New York Polyphony
Encyclopedia
New York Polyphony is a male classical vocal quartet based in New York City
.
Although the ensemble draws heavily from the music of the Medieval
and Renaissance
periods, New York Polyphony has demonstrated a commitment to contemporary music and, in the case of commissions by Andrew Smith
, Gregory Brown, Jackson Hill
and others, works by living composers. In addition, the ensemble frequently collaborates with musicians working in different mediums such as experimental performer/ composer Bora Yoon
and violinist Lizzie Ball.
Founded in 2006, New York Polyphony has released two CDs on the British label Avie Records
, I sing the birth (2007) and Tudor City (2010). Both discs received substantial critical acclaim, but only the latter reached the top ten of the Billboard
classical chart, peaking at #6 in June 2010. Surrexit Christus, a digital EP featuring the music of Andrew Smith
remixed by Bora Yoon
and composer/ producer Btoven, is due for release Summer 2010.
New York Polyphony has been featured on National Public Radio's All Things Considered
, Minnesota Public Radio's New Classical Tracks, WNYC - New York Public Radio's Choral Fixation and Public Radio International's Footprints to Paradise: A Medieval Christmas.
The original lineup included countertenor Geoffrey Williams, tenor Geoffrey Silver, baritone Scott Dispensa and bass Craig Phillips. In 2010, Dispensa was replaced by baritone Christopher Dylan Herbert.
The ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States.
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...
.
Although the ensemble draws heavily from the music of the Medieval
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...
and Renaissance
Renaissance music
Renaissance music is European music written during the Renaissance. Defining the beginning of the musical era is difficult, given that its defining characteristics were adopted only gradually; musicologists have placed its beginnings from as early as 1300 to as late as the 1470s.Literally meaning...
periods, New York Polyphony has demonstrated a commitment to contemporary music and, in the case of commissions by Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith (composer)
Andrew Smith is a composer whose works include settings of Ave Maria, Regina caeli, Ave Maris stella, Veni redemptor gentium, Flos regalis virginalis and Magnificat à 4. He has written works for Trio Mediaeval and New York Polyphony...
, Gregory Brown, Jackson Hill
Jackson Hill (composer)
Jackson Hill, born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1941, is an American composer primarily of symphonic, ensemble, and vocal music.-Biography:Hill was a Morehead Scholar at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill . A composer from the age of 14, he studied composition with Iain Hamilton at Duke...
and others, works by living composers. In addition, the ensemble frequently collaborates with musicians working in different mediums such as experimental performer/ composer Bora Yoon
Bora Yoon
Bora Yoon is an American musician who uses unconventional instruments in her music.-Early life:Yoon grew up in the United States outside Chicago, Illinois...
and violinist Lizzie Ball.
Founded in 2006, New York Polyphony has released two CDs on the British label Avie Records
Avie Records
Avie Records is an independent classical music recording company founded in 2002 by Simon Foster and Melanne Mueller.Many major classical music recording artists like Trevor Pinnock, conductors Michael Tilson Thomas, Semyon Bychkov and viol consort Phantasm record for Avie, which has released more...
, I sing the birth (2007) and Tudor City (2010). Both discs received substantial critical acclaim, but only the latter reached the top ten of the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
classical chart, peaking at #6 in June 2010. Surrexit Christus, a digital EP featuring the music of Andrew Smith
Andrew Smith (composer)
Andrew Smith is a composer whose works include settings of Ave Maria, Regina caeli, Ave Maris stella, Veni redemptor gentium, Flos regalis virginalis and Magnificat à 4. He has written works for Trio Mediaeval and New York Polyphony...
remixed by Bora Yoon
Bora Yoon
Bora Yoon is an American musician who uses unconventional instruments in her music.-Early life:Yoon grew up in the United States outside Chicago, Illinois...
and composer/ producer Btoven, is due for release Summer 2010.
New York Polyphony has been featured on National Public Radio's All Things Considered
All Things Considered
All Things Considered is the flagship news program on the American network National Public Radio. It was the first news program on NPR, and is broadcast live worldwide through several outlets...
, Minnesota Public Radio's New Classical Tracks, WNYC - New York Public Radio's Choral Fixation and Public Radio International's Footprints to Paradise: A Medieval Christmas.
The original lineup included countertenor Geoffrey Williams, tenor Geoffrey Silver, baritone Scott Dispensa and bass Craig Phillips. In 2010, Dispensa was replaced by baritone Christopher Dylan Herbert.
The ensemble has toured extensively throughout the United States.
Discography
- I Sing the Birth (2007)
- Tudor City (2010)
- Surrexit Christus - EP (2010)