Voces8
Voces8 is an international award winning a cappella octet founded in 2003 by ex-choristers of Westminster Abbey. With a repertoire ranging from 13th century polyphony to unique jazz and popular arrangements, Voces8 has entertained audiences across Europe and the UK. The group has been praised for "stunning performance", "exquisite singing" and "a sound that spans the entire range of vocal colour". When not on the concert platform, Voces8 spends much of its time leading workshops and masterclasses around the world.
First achieving success in 2005 at the 44th International Choral Grand Prix in Gorizia, Italy, Voces8 won first prize for best jazz performance and the audience vote for best performance. In October 2006, Voces8 took part in the 38th International Choral Contest in Tolosa, Spain. The group won first prize in both the sacred and secular categories and was awarded the highest number of points in the overall competition.
Voces8 performs widely in the UK, Europe and the USA. Recent highlights include opening the National Choral Competition in Spain, appearances on Austrian and Slovenian television, a concert at Wartburg Castle for Deutschlandradio Kultur and a guest appearance for the International Federation of Choral Music in Belgium..
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Goldeneye |
With a dash of danger, a hint of high society and mixture of three parts suave English gentlemen to one part beautiful femme fatale, this is the new album by vocal ensemble VOCES8. Aces High is a thrilling blend of James Bond themes and classic Jazz and Pop tunes. VOCES8 has established itself as the foremost young British a cappella group performing repertoire ranging from early polyphony to unique jazz and popular arrangements. VOCES8 has entertained audiences across Europe, and has been praised for its stunning performance, exquisite singing and a sound that spans the entire range of vocal color.
Listen to "From Russia With Love" in Real Audio.
| 4262CD $17.95 |
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Evensong Me and My Shadow Fever Gabriel's Message Magnificat Primi Toni Straighten Up and Fly Right Jailhouse Rock Good King Wenceslas O Clap Your Hands The Luckiest Nunc Dimittis Feeling Good Magnificat Hallelujah Gabriel's Message (Cathedral Mix) |
Voces8 has established itself as the foremost young British a cappella group, performing a varied repertoire, from popular and jazz arrangements to early polyphony. The 6-men, 2-women octet performs extensively in the UK, Europe and the US, and has been drawing reviews such as "stunning performance," "exquisite singing" and "a sound that spans the entire range of vocal color." We can only agree with this assessment in every way, and point out that after the octet's recent performance at the ACDA Convention in Oklahoma City, over a hundred people lined up at the PAC booths to buy "Evensong," and only 75 were lucky enough to get one, but we have now managed to get our hands on a bunch more from the group! 12 songs, every one an exquisite gem, so we will simply list them: British composers Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley's title tune, Al Jolson's "Me and My Shadow," Otis Blackwell's jazzy "Fever," "Gabriel's Message" (pop mix), Palestrina's soaring "Magnificat Primi Toni," Nat King Cole's "Straighten Up and Fly Right," Jerry Lieber/Mike Stoller's "Jailhouse Rock," "Good King Wenceslas," Orlando Gibbons' "O Clap Your Hands," Ben Folds' "The Luckiest," Gustav Holst's "Nunc Dimittis" and Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley's "Feeling Good." Be it Choral, Vocal Jazz, Pop, Classical Spiritual or whatever genre you'd care to put them in, Voces8 is one of the best a cappella groups we've ever heard. Buy "Evensong," turn the volume up or put on some fine headphones, and enjoy!
Listen to "Me and My Shadow" in Real Audio.
| 3096 CD $15.95 |
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O Clap Your Hands (Orlando Gibbons) Factum Est Silentium (Richard Dering) Haec Dies (William Byrd) Hear My Prayer (Henry Purcell) Gaude Virgo Mater Christi (Josquin Desprez) Magnificat Primi Toni A 8 (Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina) Cantata Domino (Claudio Monteverdi) Abendlied (Josef Rheinberger) Nunc Dimittis (Gustav Holst) As Yesta Was From Latmos Hill Descending (Thomas Weelkes) Fair Phyllis (Robert Pearsall ) Il Est Bel Et Bon (Pierre passereau) Lieto Godea (Giovanni Gabrieli) Steal Away (Traditional Spiritual) Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel (Paul Har)t Mack the Knife (Kurt Weill Maria (Leonard Bernstein) Who Will Buy (Lionel Bart) I Got Rhythm |
The marvelously varied repertoire of Voces Cantabiles Music's 6-man, 2 woman a cappella ensemble Voces8 is highlighted on this collection of tunes that have been wowing audiences and judges across Europe, making the group one of the most highly sought after vocal ensembles around. The group's links to Westminster Abbey are clear in the first two cuts, "O Clap Your Hands," a polyphonic work by former organist Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625), and Richard Dering's (1580-1630) Italian canzona "Factum est Silentium." William Byrd's "Haec Dies" continues the Italianate theme, and returning to Westminster Abbey we hear from another former organist, Henry Purcell (1659-1695), his 8-part "Hear My Prayer, O Lord." Other fine classical works follow, among them "Gaude Virgo, Mater Christi" by Josquin de Prez, Claudio Monteverdi's "Cantate Domino," Josef Rheinberger's "Abenlied" and Robert Pearsall's "Lay a Garland." Two spirituals, the plaintive "Steal Away" and "Didn't my Lord Deliver Daniel," Louis Armstrong's jazz recording of "Mack the Knife" hears the ensemble imitate an 8-part big band, "Maria" from "West Side Story" and "Who Will Buy" from the musical "Oliver" follow. The final cut returns to an Armstrong recording of Gershwin's 1930s classic, "I Got Rhythm." A wonderful, stunning collection, and another winner for Voces8!
Listen to "Cantate Domino" in Real Audio.
| 7662 CD $15.95 |
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Away in a Manger I Saw Three Ships Silent Night The Boar's Head Carol Coventry Carol Good King Wenceslas Gabriel's Message The Twelve Days of Christmas In Dulci Jubilo Ding Dong Merrily on High A Great and Mighty Wander The Holly and the Ivy I Wonder as I Wander Puer Natus in Bethlehem Jingle Bells In the Bleak Midwinter Merry Christmas |
Voces Cantabiles Music is a British Educational Foundation, led by Artistic Director Barnaby Smith and an elite team of 19 professional performance artists, teachers, facilitators and workshop leaders that maintains 4 ensembles, Voces Cantabiles, Voces Cantabiles Youth Choir, the Senesino Players, a professional chamber orchestra, and Voces8, a professional a cappella vocal octet. "Snowed In" is a finely-crafted Christmas collection of 17 songs by these 6 young men and 2 women singers, founded in 2003 by ex-choristers of Westminster Abbey. With a repertoire ranging from 13th century polyphony to new jazz arrangements, the group has toured extensively in Europe, winning first prizes at International Grand Prix in Goriza and at the European Grand Prix in Spain, for both the sacred and secular categories. Favorites are standards "I Saw Three Ships," "The Boar's Head Carol," "Good King Wenceslas," "Gabriel's Message," "The Twelve Days of Christmas," "Ding Dong Merrily on High," "The Holly and the Ivy," "I Wonder as I Wander" and "In the Bleak Midwinter," but the fresh, clean sound of this talented group makes every selection a winner. Treat your family and friends to "Snowed In," one of the best Christmas recordings of the year!
Listen to "Ding Dong Merrily on High" in Real Audio.
| 7661 CD $15.95 |
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