Country

:

United Kingdom

Genre

:

Choral

 

The Taverner Consort is a renowned classical music ensemble that specializes in performing early music from the medieval and Renaissance periods. The ensemble was founded in 1973 by the English conductor and musicologist Andrew Parrott, who remains its artistic director to this day. Parrott had previously studied music at Oxford University and had worked as a conductor and musicologist in London before founding the Taverner Consort. He was inspired by the work of the English composer John Taverner, who lived in the 16th century and was known for his sacred choral music. Parrott named his ensemble after Taverner as a tribute to his work and as a way of highlighting the importance of early music in the classical music canon. The Taverner Consort's main members are a group of highly skilled vocalists and instrumentalists who specialize in performing early music. The ensemble typically performs with a small number of musicians, ranging from four to twelve, depending on the repertoire. The musicians are chosen for their expertise in early music and their ability to perform with historical accuracy and sensitivity. Over the years, the Taverner Consort has performed at some of the world's most prestigious concert halls and music festivals. The ensemble has also recorded numerous albums, many of which have received critical acclaim and won awards. One of the Taverner Consort's most notable performances was its 1980 concert at the Edinburgh Festival, where it performed a program of music by the English composer William Byrd. The concert was widely praised for its historical accuracy and the beauty of the ensemble's performance. Another highlight of the Taverner Consort's career was its 1991 performance of Bach's St. Matthew Passion at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The performance was a landmark event in the early music movement and was widely regarded as one of the finest performances of the work ever recorded. In addition to its live performances, the Taverner Consort has also recorded numerous albums of early music. Some of the ensemble's most notable recordings include its 1984 album of music by the French composer Guillaume de Machaut, its 1990 album of music by the English composer Thomas Tallis, and its 1993 album of music by the Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi. The Taverner Consort has received numerous awards and accolades over the years for its contributions to the early music movement. In 1981, the ensemble was awarded the Gramophone Award for Best Early Music Recording for its album of music by William Byrd. In 1992, the ensemble was awarded the Diapason d'Or for its recording of Bach's St. Matthew Passion. Today, the Taverner Consort remains one of the most respected and influential ensembles in the early music movement. Its performances and recordings continue to inspire and educate audiences around the world about the beauty and historical significance of early music.

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