The Clerks' Group
The Clerks' Group is a popular a cappella singing ensemble devoted largely to Medieval and Renaissance-era vocal works. It consists of eight singers, but early on performed with as few as six. The range of most of the compositions the group performs spans from the eleventh century to the end of sixteenth century, though there are a small number of contemporary pieces that were commissioned for concert use. At the heart of the repertory are sacred works by Ockeghem, Josquin Desprez, Obrecht, Machaut, Dufay, Dunstable, and other composers of that era. Of these the ensemble has chosen the music of the Flemish contingent, especially that of Ockeghem, as a point of focus.
The Clerks' Group was formed at Oxford University in 1992 by choral conductor and baritone Edward Wickham, generally recognized as one of England's foremost choral music authorities. Wickham, who is also a musicologist and critic, has led not only the Clerks' Group over the years, but the Orlando Chamber Choir as well. From 1995 to 2005, he directed the Renaissance Singers of London, an amateur ensemble devoted to Renaissance-era vocal works.
The Clerks' Group made its debut in London in 1992 and shortly established itself as one of the foremost early music vocal ensembles before the public. A series of recordings the Clerks' made for the British label ASV featuring sacred music by Johannes Ockeghem received lavish praise from critics in England and abroad, and culminated in an important breakthrough for the group with an Early Music Award from Gramophone Magazine in 1997.
That same year the Clerks' embarked on a highly successful tour of the United Kingdom and Europe (Germany, Holland, France, Belgium) performing the works of Ockeghem to coincide with the composer's quincentenary. In 1999 the group made its New York debut at Corpus Christi Church in a program of mostly Ockeghem and Josquin works that drew high praise from The New York Times.
In 2003 the ensemble debuted at Royal Albert Hall for a Proms concert where it scored a major success. That same year it released its first CD exclusively devoted to the sacred works of Obrecht, and in 2005 went on tour in the U.K., Holland, and Belgium performing works by that Flemish master to mark the 500th anniversary of his death. By 2006, the Clerks' Group had released over 20 recordings, mostly on the ASV label.
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Discography
13 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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The Ockeghem Collection
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Gaudeamus on Feb 27, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Memoria - Medieval Songs of Remembrance
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Gaudeamus on Apr 10, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ockeghem: Requiem / Missa Fors seulement
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Mar 18, 1997
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Motets - Musique du Codex d'Ivrée
Classical - Released by Signum Records on May 24, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Josquin Des Prez
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Gaudeamus on Jun 12, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Essential Ockeghem
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Gaudeamus on Jan 1, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Josquin Des Prez: Missa Fortuna desperata
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Jan 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Musique sacrée (Bologna Q15)
Classical - Released by Signum Records on May 24, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Josquin Des Prez: Missa Malheur me bat; Liber generationis Jesu Christi
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Jan 1, 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbireau: Missa Virgo Parens Christi
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Jan 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ockeghem: Missa De plus en plus
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Jan 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Obrecht: Missa Malheur me bat; Motets by Obrecht & Martini
The Clerks' Group, Edward Wickham
Classical - Released by Decca (UMO) on Jan 1, 1998
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Ouvres vocales
Classical - Released by Signum Records on May 24, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo