Period

:

Renaissance

 

 

Classical

Genre

:

Choral

 

His Majestie's Clerkes was a renowned classical music ensemble that was founded in 1979 in Chicago, Illinois. The group was known for its exceptional performances of early music, particularly Renaissance and Baroque choral works. The ensemble was founded by Anne Heider, a musicologist and conductor who had a passion for early music and a desire to bring it to a wider audience. The ensemble's name was inspired by the 17th-century English spelling of "clerks," which referred to singers who were members of a church choir. The name was chosen to reflect the group's focus on sacred music, which was a significant part of the early music repertoire. The founding members of His Majestie's Clerkes included a group of talented singers who shared Heider's passion for early music. The ensemble's core members included sopranos Ellen Hargis and Judith Nelson, altos Drew Minter and Karen Brunssen, tenors William Watson and Kurt Hansen, and basses Richard Cohn and David Arnold. From the beginning, His Majestie's Clerkes was committed to performing early music with authenticity and historical accuracy. The ensemble used period instruments and followed the performance practices of the time, including using a small ensemble of singers and emphasizing clarity and precision in their performances. One of the highlights of the ensemble's early years was their performance of the complete works of William Byrd, a renowned English composer of the Renaissance period. The ensemble's performance of Byrd's music was praised for its clarity and precision, and it helped establish His Majestie's Clerkes as one of the leading early music ensembles in the United States. Over the years, His Majestie's Clerkes continued to perform and record a wide range of early music, including works by composers such as Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Claudio Monteverdi. The ensemble also collaborated with other musicians and ensembles, including the Newberry Consort and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. One of the ensemble's most notable collaborations was with the renowned early music conductor and scholar, Paul Hillier. Hillier worked with His Majestie's Clerkes on several projects, including a recording of the complete works of Thomas Tallis, a prominent English composer of the Renaissance period. In addition to their performances and recordings, His Majestie's Clerkes also received numerous awards and accolades throughout their career. The ensemble was awarded the prestigious Noah Greenberg Award by the American Musicological Society in 1990, which recognized their outstanding contributions to the performance of early music. The ensemble also received critical acclaim for their recordings, including their 1993 recording of the complete works of Orlando di Lasso, which was praised for its clarity and precision. The recording was awarded the Diapason d'Or, one of the highest honors in the classical music recording industry. Despite their success, His Majestie's Clerkes faced financial challenges throughout their career. The ensemble relied on grants and donations to support their performances and recordings, and they struggled to maintain a stable financial base. In 2003, after 24 years of performing and recording together, His Majestie's Clerkes disbanded due to financial difficulties. The ensemble's legacy, however, lives on through their recordings and the impact they had on the early music community in the United States.

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