Tenebrae

Tenebrae is a professional chamber choir, founded by Nigel Short and Barbara Pollock. Performing by candlelight, the choir creates an atmosphere of spiritual and musical reflection, where medieval chant and renaissance works are interspersed with contemporary compositions to create an ethereal mood of contemplation. The beautiful acoustics and lighting effects of a Tenebrae concert are further enhanced by the choir's dramatic use of movement around the performing space. As singers move around their surroundings to explore all possible sound perspectives, each member of the audience is able to experience the power and intimacy of the human voice.

The word 'TENEBRAE' comes from the medieval latin meaning 'darkness'. Nowadays it is more commonly associated with the word 'shadows'. It is also the name for the services of matins and lauds which are sung on the last three days of Holy Week. This includes a ceremony of candles.