Gothic Voices
Encyclopedia
Gothic Voices is a United Kingdom
based vocal ensemble specialising in repertoire from the 11th to the 15th century. The group was formed in 1981 by scholar and musician Christopher Page
.
Gothic Voices has recorded twenty-five CDs for Hyperion Records
featuring composers such as Guillaume de Machaut
, Guillaume Dufay
, John Dunstaple and Leonel Power
, of which three have won the prestigious Gramophone Award
given by The Gramophone
magazine. The group's first disc: "A Feather on the Breath of God – Hymns and Sequences by Abbess Hildegard of Bingen
" remains one of the best-selling recordings of pre-classical music ever made. Recently Gothic Voices has recorded a disc of the complete works of the relatively obscure 14th century composer Solage
on the Avie label. Their most recent recording is "A Laurel for Landini - 14th Century Italy’s Greatest Composer", with music by Francesco Landini
.
As well as performing medieval repertoire, Gothic Voices also commission contemporary works for its unusual vocal forces, with recent performances of works by Bayan Northcott
, John Tavener
and Andrew Keeling
.
The current line up of singers in Gothic Voices is Catherine King (mezzo-soprano)
, Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor) and Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), a line-up which has been consistent since 1995. Other notable singers who have performed and recorded with Gothic Voices include Emma Kirkby
, Emily van Evera, Margaret Philpot, Charles Daniels
, Rogers Covey-Crump, James Gilchrist
, Paul Agnew
, Andrew Parrott
, John Mark Ainsley
and Peter Harvey
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
based vocal ensemble specialising in repertoire from the 11th to the 15th century. The group was formed in 1981 by scholar and musician Christopher Page
Christopher Page
Christopher Page is an expert on medieval music, instruments and performance practice. He has written seven books regarding medieval music...
.
Gothic Voices has recorded twenty-five CDs for Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records
Hyperion Records is an independent British classical record label.-History:The company was named after Hyperion, one of the Titans of Greek mythology. It was founded by George Edward Perry, widely known as "Ted", in 1980. Early LP releases included rarely recorded 20th century British music by...
featuring composers such as Guillaume de Machaut
Guillaume de Machaut
Guillaume de Machaut was a Medieval French poet and composer. He is one of the earliest composers on whom significant biographical information is available....
, Guillaume Dufay
Guillaume Dufay
Guillaume Dufay was a Franco-Flemish composer of the early Renaissance. As the central figure in the Burgundian School, he was the most famous and influential composer in Europe in the mid-15th century.-Early life:From the evidence of his will, he was probably born in Beersel, in the vicinity of...
, John Dunstaple and Leonel Power
Leonel Power
Leonel Power was an English composer of the late Medieval and early Renaissance eras. Along with John Dunstaple, he was one of the major figures in English music in the early 15th century.-Life:...
, of which three have won the prestigious Gramophone Award
Gramophone Award
The Gramophone Awards are one of the most significant honours bestowed on recordings in the classical record industry, often referred to as the Oscars for classical music. The winners are selected annually by critics for the Gramophone magazine and various members of the industry, including...
given by The Gramophone
The Gramophone
Gramophone is a magazine published monthly in London by Haymarket devoted to classical music and jazz, particularly recordings. It was founded in 1923 by the Scottish author Compton Mackenzie...
magazine. The group's first disc: "A Feather on the Breath of God – Hymns and Sequences by Abbess Hildegard of Bingen
Hildegard of Bingen
Blessed Hildegard of Bingen , also known as Saint Hildegard, and Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German writer, composer, philosopher, Christian mystic, Benedictine abbess, visionary, and polymath. Elected a magistra by her fellow nuns in 1136, she founded the monasteries of Rupertsberg in 1150 and...
" remains one of the best-selling recordings of pre-classical music ever made. Recently Gothic Voices has recorded a disc of the complete works of the relatively obscure 14th century composer Solage
Solage
Solage was a French composer. He composed the most pieces in the Chantilly Codex, the principal source of music of the ars subtilior, the manneristic compositional school centered around Avignon at the end of the century.-Life:Nothing is known about his life, beyond what can be inferred from the...
on the Avie label. Their most recent recording is "A Laurel for Landini - 14th Century Italy’s Greatest Composer", with music by Francesco Landini
Francesco Landini
Francesco degli Organi, Francesco il Cieco, or Francesco da Firenze, called by later generations Francesco Landini or Landino was an Italian composer, organist, singer, poet and instrument maker...
.
As well as performing medieval repertoire, Gothic Voices also commission contemporary works for its unusual vocal forces, with recent performances of works by Bayan Northcott
Bayan Northcott
Bayan Northcott is an English composer and music critic.Born in London, he studied English at Oxford University, then taught the subject for six years before taking up music criticism. Later, encouraged by Alexander Goehr and Hans Keller, he took up composition...
, John Tavener
John Tavener
Sir John Tavener is a British composer, best known for such religious, minimal works as "The Whale", and "Funeral Ikos"...
and Andrew Keeling
Andrew Keeling
Andrew Keeling is a classical composer. Since the late 1980s he has written music for the likes of Opus 20 , Het Trio , The Hilliard Ensemble , The Apollo Saxophone Quartet , the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra , Evelyn Glennie , The...
.
The current line up of singers in Gothic Voices is Catherine King (mezzo-soprano)
Catherine King (mezzo-soprano)
Catherine King is an English mezzo-soprano, best known for her performances and recordings of mediaeval, renaissance and baroque music and also very active in performing classical oratorio, opera and contemporary music. She is the only female member of Gothic Voices and has made over 30...
, Steven Harrold (tenor), Julian Podger (tenor), Leigh Nixon (tenor) and Stephen Charlesworth (baritone), a line-up which has been consistent since 1995. Other notable singers who have performed and recorded with Gothic Voices include Emma Kirkby
Emma Kirkby
Dame Carolyn Emma Kirkby, DBE is an English soprano singer and one of the world's most renowned early music specialists. She attended Sherborne School For Girls in Dorset and was a classics student at Somerville College, Oxford, and an English teacher before developing a career as a soloist...
, Emily van Evera, Margaret Philpot, Charles Daniels
Charles Daniels (tenor)
Charles Daniels is an English tenor, particularly noted for his performances of baroque music. He is a frequent soloist with The King's Consort, and has made over 25 recordings with the ensemble on the Hyperion label.-Biography:...
, Rogers Covey-Crump, James Gilchrist
James Gilchrist (tenor)
James Gilchrist is a British tenor specialising in recital and oratoria singing. He began his working life as a doctor, turning to a full-time music career in 1996...
, Paul Agnew
Paul Agnew
Paul Agnew is a Scottish operatic tenor.Agnew read music as a Choral Scholar at Magdalen College, Oxford. He became associated with the Consort of Musicke, the Tallis Scholars, the Sixteen and the Gothic Voices, before embarking on a solo career in the early 1990s.Closely associated with William...
, Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott
Andrew Parrott is a British conductor, perhaps best known for his pioneering historically informed performances of pre-classical music. He conducts a wide range of repertoire, including contemporary music. He conducted the premiere of Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera...
, John Mark Ainsley
John Mark Ainsley
John Mark Ainsley is an English lyric tenor. Known for his supple voice, Ainsley is particularly admired for his interpretations of baroque music and the works of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
and Peter Harvey
Peter Harvey
Peter Harvey is an award-winning Australian television journalist.He has been with the Nine Network since 1975 and currently he presents the mailbag segment on 60 Minutes as well as being a reporter on Nine News and a regular contributor on Today.Harvey studied his journalism cadetship with the...
.