Period

:

Renaissance

Genre

:

Choral

 

Canterbury Cathedral Choir is a world-renowned classical music ensemble that has been enchanting audiences with its ethereal music for centuries. The choir is based in the historic Canterbury Cathedral, which is located in the city of Canterbury in Kent, England. The choir is made up of boy choristers, girl choristers, and adult male singers, and is led by the Director of Music, who is responsible for the choir's repertoire and performances. The history of Canterbury Cathedral Choir dates back to the 6th century, when St. Augustine arrived in Kent to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. He established a monastery in Canterbury, which became the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the leader of the Church of England. The choir was established to provide music for the daily services in the cathedral, and has been an integral part of the cathedral's worship ever since. The choir has undergone many changes over the centuries, but it has always maintained its reputation for excellence. In the 16th century, during the reign of Henry VIII, the choir was disbanded and replaced with a group of adult singers. However, in the 19th century, the choir was re-established as a boys' choir, and in the 20th century, girls were admitted to the choir for the first time. Today, the choir is made up of 25 boy choristers, 12 girl choristers, and 12 adult male singers. The boy choristers are aged between 8 and 13, and are educated at the choir school, which is located within the cathedral precincts. The girl choristers are aged between 12 and 18, and are drawn from local schools. The adult male singers are professional musicians who sing alto, tenor, and bass. The choir's repertoire is wide-ranging, and includes music from the medieval period to the present day. The choir is particularly renowned for its performances of the music of Thomas Tallis, William Byrd, and other composers of the English Renaissance. The choir also performs contemporary music, and has commissioned works from composers such as John Tavener and Arvo Pärt. Canterbury Cathedral Choir has performed in many prestigious venues around the world, including the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Sistine Chapel in Rome, and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. The choir has also performed for many notable figures, including Queen Elizabeth II, Pope John Paul II, and the Dalai Lama. One of the choir's most notable performances was at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 1997. The choir sang a hauntingly beautiful rendition of "I Vow to Thee, My Country", which moved many of the mourners to tears. The choir's performance was broadcast around the world, and helped to cement its reputation as one of the finest choirs in the world. Canterbury Cathedral Choir has also won many awards and accolades over the years. In 2014, the choir won the Gramophone Award for Best Choral Performance for its recording of Thomas Tallis's "Spem in alium". The choir has also been nominated for several other Gramophone Awards, and has won the Diapason d'Or and the Classical Brit Award for Best Choral Album. In conclusion, Canterbury Cathedral Choir is a world-renowned classical music ensemble that has been enchanting audiences with its ethereal music for centuries. The choir's history dates back to the 6th century, and it has undergone many changes over the years, but it has always maintained its reputation for excellence.

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