King's Singers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The King's Singers | |
|---|---|
 Clockwise from upper left: Christopher Gabbitas, Phillip Lawson, Stephen Connolly, Paul Phoenix, David Hurley, Robin Tyson |
|
| Origin | Cambridge, England |
| Years active | 1968 – Present |
| Genres | Classical Pop |
| Labels | EMI BMG Telarc Signum |
| Members | David Hurley Robin Tyson Paul Phoenix Phillip Lawson Christopher Gabbitas Stephen Connolly |
The King's Singers is a group of singers, known for their skill in a cappella song. Their name recalls King's College in Cambridge, England, where the group was formed by six choral scholars in 1968. Although their popularity peaked in the 1970s, with a lineup of:
- Nigel Perrin (countertenor)
- Alastair Hume (countertenor)
- Alastair Thompson (tenor)
- Anthony Holt (baritone)
- Simon Carrington (baritone)
- Brian Kay (bass)
they remain one of the world's most popular vocal groups.[1] They travel worldwide for their performances, but are mostly heard in Europe and the USA.
The group consists of six singers in total, with their membership changing over the years. The current ensemble is composed of:
- David Hurley (countertenor)
- Robin Tyson (countertenor)
- Paul Phoenix (tenor)
- Philip Lawson (baritone)
- Christopher Gabbitas (baritone)
- Stephen Connolly (bass)
Although the King's Singers are almost exclusively a cappella in their live performances, they sometimes use one or two musical instruments to provide minimal accompaniment in their studio recordings.
Throughout the group’s history, there have been a total of 21 members. They sing a wide variety of music, from renaissance to contemporary, classical to popular. Their reputation for musical perfection in balance, tone, and general musicianship is matched by their keen wit and congenial banter.
Most of their a capella concerts are grouped into five distinct sets. The first four vary widely (madrigals, folk songs, recently commissioned pieces, etc), but the last set of the concert is typically a “close harmony” set. Often it consists of lighter fare, often music of The Beatles, Billy Joel, or Irving Berlin. Sometimes the final set (in a concert of religious music) will be a spiritual harmony set. That set is composed of American Spirituals arranged by contemporary composers, including group member Philip Lawson. Pieces in this set could include Deep River, Down To The River To Pray, and Stand Still, Jordan.
The King’s Singers are known for frequently commissioning works from contemporary composers. They have commissioned pieces by Ned Rorem, György Ligeti, Libby Larsen, Francis Pott, Jackson Hill, Geoffrey Poole, Joby Talbot, and Jocelyn Pook. Many former members of the King’s Singers have remained active in the world of choral music. Former baritone Gabriel Crouch is now the director of choral ensembles at DePauw University and former countertenor Nigel Short founded a professional choir, Tenebrae, on leaving the group in 2001. [2] Baritone Simon Carrington is the director of the Yale Schola Cantorum, at the Yale University Institute for Sacred Music and Tony Holt is on the music faculty at St. Olaf College as a voice instructor.
In addition to recording and performing, the King’s Singers have a commitment to education, often participating in Master classes and workshops. They also have several videos of masterclasses available. Several of the King’s Singers also put their arranging skills to the test, arranging both pieces for the group and pieces to publish in their line of music. Recently, Philip Lawson and Bob Chilcott have been the most prolific composers in the group.
[edit] Discography
| Disc Name | Release Year | Instrumentation | # of A cappella Tracks | # of Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1605: Treason and Dischord | 2005 | Concordia Viol Consort and Sarah Baldock (organ) | 7 | 15 |
| All at Once Well Met | 1987 | Lute and Tabor | 29 | 35 |
| America | 1989, 2006 | English Chamber Orchestra | 0 | 10 |
| Annie Laurie | 1993 | Guitar, Flute, Piccolo | 7 | 18 |
| The Beatles Connection | 1986 | 19 | 19 | |
| Capella (compilation) | 2003 | 41 | ||
| Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo; Holy Moses | 1972, 2006 | Rhythm Section | 0 | 18 |
| Chanson d'amour | 1993 | 11 | 21 | |
| Circle of Life | 1997 | Metrapole Orkest | 3 | 12 |
| Colouring Book | 2005 | 18 | ||
| Christmas | 2003 | String Quartet and Drums | 23 | 25 |
| English Renaissance | 1995 | 20 | 20 | |
| Fire~Water | 2000 | Andrew Lawrence-King, The Harp Consort | 17 | |
| Gesualdo: Tenebrae Responses for Maundy Thursday | 2004 | 14 | 14 | |
| Good Vibrations | 1993 | 13 | 13 | |
| Here's a Howdy Do! | 1993 | Sound Effects, Organ | 11 | 15 |
| De Janequin aux Beatles (compilation) | 1999 | Various | 55 | |
| Kid's Stuff | 1986, 2000 | Judi Dench, Various | 14 | |
| Landscapes & Time | 2006 | 11 | 11 | |
| A Little Christmas Music | 1989 | Kiri Te Kanawa, City of London Sinfonia | 7 | 20 |
| Madrigal History Tour | 1984, 1989 | Consort of Musicke | 0 | 34 |
| New Day | 1980 | 9 | 15 | |
| Nightsong | 1997 | Various | 5 | 15 |
| Sacred Bridges | 2005 | Sarband | 7 | 12 |
| Six | 2005 | 6 | 6 | |
| Spem in alium | 2006 | (One interview track) | 1 | 2 |
| My Spirit Sang All Day | 1988 | 25 | 25 | |
| Street Songs | 1998 | Evelyn Glennie (percussion) | 7? | 18 |
| Tribute to the Comedian Harmonists | 1985 | Piano | 6? | 16 |
| The Triumphs of Oriana | 2002, 2006 | 25? | 25 | |
| Three Musical Fables | 1983 | Cambridge Singers and City of London Sinfonia | 0 | 3 |
| Watching the White Wheat | 1986 | Various | 16 |
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.singers.com/kings.html
- ^ http://www.tenebrae-choir.com/
- ^ http://www.dj-records.com
- ^ http://www.amazon.com
- ^ http://www.kingssing.com
- ^ http://www.kingssingers.com
