The Renaissance Singers of London
The Renaissance Singers is London’s leading amateur chamber choir specialising in European sacred music of the 15th-17th centuries. We perform music by well-known great composers of the period including Josquin, Tallis, Byrd, Lassus, Palestrina and Victoria as well as giving rare airings to gems by lesser-known musicians.
We have a varied annual programme giving around five concerts a year, mainly in London, and undertake occasional overseas tours and exchange projects with foreign choirs.
The choir also hosts three workshops a year, open to all, where we explore Renaissance repertoire under expert direction. Among our recent workshop leaders are John Milsom, Sally Dunkley, Philip Thorby and Bruno Turner.
Welcome to the Renaissance Singers’ Website!
Unearthing Treasures: Edmund Hooper’s ‘Flat’ Service
Performance and short talk
Thursday 30th September 2010, 7.00pm
Priory Church of St John, Clerkenwell
Directed by David Allinson
with William Whitehead, organist
Admission free
The Renaissance Singers give the modern premiere of a forgotten Magnifcat and Nunc Dimittis by Edmund Hooper (c.1553-1621), an organist and composer who, in his lifetime and for many years afterwards, was as highly regarded as his famous contemporary Orlando Gibbons. His music for the Anglican church is now largely - and unjustifiably - neglected.
Following extensive research into the composer’s ‘missing’ works, David Allinson, a specialist in early English church music, has produced the first modern performing edition of The 'Flat' Service. The choir will present this fascinating work within the context of a service of Jacobean Choral Evensong, preceded by a short talk by David Allison on the exciting and challenging process of reconstructing the service from a single, incomplete source.
The Renaissance Singers’ new edition of The 'Flat' Service will be on sale via this website at a low cost from November 2010, ensuring that this beautiful work can regain its rightful place among the repertoire of church and cathedral choirs.
Forthcoming Events
Take a look around our website to find out more about The Renaissance Singers.
The Renaissance Singers is a registered charity number 1015930 and member of Making Music
Edmund Hooper’s music, including The ‘Flat’ Service
Monday 4th October 2010, 7.30-9.30pm
Priory Church of St John, Clerkenwell
Directed by David Allinson
Tickets £10 (£8 concessions)
Keen amateur singers and choral directors are invited to sing and further explore works by Hooper at an Open Workshop led by David Allinson and the Renaissance Singers.
Click here to book tickets
