King's Singers

Few composers of any age have enjoyed the widespread admiration and unanimous praise of successive generations as Josquin Desprez. He is considered the greatest creator and innovator of musical composition during the Renaissance, and for some half a millennium his music has stood the test of time. He is remembered as much for his own works as for his lasting influence on those of his contemporaries and students, demonstrated in many of the compositions in tribute of 'the Master' featured in this programme. The programme's centrepiece is Jean Richafort's Requiem Mass, Missa pro defunctis, a tribute that employs several of Josquin's compositional devices.

The King's Singers once again demonstrate their versatility and trademark precision in this new programme devised by leading early-music scholar and conductor David Skinner.

On a new disc to celebrate the 2012 Diamond Jubilee, The King's Singers present a selection of works from the past 500 years written in honour of the great Monarchs of Britain. Starting with works for (and in some cases by) Henry VIII, the programme covers the Elizabethan 'Triumphs of Oriana' by composers such as Gibbons, Mundy and Dowland; a very Victorian selection of dedicatory works by Elgar, Parry and Parrat; choral arrangements from the opera 'Glorianna' by Benjamin Britten; and a new piece by Paul Drayton that comically pens 'A Rough Guide to the Royal Succession'. (Drayton is perhaps best known to fans of The King's Singers as the composer of their much-loved encore work Masterpiece.)

This double-album compilation from EMI’s back-catalogue coincides happily with our 40th anniversary. What you are perhaps already listening to is a good representation of the various incarnations of the group up until about 15 years ago. That’s not to say that we don’t sing any of these pieces any more, because we do - much of it is core repertoire often requested and often performed. This compilation therefore helps to re-emphasise the point that although the individual voices of the group have changed from time to time, the principles of what we do have always remained the same: we endeavour to convey a love of our music, maintain a homogenous blend and balance combined with flawless intonation, and when appropriate present it with that special dry British sense of humour.Those principles were learnt by the original members of the group in the 1960s whilst they were students at King’s College, Cambridge, singing both in the choir and in other less formal societies. By giving concerts today in that magnificent chapel the link between The King’s Singers and King’s College is still strong, despite the fact that over the 40 years many of the group’s new members (and there have been just 13) weren’t actually students there. What we can say however is that every King’s Singer received the same style of musical upbringing, rooted in the unique English choral tradition which gave us, as boys, skills we draw on every day of our performing lives.Our touring schedule keeps us on the road for at least six months a year performing up to 120 concerts, from Anchorage to the Azores, Beirut to Beijing, Cape Town to Copenhagen, and so on... When time permits we love to listen to choirs young and old anywhere in the world to help them make the most of ensemble singing. We get as much out of this as the choirs themselves, and certainly make many new friends.Of course recording is a staple part of our work. Since the EMI days we have released at least 2 new albums a year, so that the group’s 100th recording isn’t that far away. Our repertoire expands with each new disc, reflecting the different styles and genres we are comfortable singing in: madrigals, folk songs, jazz and pop; romantic, religious and contemporary. Commissioning has always been important, partly because we have an unusual voice distribution (2 countertenors, 1 tenor, 2 baritones and a bass), and it is a special thrill to invite “big name composers” to write for us and to get to another world premiere performance. It has been our pleasure also to collaborate on projects with some of the best musicians in the world.

GRAMMY® Award winners in 2009, The King’s Singers are one of the world’s most celebrated ensembles. Their programming concept in this disc is unique: built upon the individual clauses of The Lord’s Prayer, beginning and ending in plainchant, it ranges over the centuries to explore the spiritually charged text. Chant is at the heart of the programme, and each composer’s setting illuminates the others, shedding rich interpretative light on the poetic and devotional aspects of the prayer.

One of the world’s most celebrated ensembles, The King’s Singers have a packed schedule of concerts, recordings, media and education work that spans the globe. Championing the work of both young and established composers, they are instantly recognisable for their spot-on intonation, impeccable vocal blend, flawless articulation of the text and incisive timing. They are also consummate entertainers: a class act with a delightfully British wit.

As part of Signum's 15th anniversary year we are delighted to release this celebratory collection of The Best of 'The King's Singers' – a 2-CD collection drawn from their now extensive catalogue on Signum.

The first CD includes titles from Christmas (the groups debut album with Signum, released in 2004), along with music from Landscape and Time, Treason and Discord, Gesualdo’s Tenebrae Responsories, Sacred Bridges, Siglio d’Oro, Romance du soir, From the heart, High Flight and the 2012 release Royal Rhymes and Rounds.

The second CD presents songs from four albums: Six, From the heart, our most recent light album Swimming over London and the Grammy® Award winning Simple Gifts.

One of two releases in time for the Christmas period from the UKs' best-loved a cappella group The King’s Singers: 'Joy to the World' [CD] was recorded last year at one of their ever-popular Christmas shows in London’s Cadogan Hall.

The King’s Singers bring together a programme of popular hymns and carols alongside modern works and arrangements – all performed with their characteristic warmth and precision.