The Cardinall's Musick
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 cappella
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
, Matthew Martin, Judith Weir
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 over 25 CDs on the ASV/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
, John Merbecke, John Sheppard and Thomas Tallis
and by the continental greats Lassus, Palestrina
, Victoria
and Hieronymus Praetorius
. In 2010 they completed their survey of the Latin Church Music of the English composer, William Byrd: the 13th and final volume was released on the Hyperion label in February 2010, and won the Gramophone Award for Early Music, and the 2010 'Recording of the Year'.
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 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
English Renaissance
The English Renaissance was a cultural and artistic movement in England dating from the late 15th and early 16th centuries to the early 17th century. It is associated with the pan-European Renaissance that is usually regarded as beginning in Italy in the late 14th century; like most of northern...
. Originally an a cappella
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...
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
Michael Finnissy
Michael Finnissy is an English composer and pianist. His music is characterised by the range of extremes often found in his work; opposing binary structures are found commonly, often seen as juxtaposing textures, register and tempi...
, Matthew Martin, Judith Weir
Judith Weir
Judith Weir CBE, is a British composer.-Biography:Her music has been appreciated by audiences and critics alike. She trained with John Tavener while still at school and subsequently with Robin Holloway at King's College, Cambridge, graduating in 1976...
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
David Skinner (musicologist)
Dr David Skinner is Director of Music at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. He co-founded the Cardinall's Musick and Magdala....
and the singer / director Andrew Carwood
Andrew Carwood
Andrew Carwood is the Director of Music at St Paul's Cathedral in London and director of his own group, The Cardinall's Musick.-Biography:He was educated at The John Lyon School, Harrow and was a choral scholar in the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge under Dr George Guest, a lay clerk at...
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 over 25 CDs on the ASV/Gaudeamus label to great critical acclaim and has won many awards: they are now exclusive artists with 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...
. Their discography includes compositions by Nicholas Ludford
Nicholas Ludford
Nicholas Ludford was an English composer of the Tudor period. He is known for his festal masses, which are preserved in two early-16th-century choirbooks, the Caius Choirbook at Caius College, Cambridge, and the Lambeth Choirbook at Lambeth Palace, London, along with those of the older composer...
, William Cornysh
William Cornysh
William Cornysh the Younger was an English composer, dramatist, actor, and poet.-Life:...
, Robert Fayrfax
Robert Fayrfax
Robert Fayrfax was an English Renaissance composer, considered the most prominent and influential of the reigns of Kings Henry VII and Henry VIII of England.-Biography:...
, John Merbecke, John Sheppard and Thomas Tallis
Thomas Tallis
Thomas Tallis was an English composer. Tallis flourished as a church musician in 16th century Tudor England. He occupies a primary place in anthologies of English church music, and is considered among the best of England's early composers. He is honoured for his original voice in English...
and by the continental greats Lassus, Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italian Renaissance composer of sacred music and the best-known 16th-century representative of the Roman School of musical composition...
, Victoria
Tomás Luis de Victoria
Tomás Luis de Victoria, sometimes Italianised as da Vittoria , was the most famous composer of the 16th century in Spain, and one of the most important composers of the Counter-Reformation, along with Giovanni da Palestrina and Orlando di Lasso. Victoria was not only a composer, but also an...
and Hieronymus Praetorius
Hieronymus Praetorius
Hieronymus Praetorius was a north German composer and organist of the late Renaissance and very early Baroque eras. He was not related to the much more famous Michael Praetorius, though the Praetorius family had many distinguished musicians throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.-Life:He was born...
. In 2010 they completed their survey of the Latin Church Music of the English composer, William Byrd: the 13th and final volume was released on the Hyperion label in February 2010, and won the Gramophone Award for Early Music, and the 2010 'Recording of the Year'.