A madrigal is defined as “a secular part song without instrumental accompaniment, usually for four to six voices, making abundant use of contrapuntal imitation, popular especially in the 16th and 17th centuries.” In the medieval period, there were large banquets accompanied music and performances. Madrigal Dinners are a modern American recreation of this experience. These events are considered a fundamental genre of dinner thetare. While full of historical inaccuracies and dramatizations, the festivities are thematically Medieval and include madrigal-style music and comedic plays with princesses and jesters. While there have been countless events done in this particular manner, the best example is the well-know Medieval Times franchise (http://medievaltimes.com/). Being a specific genre, there is a structure to how the meals are served and when particular parts of the performance happen. Most importantly, each course is heralded by song and the full play does not begin until the main course.

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