Country

:

United Kingdom

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

The Tallis Scholars is a British classical music ensemble that specializes in the performance of Renaissance music. Founded in 1973 by Peter Phillips, the group has become one of the most renowned and respected ensembles in the world of early music. Peter Phillips, the founder and director of The Tallis Scholars, was born in 1953 in Oxford, England. He studied music at St. John's College, Oxford, and later at the Royal College of Music in London. In 1973, he founded The Tallis Scholars with the aim of performing Renaissance music with a small group of singers, using historically informed performance practices. The ensemble takes its name from the English composer Thomas Tallis, who lived in the 16th century and is considered one of the greatest composers of English sacred music. The Tallis Scholars have recorded many of Tallis's works, as well as music by other Renaissance composers such as William Byrd, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Josquin des Prez. The Tallis Scholars have a core group of singers who perform with the ensemble on a regular basis. These include sopranos Amy Haworth and Charlotte Ashley, altos Caroline Trevor and Patrick Craig, tenors Steven Harrold and Simon Wall, and basses Robert Macdonald and Donald Greig. The group also works with a number of guest singers, depending on the repertoire being performed. Over the years, The Tallis Scholars have performed in many of the world's most prestigious concert halls and music festivals. They have also recorded over 70 albums, many of which have won awards and critical acclaim. Some of the highlights of their career include: - In 1987, The Tallis Scholars performed at the Vatican for Pope John Paul II, as part of the celebrations for the 450th anniversary of the Sistine Chapel. The concert was broadcast live on television and was seen by millions of people around the world. - In 1994, The Tallis Scholars won a Gramophone Award for their recording of music by the Spanish Renaissance composer Cristóbal de Morales. The album was praised for its "clarity, precision, and beauty of sound." - In 2005, The Tallis Scholars performed at the BBC Proms, one of the world's most prestigious classical music festivals. They performed a program of music by Thomas Tallis, including his famous 40-part motet "Spem in alium." - In 2013, The Tallis Scholars celebrated their 40th anniversary with a series of concerts and events around the world. They also released a new album, "The Tallis Scholars Sing Josquin," which was praised for its "exquisite singing and impeccable musicianship." - In 2019, The Tallis Scholars won a Gramophone Award for their recording of music by the English Renaissance composer John Sheppard. The album was described as "a triumph of scholarship and musicianship." The Tallis Scholars have also been involved in a number of educational and outreach programs, aimed at introducing young people to the joys of Renaissance music. They have worked with schools and universities around the world, and have also established a summer school for young singers in Oxford. In conclusion, The Tallis Scholars are one of the most important and influential ensembles in the world of early music. Their commitment to historically informed performance practices, combined with their exquisite singing and impeccable musicianship, have won them countless fans and admirers around the world.

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