King's Singers

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The King's Singers
Origin	Cambridge, England
Years active	1968 – Present
Genres	Classical Pop
Labels	EMI BMG Telarc Signum SPS
Members	David Hurley Robin Tyson Paul Phoenix Phillip Lawson Christopher Gabbitas Stephen Connolly

The King's Singers is an a cappella group. 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 U.S.

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.

The group's latest CD was released on 11th December 2006 and is a selection of 19 classic Salvation Army songs. The CD is called The Quiet Heart - Choral Essays Vol. 1. and is currently only available from Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Limited in London (www.sps-shop.com) although further outlets will have stock early in 2007. All arrangements and voicing on this CD are by Philip Lawson.

[edit] Discography

Currently Available King's Singers Albums
Disc Name	Release Year	Instrumentation	# of A cappella Tracks	# of Tracks
The Quiet Heart - Choral Essays Vol.1	2006		19	19
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