Director: David Skinner
Specialists in Medieval and Renaissance Music

One of the leading vocal consorts in the UK, Alamire has an enviable line-up of some of the finest consort singers under the charismatic directorship of David Skinner. Inspired by the great choral works of the medieval and early modern periods, the ensemble expands or contracts according to its chosen repertoire and often combines with instrumentalists, creating colourful programmes to illustrate musical or historical themes.

Alamire records exclusively for Obsidian Records and has given concerts regularly in the UK, USA and Europe. They have enjoyed varied and highly acclaimed projects including soundtracks for TV and film, sound installations for art galleries and most recently an exploration of the choral and song repertoire of the Tudor court to mark the 500th Anniversary of the accession of King Henry VIII.

"I can't emphasize enough how much of the success of this recording is due to Alamire's impeccably balanced, full-bodied, well-tuned sound, so expertly recorded in three different venues - and to the scholarship and clearly inspired direction of David Skinner. Don't delay; you'll love this!"

Henry's Music, ClassicsToday.com, July 2009

ALAMIRE takes its name from the solemnization symbols found in the 'hand' of Guido d'Arezzo, an 11th-century teacher and theorist; the term was also used as a pseudonym by the early 16th-century scribe and music editor, Petrus Alamire (aka Peter van den Hove, c.1470 - 1536). The consort was founded in 2005 by David Skinner as an extension to his research and performance activities, and in order to explore and promote the compositional processes behind the great masterworks, and lesser-known works, of the late medieval and early modern periods. Their first recording, Music from the Court of Henry VIII was released in December 2005, and they have since recorded the madrigals of Philippe Verdelot from the Newberry-Oscott partbooks, which in 1526 were a gift from the city of Florence to Henry VIII. It is the combination of academic excellence and supreme quality of voices that makes Alamire an ideal ensemble not only for concerts and recordings, but for various media-based projects including gallery installations and soundtracks for historical documentaries and films. Recent projects include a television documentary on the Office of St David, and an exploration of the music of Josquin Desprez within the medium of modern 'sound art'. Plans are afoot to exploit the multi-media experience of late medieval and early renaissance music in a three-part television documentary, currently under development.

"The musical brilliance of the young Henry VIII is the subject of this disc.The recording's achievements accord fully with those of its subject: mastery in performance, in scholarship and in production creates a sublime listening experience. The freshness and sensitivity of Alamire distinguishes it from rival ensembles. David Skinner channels the singers' skill to create a stunning architecture.The scholarship also deserves praise.In short, here is a unique window onto a lost world."

BBC Music Magazine, August 2009

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Alamire won the contract to record the soundtrack for the British Library's 2009 exhibition celebrating 500 years since the coronation of Henry VIII. Henry's Music, on the Obsidian label, includes a world premiere recording of the contents of MS Royal 11.e.xi (a royal choirbook gifted to King Henry in around 1518, also produced in full-colour facsimile by the Folio Society), and tribute motets by Robert Fayrfax, Philippe Verdelot, and John Taverner.

The programme, with the cornett and sackbut ensemble QuintEssential and gothic harpist Andrew Lawrence-King, has toured extensively throughout the UK in 2009. One of the highlights was a lunchtime recital and evening gala concert at the British Library on the anniversary of the coronation of Henry VIII, 24 June. The soundtrack also features in the Channel 4 documentary series on Henry VIII presented by Dr David Starkey; here David Skinner and Alamire have worked closely with the renowned film composer Philip Sheppard who composed the soundtrack based on Henry's Music.

Discography

All on Obsidian:
CD701 Josquin Desprez: Missa D'ung aultre amer, Motets & Chansons
CD702 Thomas Tomkins: These Distracted Times
CD703 Philippe Verdelot: Madrigals for a Tudor King
CD704 Henry's Music: Motets from a Royal Choirbook, Songs by Henry VIII (with QuintEssential)
2010 release: William Byrd and Thomas Tallis: Cantiones Sacrae 1575

www.obsidianrecords.co.uk

Sample Programmes for 2010-11

England's 'Golden Age' of church music
A selection of motets by Thomas Tallis and William Byrd from Cantiones Sacrae 1575 composed for Queen Elizabeth I
(5-8 voices)

Missa Adieu mes amours by Francisco de Peñalosa (ed. Tess Knighton)
with cantilenas and motets sung by Clare Wilkinson mezzo soprano and Andrew Lawrence-King harp
(8 voices with harp)

'Henry's Legacy'
Following the huge success of our Henry's Music concerts and CD in 2009, this programme begins with some musical glories of the court of Henry VIII and explores Edward's Protestant Reformation and the court of Elizabeth I (including music by Taverner, Tallis, Byrd and others).
(8-10 voices)

'A Renaissance Icon'
Josquin Desprez Missa D'ung aultre amer, motets & chansons - the master and his legacy.
(9 voices with harp)

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