ “Medieval Celebration of Christmastyme.”
Tapestries of Ohio Inc. is an 11-member ensemble that sings songs from medieval and Renaissance eras, plays period musical instruments and is costumed in period styles.
Through its music, dialogue and apparel, the group whisks its audience to another time. They invited guests to imagine arriving at the event by sleigh or carriage.
Beverley Kiefer, musical director, has a major role in creating that atmosphere through her selection of music.
“It’s a medieval style, though we use current arrangements of ancient tunes and melodies,” she said.
The group also performs original pieces from the current area in the madrigal style.
“I describe it as singers who act,” said Debra Nuhfer, Tapestries president, of the performance. Through a scripted storyline, group members have dialogue that is interspersed with song. Some of the selections are performed a cappella; for other tunes, some members play period instruments including a harpsichord, trumpet, recorder, harp and guitar.
The group has been rehearsing since July for its upcoming madrigal dinners Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13 at Christ Episcopal Church in Warren. “Out of tradition, ‘Yule Log’ will be sung,” Kiefer said. The repertoire also includes “Boar’s Head Carol,” “Summerset Wassail” and “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.”
“Everything is memorized,” Nuhfer said.
Nuhfer and Kiefer said the basis of the storyline is a gathering at a castle where the lord and lady and other nobility tell the story of the first Christmas. The ensemble entertains the guests as the dinner progresses. The ensemble “sits” at a head table on the stage but interacts frequently with the audience. When there’s no singing, there will be instrumental music.
Humor is injected in the performance, Nuhfer said. The troupe processes with the boar’s head and there’s a funny explanation of why boar isn’t served as the main course (Cornish hens are). In the roles of jesters are Tom Burd, known as Tom of Tip Tree, and Amy Burd of Kent, who tell jokes and “attempts to juggle and sing.”
Nuhfer said if people take photos with their cellphones, she might ask them “what form of magic” they’re performing.
Nuhfer, who pens the scripts, said she embellishes the dialogue with words and phrases such as “whilst, anon, art thou and me thinks not” and adds “ed” to words such as feast to create a medieval flair. “When you put it together, it sounds old-fashioned,” she said.
Tapestries has performed for 19 seasons, and Nuhfer has been involved for 18. “I love to sing,” she said, adding she also is involved in Trumbull New Theater in Niles.
“Members come from all walks of life, and some have musical backgrounds,” Nuhfer said. “It’s a real variety. But we’re all bonded by a common love of this.”
Kiefer said the arrangements may be in three- to seven-part harmony. “It challenges singers’ abilities,” she said.
“It’s beautiful and fun to sing for the most part,” Nuhfer said. “I like the combination of singing and acting.”
The mood of the dinner ranges from jovial, to rowdy to serious. The final song, performed by candlelight, is “Dona Novis Pacem” (“Grant Us Peace”) and sends guests home in a peaceful and reflective mood.
The ensemble recently performed at Glamorgan Castle in Alliance for a Castle Crusaders’ fundraiser.