Country

:

United Kingdom

Genre

:

Choral

 

 

Vocal

 

The Hilliard Ensemble is a British classical music ensemble that was founded in 1974. The group is known for its performances of early music, particularly medieval and Renaissance music, as well as contemporary classical music. The ensemble has been praised for its unique sound and its ability to bring new life to old music. The founding members of the Hilliard Ensemble were Paul Hillier, David James, Rogers Covey-Crump, and Nigel Rogers. The group was originally formed as a quartet, but later expanded to include a fifth member, Gordon Jones. The ensemble's name comes from the Hilliard family, who were prominent musicians in 16th-century England. The Hilliard Ensemble quickly gained a reputation for their performances of early music, particularly the music of the medieval and Renaissance periods. The group's unique sound was due in part to their use of a technique called "just intonation," which involves tuning the notes of a musical scale to pure intervals rather than the tempered intervals used in modern Western music. This technique gave the ensemble's performances a distinctive, ethereal quality. Over the years, the Hilliard Ensemble has collaborated with many other musicians and ensembles, including the Kronos Quartet, saxophonist Jan Garbarek, and composer Arvo Pärt. The group has also commissioned many new works from contemporary composers, including Gavin Bryars, Heinz Holliger, and James MacMillan. One of the Hilliard Ensemble's most notable performances was their 1984 recording of the medieval composer Pérotin's "Viderunt Omnes." The recording was a breakthrough for the ensemble, and helped to establish them as one of the leading interpreters of early music. The group's 1994 recording of Arvo Pärt's "Passio" was also highly acclaimed, and won the Gramophone Award for Best Contemporary Composition. In addition to their recordings, the Hilliard Ensemble has performed at many of the world's leading concert halls and music festivals. The group has toured extensively throughout Europe, North America, and Asia, and has performed at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Carnegie Hall in New York. The Hilliard Ensemble has received many awards and honors over the years, including the Gramophone Award for Best Early Music Recording in 1991 and 1993, and the Diapason d'Or in 1994. The group was also awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Chamber Music Award in 1998. Despite their success, the Hilliard Ensemble has remained committed to their original mission of bringing new life to old music. The group has continued to explore new repertoire and collaborate with other musicians and ensembles, and has remained one of the most respected and innovative classical music ensembles in the world.

More....