Finding Harmony is a new mission for The King's Singers; a mission celebrating music which binds people together in times of hardship.
"Singing together binds us together. From the Protestant Reformation in Europe during the 1500s to the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, there have been countless moments in history when songs have united nations, cultures and causes. This is still the case in today’s world. Finding Harmony is evidence that music has always been our common language. A unique collection of pieces that span the globe – including music that’s too often forgotten – each song is the key to a powerful true story about who we are and how we’ve got here. Together, Finding Harmony proves how deeply we can be moved by all kinds of stories when songs connect us to them, and to each other."
[1] One day – Michel Legrand, arr. Richard Rodney Bennett
[2] If I can help somebody – Alma Androzzo, arr. Stacey V. Gibbs
[3] S’Dremlen feygl – Leyb Yampolsky/Lea Rudnicka, arr. Toby Young
[4] Tsintskaro – Traditional
[5] Bread and roses – Mimi Fariña/James Oppenheim, arr. Rebecca Dale
[6] Heliseb väljadel – Urmas Sisask
[7] Mu isamaa on minu arm – Gustav Ernesaks
[8] Cielito lindo – Quirino Mendoza y Cortés, arr. Jorge Cózatl
[9] Ein feste Burg – Martin Luther, arr. Johann Sebastian Bach
[10] Ne irascaris, Domine – Civitas sancti tui – William Byrd
[11] Praying – Kesha, arr. Rebecca Dale
[12] Puirt a’ bheul (Mouth Music) – Traditional, arr. Daryl Runswick
[13] O, chì, chì ma ni mòrbheanna – John Cameron, arr. James MacMillan
[14] Shen khar venakhi – Traditional/King Demetrius I of Georgia
[15] Ayihlome/Qula kwedini – Traditional, arr. Neo Muyanga
[16] Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika – Enoch Sontonga, arr. Neo Muyanga
[17] One last time – Ariana Grande, arr. Richard Wilberforce
[18] Strange fruit – Abel Meeropol, arr. Stacey V. Gibbs
[19] This little light of mine – Harry Dixon Loes, arr. Stacey V. GibbsAll downloads include booklets.
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There was a craze for the music of Josquin Desprez in sixteenth-century Spain. All three of the greatest Spanish composers of the age – Morales, Guerrero, and Victoria – were directly inspired by one particular rhetorical effect developed by Josquin: ostinato, the repetition throughout a piece of a musical motto. This album explores Josquin’s legacy as manifest in the motets of Morales, Guerrero, and Victoria, and in Victoria’s great six-voice Missa Gaudeamus. In the hands of such composers the use of ostinato produces results that are dynamic, compelling, and striking in expressive impact. These work show the Spanish composers not just emulating Josquin but also competing to out do him in inventiveness. All downloads include booklets. -
Leading performers of 17th-century music the Magdalena Consort, Fretwork and His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts combine forces under the artistic direction of William Hunt for their second release exploring the English Pre-Restoration Verse Anthem – Psalms and Royal Anthems, particularly those of William Byrd. More than any composer before him, William Byrd catered prolifically to a wide variety of musicians. Connoisseurs of Latin motets at home and abroad, troupes of boy actors with their viols and their unbroken voices, solo keyboard players, the choirs of the established English church, and the underground ensembles of Catholic households where mass was celebrated in secret— performers of all these kinds could look to Byrd for quantities, in some cases vast, of music of the highest excellence. Learn more about the Orlando Gibbons project here: https://www.orlandogibbonsproject.com/ ★★★★ “William Hunt’s troops, led by the characterful Magdalena Consort, backed up with viols, sackbuts, cornets and perky reconstructed Tudor organ, service their wonderful music with a dazzling kaleidoscope of colours” - The Times "The vowel sounds… are thrilling. The diphthonged synchronicity of 'power' and 'ire' are a thing of beauty...The intonation and blend against the glistening strings of Fretwork are second to none...This is music making of the highest calibre, steeped in emotional intelligence and affective balance. Booklet notes...crown the disc with excellent musicological detail" - Gramophone ★★★★ Performance ★★★★★ Recording "An ear-tingling fulsomeness that guarantees the disc a splendiferous climax...It sets a marker for all that follows as 'chains of gold' are spun with disarming felicity" - BBC Music Magazine "The music itself is varied and of the highest quality, the performers are among the finest in this repertory...a most attractive and enthralling programme, supported by a booklet that is both scholarly and readable...The performances leave nothing to be desired. The viols and wind...are at the top of their profession. All the singers are excellent...but every individual performer, alongside their technical and musicological colleagues, has been crucial in making this an outstanding disc" - Early Music Review "I think this is a very very special recording. It’s the second volume as it were of this series and it’s very much worth procuring" - BBC Radio 3 Record Review -
The Goossens Messiah, recorded for the first and only time by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus under Sir Thomas Beecham, has stood as a landmark of the classical catalogue for sixty years. Goossens’ richly orchestrated version is set to reach a new audience thanks to Maestro Griffith and DCINY, New York City’s leading promoter of classical music. They gathered at Abbey Road Studios in London in July 2019, to record the work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a chorus comprising of sixty members of The Jonathan Griffith Singers, drawn from around the world and sixty members of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain. The new recording has captured the score’s vibrant tone colours in thrilling high-definition sound. An acclaimed conductor, educator and lecturer, Dr. Jonathan Griffith has led performances across North America, Europe, and Asia. Griffith is Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY), which has brought together, under Griffith’s artistic leadership, thousands of musicians and choral singers in concert at prestigious venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Disney Hall. The founder and Music Director of the Distinguished Concerts Orchestra, Griffith also oversees DCINY’s mentoring program for conductors. Founded in 1983 as a single choir of 100 of the best singers in the nation, the National Youth Choir is now the flagship ensemble of an Arts Council England National Portfolio youth music organisation and registered charity, the National Youth Choir of Great Britain (NYCGB), which runs five membership choirs, a nationwide outreach programme for schools and Music Hubs, and provides professional training for the next generation of choral singers, composers and leaders. All downloads include booklets. -
Alessio Bax plays an Italian inspired programme, picking his favourite pieces taken from a rich history of music from one of the most romantic countries in the world. He opens the programme with a J.S. Bach transcription of a oboe concerto by Venetian composer Alessandro Marcello, which reveals a deep insight into Bach’s mind. This is followed by Rachmaninov’s last ever work for solo piano, which is incredibly eloquent, introspective and personal. The Dallapiccola continues this eloquent theme, showing some beautifully crafted dodecaphonism. The recording is rounded off with two pieces of Liszt, which take the listener on a multi-legged journey through hell, purgatory and heaven, with beauty and drama along the way. All downloads include booklets. -
Gustavo Díaz-Jerez is one of the leading composers and pianists in Spain. His compositional output spans all genres, from solo works to opera. His works have been premiered by prestigious ensembles and orchestras. His orchestral work Ymarxa, commissioned by the XXVII Canary Islands Music Festival, was premiered by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Charles Dutoit. In 2018, his first opera was premiered, La casa imaginaria. This album represents the culmination of more than ten years of compositional work. A unique endeavour in the history of music in the Canary Islands, it comprises seven symphonic poems – almost two and a half hours of music – which evoke the landscapes and natural beauty of the Canaries. The cycle takes its name, Maghek (“the one who creates brightness”), from the sun-goddess of the Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the Canary Islands. Each piece is inspired by a specific locale on a different island; some resurrect forgotten stories. Naturalistic tonal painting (the sea, the wind, the rugged scenery) is a constant feature throughout the cycle. All downloads include booklets. -
Voce’s mission, as articulated by Artistic Director Mark Singleton, is to Serve Harmony. They strive to perform each piece as a unified ensemble – to get straight to the heart of each composition. This cooperative spirit enables them to render music that expresses, as closely as possible, the intent of the composer. Paul Mealor’s music, in turn, comes from a place of deep humility. It stirs the soul, allowing the spirit of all who hear it a direct, unconditioned experience of peace, love, compassion and a profound joy. When Paul came to work with Voce in 2017, it was obvious that Voce and Paul Mealor were a perfect pairing. Some things are just meant to be. All downloads include booklets. Paul Mealor described Voce as “one of the finest choirs on the planet” with “a warmth of tone and beauty that is unique.” Ēriks Ešenvalds described Artistic Director Mark Singleton as “a very sensitive and smart conductor – he finds hidden beauties in the scores that most conductors would never know existed.” Morten Lauridsen praised Singleton’s work as “exemplifying choral performance at its finest.” -
Purcell’s The Fairy Queen is based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a play not frequently performed in the late 17th century, nor very well regarded (“the most insipid ridiculous play that ever I saw in my life” - Samuel Pepys’ diary, 1662). Despite this, the play would go on to work well within an opera, as the characters of Pyramus and Thisbe could conjure up singing and dancing accomplices. Purcell’s masterful composition, Gabrieli’s first-class performance, and McCreesh’s superb interpretation demonstrate why their recordings are seen as some of the best in classical music today. Gabrieli are world-renowned interpreters of great vocal and instrumental repertoire, from the Renaissance to the present day. Founded by Paul McCreesh in 1982, Gabrieli have both outgrown and remained true to their original identity: whilst the ensemble’s repertoire has expanded beyond any expectation, McCreesh’s ever-questioning spirit, expressive musicianship and a healthy degree of iconoclasm remain constant and are reflected in the ensemble’s dynamic performances. Gabrieli’s repertoire includes major works of the oratorio tradition, virtuosic a cappella programmes and mould-breaking reconstructions of music for historical events. Above all, Gabrieli aims to create thought-provoking performances which stand out from the crowd. All downloads include booklets. -
The highly anticipated recording of Thomas Adès and the Britten Sinfonia playing Beethoven and Barry; specifcally the Beethoven Symphony Cycle and a selection of Barry’s works. This CD features Beethoven’s first three symphonies, interspersed with Barry’s piece Beethoven and his Piano Concerto. Beethoven intended to stake his claim to be the rightful successor to the Viennese classical tradition with the first of his symphonies, premiered in 1800. He had already began to lose his hearing by this point, and when he composed his second symphony, he placed on the page his spirit of defiance and determination against his deafness. The third marks a significant turning point in his style, as well as in the framwork of how a symphony was expected to be composed. Gerald Barry grew up in rural Ireland. His music shows us how his upbringing had an effect on his compositional style - giving a piece a title such as Beethoven would suggest an attempt at emulating his legacy nearly two centuries after his death. Do not be fooled by this however; his music shows his major influence from radio, moving from the sublime and the ridiculous with carefree abandon. All downloads include booklets. ★★★★★ Performance ★★★★ Recording "Thomas Adès and the Britten Sinfonia present tightly knit performances, and dynamic subtleties are largely preserved in the concert recordings" - BBC Music Magazine "The opening movement of the Eroica had me on the edge of my seat. The quasi-fugal passage at 7'03" is thrillingly taut and the subsequent crunching climax…packs plenty of power without losing a degree of momentum. And listen to the Britten Sinfonia's violins at 11'12", where one can almost hear the rosin spraying off their bows" - Gramophone "Adès’ interpretation is lighthearted but also meticulous…A solid effort by Adès and the Britten Sinfonia, then, and well worth a close listen" - The Classic Review "Adès tackles the “Eroica” in a blazing performance, very energetic but not lacking in affection…I shall return to these CDs" - Musicweb International "All in all, there isn't a dull moment here" - AllMusic.com -
Ian Venables studied composition with Richard Arnell at Trinity College of Music, London and later with John Joubert, Andrew Downes and John Mayer at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. His works encompass many genres and he has added significantly to the canon of English art song. Described as ‘Britain’s greatest living composer of art song’ (Musical Opinion) and ‘a song composer as fine as Finzi and Gurney’ (BBC Music Magazine), Ian Venables has written over 80 works in this genre, including nine song-cycles. As the title suggests, the works on this disc are predominantly reflective in mood although this does not preclude the use of faster-moving music whenever the poetry requires it. Its subject matter celebrates the timelessness of love through the poetry of James Joyce, John Drinkwater, Edward Thomas, John Clare, Robert Nichols and the modern poet Jennifer Andrews; the celebration and commemoration of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, in Sir Andrew Motion’s remarkable narrative poem Remember This and the collective remembrance of those who died in the First World War: the poetry of Wilfred Owen, Isaac Rosenberg, Siegfried Sassoon, Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy and the less well-known Francis St. Vincent Morris providing the impetus for one of Ian Venables’ most dramatic and profoundly moving cycles. All downloads include booklets. -
Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Huw Watkins return with the start of a Beethoven Violin Sonata Cycle - here recording the 1st, 5th and 8th sonatas. Gramophone Magazine said “The heart gives a little leap at the prospect of...a duo as engaging and intelligent as Tamsin Waley-Cohen and Huw Watkins.” This cycle is sure to be one of the highlights of Signum’s year, as well as of Beethoven 250. Beethoven’s ten violin sonatas add up to a comprehensive exploration of the possibilities and potential of writing for the two instruments on equal terms – possibilities that he was ideally placed to understand. The three sonatas on this recording are waypoints on a journey, crafted by a composer who was both violinist and pianist, and who never ceased exploring the practical possibilities of the instruments for which he wrote. All downloads include booklets. -
This is the first project in a seven-volume series exploring the ‘Sturm und Drang’ movement, which swept through all art forms in the between the early 1760s and 1780s. The purpose of this movement were to frighten and perturb through the use of wild and subjective emotional means of expression. This series of ‘Sturm und Drang’ recordings incorporates iconic compositions by Mozart, Gluck and, above all, Joseph Haydn, but it also includes largely forgotten or neglected works by less familiar names. The music featured on this disc was all composed in the 1760s. It includes ballet and opera as well as symphonies, but is drawn together by the hallmarks of the remarkably visceral and dynamic style of music that we now call ‘Sturm und Drang’. All downloads include booklets. “Well they seize on the contrasts there, don’t they? The ensemble really does make an impact.” - BBC Radio 3 Record Review "The Sturm und Drang movement is all about high drama, something Ian Page and the Mozartists, playing with scintillating edginess, offer in abundance here…The evocative orchestral final scene from Gluck's Don Juan serves as an arresting opener" - The Sunday Times ★★★★ Performance ★★★★ Recording "[Don Juan] played with fantastic attack and vigour…A genuinely fascinating start to what will doubtless be an illuminating, if emotionally harrowing series" - BBC Music Magazine "This is a splendid collection that whets the appetite for further exploration of this intriguing repertoire" - Opera Magazine "Page’s projects with The Mozartists are distinguished not only by exemplary standards of performance but also by the ambition and imagination that underpin them…[Skerath] is suitably dramatic in first recordings of arias from operas by Jommelli and Traetta…What horns (Gavin Edwards and Nick Benz), and with what freedom they are encouraged to make their mark!...The playing throughout is excellent and the programme is as deeply satisfying as the project’s entire conception" - Gramophone -
Christopher Gunning returns with recordings of his Violin Concerto, Cello Concerto and Birdflight. Not composed until 2011, Gunning's Violin Concerto was composed after inspiration whilst the composer was out hiking in Wales. The violin is supposed to represent ducking and weaving, rather like the insects and animals found in the Welsh hills and valleys. However, despite this positive venture for the composer, the emotions of sadness and melancholy are never far from this music - feelings which never seem far from Gunning's music. The Cello Concerto is quite different. Although composed hard on the heels of the Violin Concerto, it is generally darker though equally expressive. The third piece, Birdflight, is for the orchestra alone; a kind of tone poem. At the opening and close there is some quiet night music with spacious strings. The birds take flight but encounter a problem; a hawk is on their tail. The birds manage to hide and there is a pause. Then, when danger has passed, they take off and once again enjoy the sheer pleasure of flying. All downloads include booklets. -
Some of the most atmospheric music from the numerous Liturgical settings in Holy Week is that composed for the Office of Tenebrae. Victoria’s are the most well-known, but equally beautiful and arguably more dramatic are the settings composed by Gesualdo and Couperin. The Gesualdo is intense with the Couperin atmospheric, yet both compliment each other perfectly on another world-class recording from Tenebrae. Described as “phenomenal” (The Times) and “devastatingly beautiful” (Gramophone Magazine), award-winning choir Tenebrae, under the direction of Nigel Short, is one of the world’s leading vocal ensembles renowned for its passion and precision. These are Tenebrae’s core values and with their continued dedication to performance of the highest quality, Tenebrae’s vision is to deliver dramatic programming, flawless performances and unforgettable experiences, allowing audiences around the world to be moved by the power and intimacy of the human voice. All downloads include booklets. ★★★★ “Gesualdo is sung by six solo voices, wonderfully balanced and tuned to perfection, bringing out the rich idiosyncratic harmonies characteristic of the composer” - Choir and Organ ★★★★ “This is an ideal album for Holy Week reflections, respecting the power of the texts and it is a major sacred music release” - AllMusic.com “The singing of six members of Tenebrae (Doyle and Davidson the sopranos) is accomplished, snappy and defined with firm control of changing dynamics. Nigel Short shows a strong sense of mannerist storytelling...the way the words sometimes shout into the silence of the church is immensely powerful” - Gramophone “The sheer beauty and accuracy of Tenebrae’s singing is utterly persuasive. They’re named for this music, and occupying the shadows of Maundy Thursday from these two very different composers is a moving experience” - BBC Radio 3 Record Review -
Michael Finnissy was born in Tulse Hill in 1946. He studied at the Royal College of Music with Bernard Stevens and Humphrey Seale, and in Italy with Roman Vlad. Much of his early work was first performed in France and the Netherlands, while he was working as a freelance repetiteur and pianist for dance-classes. He taught at the Royal Academy of Music, at the universities of Sussex and Southampton, and at the Katholiek Universiteit in Leuven. He has also given summer courses at Dartington, and been resident artist at the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne (Australia). He has been featured composer at the Huddersfield Festival several times, at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and many other places across the world, most recently at SICPP in Boston USA. Here, The Choir of St. John’s College, Cambridge perform Finnissy’s deep, rich and fulfilling music in what has been a four year process. It has taken Conductor and Director Andrew Nethsingha, four years to gradually become acquainted with the pieces on this recording. He says it “has been a deeply enriching experience which I want others to share”. All downloads include booklets. RUNNER UP - Contemporary: Gramophone Recordings of the Year 2021 "Nethsingha’s choristers and supporting players do Finnissy’s music proud" - Classical Source -
Eric Whitacre, normally known for his choral compositions and arrangements, personally requested Joby Burgess arrange some of his well-known works for Marimba quartet. This unique recording shows the warm, earthly tones of the marimba, beautifully playing the lush harmonies of Whitacre's choral works. All download include booklets.