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12/6 — The Cambridge Singers, founded by
John Rutter in 1981, is a professional chamber
choir devoted primarily to recording. We will
sample a performance of Rutter’s Magnificat,
first performed in 1990 in New York.
12/13 — Paul Hillier has directed The Estonian
Philharmonic Chamber Choir since 2001.
The choir won a 2007 Grammy Award for
Best Choral Performance singing Arvo Part’s
Da pacem Domine.
12/20 — Chanticleer is the only full-time classical
vocal ensemble in the United States with
22 CDs to its credit, including Virgin of
Guadalupe featuring Mexican Baroque master
Ignacio de Jerusalem.
12/27 — Anonymous 4 is a pun on
Anonymous IV - an anonymous 13th century
writer about music. At Christmastide, we will
enjoy their recording The Legends of St.
Nicholas.
1/3 — The Bethlehem Bach Choir, directed
by Greg Funfgeld since 1983, will sing
Christmas Oratorio, a popular feature for the
past several years.
1/10 — Trio Medieval is to Anonymous 4 as
BMW is to Mercedes. Hailing from Norway,
their singing is exceptional. We will sample a
trio of selections from their album Soir Dit
Elle including Salve mater misericordie.
1/17 — Bach Collegium of Japan, founded in
1990 by Masaaki Suzuki, specializes in
Baroque music, especially the cantatas of J. S.
Bach. We will enjoy one of those ‘musical sermons.’
1/24 — Diane Loomer, founder of Chor Leoni,
was awarded Canada’s highest civilian honor,
the Order of Canada, for her work with this
Vancouver-based men’s chorus. Selections
from Canadian Safari feature Canadian folk
songs new and old.
1/31 — The Tallis Scholars, established in 1973
by Peter Phillips, is one of the finest exponents
of Renaissance sacred music and will sing
William Byrd’s Mass for 4 Voices.
2/7 — Director Stephen Layton formed
Polyphony for a concert at King’s College,
Cambridge in 1986. This small chamber choir
has developed into a critically acclaimed
choral group. Eric Whitacre’s Cloudburst is
the featured work.
2/14 — Chandos Anthem No. 9 was written
when Handel was employed by the Duke of
Chandos. The Sixteen, directed by Harry
Christophers, uses period instruments and
authentic performance practices to render
Handel’s music as the master himself probably
heard it.
2/21 — One of Canada’s premier sacred music
ensembles, Elora Festival Singers, celebrates
its 30th anniversary in 2010. Noel Edison
directs them in anthems by Howells, Willan
and others.
2/28 — The Taverner Consort and Players,
founded by director Andrew Parrott in 1973,
is just as highly regarded for its early music
performances as for newly-commissioned
works. We will hear Bach’s Passion According
to Saint John.
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