Choir of King's College (Cambridge)

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Choir of King's College
Seat: United KingdomUnited Kingdom Cambridge
Carrier: King's College, Cambridge
Founding: 1441
Genus: Boys' choir
Founder: King Henry VI.
Head : Daniel Hyde
Voices : SATB , boys: soprano, men: alto, tenor and bass
Website : http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/choir/

The Choir of King's College, Cambridge (also: King's College Choir, Cambridge ) is the choir of the educational institution of the same name and is one of the most respected and well-known representatives of the British choral tradition .

history

The choir was in 1441 by King Henry VI. , the founder of King's College, to ensure the chanting of the daily prayers and other services in the King's College Chapel . This is still the main task of the choir today.

Well-known composers have written commissioned works of liturgical music for the choir, such as Herbert Howells and John Rutter .

From 1982 to September 2019 the choir was directed by Stephen Cleobury (1948–2019). He was succeeded on October 1, 2019 by Daniel Hyde.

Much of the choir's worldwide fame is based on the annual BBC broadcast of the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve, which is followed by millions of listeners .

Members

The college's statutes provide for sixteen choir members. These are boys who receive their education at King's College School . They usually belong to the choir after a two-year probationary period from the age of ten until their voice changes. In addition, since the beginning of the 20th century, the male voices have been sung by fourteen college students who have received a scholarship as choral scholars . They usually belong to the choir for three years until the first exam.

Music director

The choir is led by the Director of Music , who is a fellow of the college. In the past these were:

Choral Scholars

Applicants for a scholarship as a choral scholar not only have to prove their musical skills in the choral trials , but also have to have received a regular study place - not necessarily in music, but in any subject (except medicine and architecture).

Two of the choral scholars are assigned the role of beater , one as a senior and one as a junior beater (traditionally these are the Senior Choral Scholar and his designated successor). They suggest (ger .: to beat ) the clock (or conduct) by, even if the inside of the stalls during the Psalms and often the Introit of worship Director of Music is present.

Very rarely does it happen that a non-student singer belongs to the choir as a so-called lay clerk ; mostly when there is an unforeseen vacancy at the Choral Scholars (for example, if a student has received preliminary admission but has not achieved the required school leaving certificate ( A-Level )). Most of them were choral scholars who agreed to stay in the choir for another year after their exams.

The Choral Scholars form the ensemble The King's Men (formerly: Collegium Regale ) outside the choir and sing a wide range of music for male voices under this name, from early music to barbershop (often by current or former choral scholars especially for the group arranged). The ensemble is usually led by the two beaters .

Other singing groups that emerged from the Choral Scholars :

  • The King's Singers (1968-present)
  • Pange Lingua , under the direction of Berty Rice (1990s)
  • Polyphony (1986-today)
  • The Scholars (1960s – present - also known as The Scholars Baroque Ensemble )

Well-known former members

Organ Scholars

The organ is played by two Organ Scholars who, like the Choral Scholars, are also college students. If the Director of Music is absent, one of the Organ Scholars will lead the choir. A new organ scholarship is awarded whenever an organ scholar leaves the university after completing his exams; this ensures that the college always has two organists. For applicants for an organ scholarship in Cambridge there is an exception to the rule of the UCAS application system, which prohibits simultaneous application in Cambridge and Oxford . Since King's College became a co-educational college, there have been a few female applicants for the position of organ scholars , but so far the scholarships have only been awarded to men.

Tours

The choir goes on numerous tours . Longer concert tours usually take place in summer and during the Christmas holidays, shorter ones throughout the year. Previous tours have included:

Recordings

Recent recordings on the EMI Classics label include:

  • 1998: Rutter: Requiem
  • 1999: Rachmaninov: Vespers
  • 2000: Bach: Magnificat
  • 2001: Best Loved Hymns
  • 2001: Trade: Coronation Anthems
  • 2002: Vivaldi: Gloria, Magnificat, Dixit Dominus
  • 2004: Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
  • 2005: Heavenly Voices
  • 2005: Rutter: Gloria
  • 2005: Gregorian Chant
  • 2005: On Christmas Day
  • 2006: Purcell: Music for Queen Mary
  • 2006: Brahms: A German Requiem
  • 2007: I Heard a Voice - Music of the Golden Age
  • 2014: I Was Glad: The Immortal Sound

The choir has been publishing its recordings under its own label since 2012 . The first release was a double CD released in October 2012 with a cross-section of recordings from the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from 2007–2012.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Sir Stephen Cleobury (1948-2019) , accessed November 23, 2019
  2. King's College appoints new Director of Music , accessed November 23, 2019
  3. Choral Awards