Anonymous 4
Encyclopedia
Anonymous 4 is a female a cappella
quartet, based in New York City
. Their main performance genre is medieval music
, although they have also premiered works by living composers such as John Tavener
and Steve Reich
. The group currently comprises Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, Ruth Cunningham
, and Jacqueline Horner (Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek in more recent listings, following a marriage in 2008). Two membership changes have occurred during the group's history. The original lineup included Johanna Marie Rose rather than Jacqueline Horner. In 1998, Ruth Cunningham
left and was replaced by Jacqueline Horner. In 2008, Ruth Cunningham
returned to the group in place of Johanna Marie Rose. Genensky grew up in California
in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains; Hellauer was born and raised in the Bronx, New York; Cunningham was brought up in Millbrook, New York
; Rose grew up in the village of Grand-View-on-Hudson; and Horner is from Monkstown, County Antrim
in Northern Ireland
; she won her Green Card
in the Diversity Immigrant Visa
program (commonly known as the "Green Card Lottery").
Anonymous 4 has performed in cities throughout North America
, and have been regulars at major international festivals. They decided to make the 2003-2004 season their last as a full-time recording and touring ensemble, although special projects (such as their Gloryland CD and their "Long Time Traveling" Tour) continue to bring them together on occasion.
The name of the group is a pun on the name used to refer to an anonymous English music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV
, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school
, Léonin
and Pérotin
.
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
quartet, based in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Their main performance genre is medieval music
Medieval music
Medieval music is Western music written during the Middle Ages. This era begins with the fall of the Roman Empire and ends sometime in the early fifteenth century...
, although they have also premiered works by living composers such as 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 Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
. The group currently comprises Marsha Genensky, Susan Hellauer, Ruth Cunningham
Ruth Cunningham
Ruth Cunningham is a classically trained musician and a sound healing practitioner. She was a founder member of Anonymous 4 and specializes in improvisational sacred music in liturgical and concert settings.-References:...
, and Jacqueline Horner (Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek in more recent listings, following a marriage in 2008). Two membership changes have occurred during the group's history. The original lineup included Johanna Marie Rose rather than Jacqueline Horner. In 1998, Ruth Cunningham
Ruth Cunningham
Ruth Cunningham is a classically trained musician and a sound healing practitioner. She was a founder member of Anonymous 4 and specializes in improvisational sacred music in liturgical and concert settings.-References:...
left and was replaced by Jacqueline Horner. In 2008, Ruth Cunningham
Ruth Cunningham
Ruth Cunningham is a classically trained musician and a sound healing practitioner. She was a founder member of Anonymous 4 and specializes in improvisational sacred music in liturgical and concert settings.-References:...
returned to the group in place of Johanna Marie Rose. Genensky grew up in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains; Hellauer was born and raised in the Bronx, New York; Cunningham was brought up in Millbrook, New York
Millbrook, New York
Millbrook is a village in Dutchess County, New York, United States. It is often said to be a "low-key version of the Hamptons" and one of the wealthiest towns in New York State. Millbrook's estimated town population was 1,551 in 2008. Millbrook is located in the Hudson Valley, an hour and thirty...
; Rose grew up in the village of Grand-View-on-Hudson; and Horner is from Monkstown, County Antrim
Monkstown, County Antrim
Monkstown is the name of a townland and electoral ward in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough. The townland was previously called Ballynamanagh...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
; she won her Green Card
United States Permanent Resident Card
United States lawful permanent residency refers to a person's immigration status: the person is authorized to live and work in the United States of America on a permanent basis....
in the Diversity Immigrant Visa
Diversity Immigrant Visa
The Diversity Immigrant Visa program is a United States congressionally mandated lottery program for receiving a United States Permanent Resident Card. It is also known as the Green Card Lottery. The lottery is administered on an annual basis by the Department of State and conducted under the terms...
program (commonly known as the "Green Card Lottery").
Anonymous 4 has performed in cities throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, and have been regulars at major international festivals. They decided to make the 2003-2004 season their last as a full-time recording and touring ensemble, although special projects (such as their Gloryland CD and their "Long Time Traveling" Tour) continue to bring them together on occasion.
The name of the group is a pun on the name used to refer to an anonymous English music theorist of the late 13th century, Anonymous IV
Anonymous IV
Anonymous IV is the designation given to the writer of an important treatise of medieval music theory. He was probably an English student working at Notre Dame in Paris, most likely in the 1270s or 1280s. Nothing is known about his life, not even his name...
, who is the principal source on the two famous composers of the Notre Dame school
Notre Dame school
The group of composers working at or near the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris from about 1160 to 1250, along with the music they produced, is referred to as the Notre Dame school, or the Notre Dame School of Polyphony....
, Léonin
Léonin
Léonin is the first known significant composer of polyphonic organum. He was probably French, probably lived and worked in Paris at the Notre Dame Cathedral and was the earliest member of the Notre Dame school of polyphony and the ars antiqua style who is known by name...
and Pérotin
Pérotin
Pérotin , also called Perotin the Great, was a European composer, believed to be French, who lived around the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th century. He was the most famous member of the Notre Dame school of polyphony and the ars antiqua style...
.
Discography
- An English Ladymass (1993)
- On Yoolis Night (1993)
- Love's Illusion (1994)
- The Lily and the Lamb (1994)
- Voices of LightVoices of LightVoices of Light is a 1994 musical composition by Richard Einhorn. It was inspired by the silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc directed by Carl Theodor Dreyer. Live performances of the composition have accompanied screenings of the film...
(1995) - Miracles of Sant'Iago (1996)
- A Star in the East (1996)
- A Portrait of Anonymous 4 (1997)
- 11,000 Virgins: Chants for the Feast of St. Ursula (1997)
- A Lammas Ladymass (1998)
- Legends of St. Nicholas (1999)
- 1000: A Mass for the End of Time (1999)
- The Second Circle (2001)
- La bele Marie (2002)
- Darkness into Light (2003)
- Wolcum Yule (2003)
- American Angels (2004)
- The Origin of Fire: Hildegard von Bingen (2005)
- Gloryland (2006)
- Four Centuries of Chant (2009)
- The Cherry Tree (2010)
- Secret Voices (2011)
External links
- Official website
- Discography at SonyBMG Masterworks
- Two entries ([ first], [ second]) on AllMusic