Role

:

Conductor  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

November 17, 1960 in Solihull, Birmingham, West Midlands, England

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

John Butt is a renowned classical music artist who has made significant contributions to the world of music as a conductor, harpsichordist, and scholar. Born in 1960 in Solihull, England, Butt grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from an early age. His father was a church organist, and his mother was a singer, which helped to foster his love for music. Butt began his musical education at the University of Cambridge, where he studied music and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He then went on to pursue a Master of Music degree at the University of Glasgow, where he specialized in early music. During his time at Glasgow, Butt became interested in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach, which would become a lifelong passion. After completing his studies, Butt began his career as a musician, performing as a harpsichordist and conductor with various ensembles. He quickly gained a reputation as a skilled performer and was invited to perform at prestigious venues such as the Wigmore Hall in London and the Edinburgh International Festival. In 1997, Butt was appointed as the Gardiner Professor of Music at the University of Glasgow, where he taught musicology and performance. He also founded the Dunedin Consort, a Scottish ensemble that specializes in early music. Under Butt's leadership, the Dunedin Consort has become one of the most respected early music ensembles in the world, known for their innovative interpretations of Baroque music. One of Butt's most notable achievements as a musician was his recording of Bach's Mass in B Minor with the Dunedin Consort. The recording, which was released in 2010, received widespread critical acclaim and won several awards, including a Gramophone Award for Best Baroque Vocal Recording. The recording was praised for its clarity and precision, as well as its innovative approach to the work. In addition to his work as a performer, Butt is also a respected scholar of music. He has written several books on the music of Bach, including Bach Interpretation: Articulation Marks in Primary Sources of J.S. Bach and Bach's Dialogue with Modernity: Perspectives on the Passions. His scholarship has been praised for its depth and insight, and he is considered one of the leading authorities on Bach's music. Butt has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize in 2013 and the Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Best Choral Performance in 2014. He was also appointed as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2011, in recognition of his contributions to music. Today, Butt continues to perform and record as a harpsichordist and conductor, and he remains an influential figure in the world of classical music. His innovative interpretations of Baroque music and his scholarly contributions to the study of Bach's music have helped to shape the way that we understand and appreciate this important period in musical history.

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