News from across the land is this year’s theme. The Madrigal Singers toast the holidays with solos, duets and trios as well as well-known madrigals from the time of Shakespeare and Elizabeth I. Martin Shaw’s Fanfare for Christmas Day begins the program, followed by compositions by Ralph Vaughan Williams, Thomas Arne, Hans Leo, Eric Whitacre and Thomas Weelkes.
MRT jumps into a different mood in the evening’s second half, with swing, ballads, blues and funk tunes, including special vocal arrangements of songs by Neil Young, Paul McCartney and Bobby McFerrin.
MRT is accompanied by the rhythm section of Darius Brotman on piano, Robert Amirkhan on bass and Jonathan Kipps on drums.
HSU Madrigal Singers and Mad River Transit perform on Sunday, Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. in the Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus in Arcata. Tickets are $7 general, $3 students/seniors, from the HSU Ticket Office (826-3928) or at the door. Free to HSU students with ID. Directed by Harley Muilenburg; an HSU Music Department production. http://HSUMusic.blogspot.com.