Magnificat
The vocal ensemble Magnificat has gained a reputation as one of the world's premier vocal ensembles, presenting historically informed readings of Renaissance choral works. Focusing on, but not restricting itself to, music of late Renaissance Spain and Reformation-era England, Magnificat attempts to deepen listeners' understanding of music by performing and recording traditional repertory together with obscure works.
With ten permanent members and many others who have joined the group for performances of larger works, Magnificat (also known as the Magnificat Consort or Magnificat Ensemble) was formed in 1991 by its conductor, Philip Cave. It has mostly recorded a cappella music, but it is occasionally joined by the instrumental ensemble His Majesty's Sagbutts and Cornets. In 1995, it released an album of music by Robert Ramsey on the ASV label. Since that year, however, it has been associated with the Linn label; its career there began with a recording of the Officium Defunctorum of Tomás Luís de Victoria. The group has issued several successful recordings of Renaissance favorites, including multiple critically acclaimed readings (with added singers from other top choirs) of the Thomas Tallis motet Spem in alium and a recording of Palestrina's limpid Song of Songs settings (2002). Magnificat has released several recordings devoted to composer Philippe Rogier, including Music from the Missae Sex (2011).
Magnificat's recordings of the 2010s created thematic programs that combine familiar and unfamiliar composers in portraits of the music of a given historical setting. The Tudors at Prayer (2014) included music by Tallis, Byrd, John Taverner, William Mundy, and Robert White. On Scattered Ashes (2016), the group performed pieces associated in some way with the Italian fundamentalist monk Girolamo Savonarola, the nemesis of the Medici family. In addition to performing in Britain, Magnificat has toured abroad; the year 2019 brought a tour of the U.S. That year, Magnificat recorded the Cantiones Sacrae of Heinrich Schütz. Magnificat has rarely recorded music from after 1600, and unlike other Renaissance vocal groups, it has avoided contemporary music. The group returned on Linn in 2024 with the album Orlandus Lassus: The Alchemist, Vol. 1.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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Discography
14 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Lassus: The Alchemist (Vol. 1)
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Feb 23, 2024
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Schütz: Cantiones sacrae
Classical - Released by Linn Records on May 10, 2019
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Tudors at Prayer
Classical - Released by Linn Records on May 19, 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Rogier: Polychoral Works
Magnificat, Philip Cave, His Majestys Sagbutts And Cornetts
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Feb 1, 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Hymns, Sequences & Antithons for the Church's Year
Classical - Released by Intereuro on Apr 27, 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Parsons, White & Byrd: Where late the sweet birds sang
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Nov 5, 2012
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Palestrina: Song of Songs
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Jan 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rogier: Music from the Missae Sex
Magnificat, Philip Cave, His Majestys Sagbutts And Cornetts
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Nov 14, 2011
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The Golden Age, Vol. 1: Europe
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Jun 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Coronation of the First Elizabeth
Magnificat, Philip Cave, Forbury Consort, Alan Crumpler, King's Trumpeters, Crispian Steele-Perkins
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Griffin Records on Jan 1, 2001
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Cozzolani: Complete Works, Vol. 1 - Salmi a Otto Voci Concertati (1650)
Classical - Released by Musica Omnia on Jun 25, 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chant in Honour of Anglo Saxon Saints
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Griffin Records on Jan 1, 1995
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Victoria: Officium defunctorum
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Oct 1, 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rogier: Missa Ego sum qui sum
Classical - Released by Linn Records on Nov 1, 1999
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo