The Joyful Company Of Singers

In 1988 Peter Broadbent formed the Joyful Company of Singers, a chamber choir which has rapidly established itself as one of Europe's leading choirs, with major competitive successes (most recently Choir of the World at Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and Gran Premio Città di Arezzo) and concerts in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and Russia as well as in London and throughout the UK. The Joyful Company has broadcast on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM and in Belgium and Germany. Commercial recordings already released include Music from St. Petersburg on Meridian, Charles Camilleri Choral Works on Unicorn-Kanchana, Samuel Barber & William Schuman Choral works and "I love the Lord" - music by Jonathan Harvey - on ASV. Jonathan Harvey was moved to describe the JCS as "undoubtedly one of the great choirs of the world".

Born in Lancashire, Peter Broadbent studied in Manchester, where he became Chorus Master and Assistant Conductor of the Manchester Opera Company, conducting performances of Faust, Macbeth and The Marriage of Figaro. From 1975 until 1985 he was conductor of St. Angela's Singers in London, broadcasting frequently on BBC Radios 3 & 4 and local radio and giving concerts in London, Manchester and Vienna. St. Angela's Singers made their 'Proms' debut in 1982 in Berlioz's Les Troyens with the BBCSO, Singers and Chorus under Gennadi Rozhdestvensky, a performance for which Broadbent was Associate Conductor. In 1985, St. Angela's Singers appeared again at the Proms in La Damnation de Faust with the BBCSO under Mark Elder.

Discography

Francis Poulenc

La Blanche Neige A Peine Defiguree Par Une Nuit Nouvelle Tous Les Droits Belle Et Ressemblante Marie Lurie Ave Verum Corpus Salve Regina Exultate Deo De Tous Les Printemps Du Monde En Chantant Les Servants S'elancent Aussie Bas Que Le Silence Toi Ma Patiente Riante Du Ciel Et Des Planetes Le Jour M'etonne Et La Nuit Me Fait Peur La Menace Sous Le Ciel Rouge Liberte Salut, Dame Sainte Tout Puissant Dieu Seigneur, Je Vous En Prie O Mes Tres Chers Freres La Blanche Neige (De Grandes Cuillers De Neige) La Bonne Neige Bois Meurtri La Nuit, Le Froid, La Solitude O Magnum Mysterium Quem Vidistis Pastores Videntes Stellam Hodie Christus Natus Est

A gloriously beautiful choral offering for the Poulenc Centenary year; the perfect introduction to his music and one that truly celebrates the human voice. While no other CD duplicates the programme exactly, all the music is justly familiar. The earliest works are the Sept Chansons of 1936, hailed as comparable to the finest madrigals of Monteverdi. His masterpiece is perhaps the wartime Figure Humaine, written in preparation of when liberation could be celebrated with the majestic climax of the final Liberté. Contemporary with this is the chamber cantata Un Soir de Neige, contrasting the bleak coldness with the peace of Christmas. Among the many delights of this beautiful programme are Poulenc's most popular choral pieces, the four Christmas Motets, tranquil and joyful by turn, and the Four Little Prayers of St. Francis of Assisi, written for monks to sing. His last motet, for female voices, was the exquisite Ave verum corpus of 1952.

6538 CD $15.98

A Garland For Linda

Ralph Vaughan Williams - Silence & Music John Tavener - Prayer For the Healing Of the Sick Judith Bingham - Water lilies John Rutter - Musica Dei Donum David Matthews - The Doorway of the Dawn Sir Paul McCartney - Nova Roxanna Panufnik - I Dream'd Michael Berkeley - Farewell Giles Swayne - The Filght Of the Swan Sir Richard Rodney Bennett - A Good-Night

In every way imaginable, this is an extraordinarily moving recording. A Garland for Linda arose from Paul McCartney's desire to help find a cure for cancer while creating that support by composition of life enhancing music. His goal found precedent in "a Garland for the Queen" from 1953 when ten leading British composers, including Vaughan Williams, contributed new works as a musical celebration of the coronation. This celebration is of the life of Linda McCartney. The recording opens with one piece from the earlier "Garland," "Silence and Music" by Ralph Vaughan Williams. This remarkable recording then has new works by John Tavener, Judith Bingham, John Rutter, David Matthews, Paul McCartney, Roxanna Panufnik, Michael Berkeley, Giles Swayne, and Sir Richard Rodney Bennett. It is a glorious ŒWho's Who' of contemporary British composers.

6539 CD $15.98

Samuel Barber / William Schuman

Twelfth Night To Be Sung On the Water Reincarnations: i) Mary Hynes ii) Anthony O'Daly iii) The Coolin' Agnus Dei Heaven-Haven Sure On This Shining Night The Monk and His Cat The Virgin Martyrs Let Down the Bars, O Death God's Grandeur Perceptions: i) Thought ii) Beautiful Women iii) To Old Age iv) Each Of Us v) To the States vi) A Farm Picture vii) Whoever You Are viii) To You Mail Order Madrigals: i) Attention, Ladies! ii) Superfluous Hair iii) Sweet Refreshing Sleep iv) Dr Worden's Pills

Formed in 1988, the Joyful Company of Singers has become one of Europe's leading chamber choirs. With the guiding vision of Peter Broadbent, the choir has won an impressive number of international competitions with their astounding repertoire, ranging from the 16th century to contemporary works. They have been chosen for first performance of works by Howard Blake, John Buller, Chris de Souza, Alun Hoddinott, Paul Reade, Giles Swayne, and Malcolm Williamson. This particular recording focuses on the choral work of Samuel Barber and William Schuman. From Samuel Barber have been chosen the works, "Twelfth Night," "To Be Sung On The Water," "Reincarnations," "Agnus Dei," and other of his best known works including the humorous "The Monk And His Cat." From the works of William Schuman have been chosen the eight "Perceptions," a set of aphorisms culled from the verse of Walt Whitman. Along with these are the "Mail Order Madrigals," settings of mail order catalog texts to music with humorous links throughout. These are a wry musical view of America in all it¹s mercantile excesses.

6541 CD $15.98

To find a specific song on any recording (or to find recordings by group name or CD title),
pick the search method and type the item you are searching for here:

By Song Title

By Group Name

By Recording Title

By Music Category Any Category Contemporary Vocal Jazz Barbershop Doo-Wop Choral Collegiate Gospel World

    or use our for more search options