Courtesy photo James Dugan Jr. playing Lord of Ye Manor and Janet Bergamaschi plays Lady of Ye Manor. Bruce Schettig is on the left.

Courtesy photo
James Dugan Jr. playing Lord of Ye Manor and Janet Bergamaschi plays Lady of Ye Manor. Bruce Schettig is on the left.

A classical guitarist and real estate appraiser, Schettig helps set the mood at the Madrigal — playing 1500s music to help the audience celebrate the yule season as they did during the European cultural and intellectual movement, called the Renaissance, during the 16th Century. Art in all forms flourished and its wealthy patrons searched for realism and human emotion.

Laughter, songs and revelry are the hallmarks of the Dec. 1 and 2 events. The evening is punctuated by the King and Queen’s performers, musicians, singers, dancers and fools.

“I have a lot of fun. I play music all year but there are some songs I have to blow the dust off for this,” Schettig said. For Madrigal, he plays compositions by John Dowland, considered the premiere writer of music from the 1500s. In this era that precedes the innovation of the keyboard, Schettig said the lute was the primary musical instrument. His classical guitar attains the lilt of a lute when he “capos up” his nine string. “With the capo, it essentially sounds like a lute,” he explained.

As a tenor, Schettig also sings in the Madrigal choir.

“There is so much camaraderie,” he said, estimating it takes “a whole army of people both performing and behind the scenes” to put the annual feast together.

“Wendy Way is the musical director and she gets the best out of all of us,” he said. “I am extremely busy but I take a couple of irons out of the fire to make this happen each year. This is one of my favorite things to do. I never get tired of it or have had a bad experience. I look forward to seeing all the performers and players — some of them I only get to see at this.”

The Madrigal helps Schettig get into the Christmas spirit, he said.

For the first time, the Madrigal will be directed by Pam Young, who succeeds Michelle McGowan.

“I was involved in Madrigal for three years when I went to the Mount as a student. I was a wench as well as head wench,” Young said.

This year, she’s in a different role within the realm

“It is a different role for me and it’s a challenge so I am excited,” she said. “Honestly, I don’t plan to put many new twists because it is an event that has been around for so long and it works the way it is. I do have a few new added characters though so we will see what havoc and mayhem they come up with.”

However, favorite characters will return and the structure remains unchanged.

“There will still be a play, wench tossing and merriment,” Young said. “It is an event that has been a long tradition and Michelle McGowan put a lot of time, effort and years into it and I just hope I can do it justice as well. It will be a fun ride.”

Attendees are encouraged to wear period-appropriate costumes and enjoy the dinner and theater presentation. The event is suitable for children age 8 and older.

The menu this year includes: Slow roasted beef or vegetable stuffed portobello mushrooms, horseradish sauce, gravy, Caesar salad, scones, roasted broccoli and variety carrots, tri-colored-roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, cheddar cheese bites and bread pudding with raisin sauce for dessert.

Staff writer Patt Keith is at 949-7030.