The Cardinall's Musick
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cardinall's Musick is a United Kingdom-based vocal ensemble specialising in music of the 16th and 17th centuries and contemporary music. They have earned themselves an enviable reputation around the world both for the excellence of their voices and the way in which they work together as a consort.
Taking its name from the 16th century English cardinal, Thomas Wolsey, the group’s reputation grew through its extensive study of music from the English Renaissance. Originally an a capella vocal group founded in 1989, The Cardinall's Musick embraces a wide range of styles and periods: from a complete reconstruction of a Tudor mass in Hampton Court to the world premieres of commissions from composers Michael Finnissy and Simon Whalley. Their repertoire has grown to include music from many different countries and they are well known for their thoughtful, themed programmes designed to stimulate and enlighten, to broaden horizons but also to look at standard repertoire with a fresh eye.
Founded by the scholar and musicologist David Skinner and the singer/Director Andrew Carwood the group has been recognised as having a unique partnership between solid academic research whilst encouraging its singers to perform as soloists who are also part of a vocal team.
The Cardinall’s Musick has produced a number of CDs on the Gaudeamus label to great critical acclaim and has won many awards: they are now exclusive artists with Hyperion Records. Their discography includes compositions by Nicholas Ludford, William Cornysh, Robert Fayrfax and John Merbecke and by the continental greats Lassus, Palestrina and Victoria. They are currently engaged in a remarkable project to record the works of one of England’s greatest composers, William Byrd, and in 2006 are about to release the 10th volume in the series on the Hyperion label.
