Figure 1.--The King's College Choir is one of the oldest in England. King Henry VI founded King's College in 1441 and looked forward to the daily singing of services in the Chapel. The construction of King's College Chapel, one of the most important church buildings in England, took over 100 years, but was finally completed in 1547.

King Henry VI founded King's College in 1441 and looked forward to the daily singing of services in the Chapel. The construction of King's College Chapel, one of the most important church buildings in England, took over 100 years, but was finally completed in 1547. The Choir's purpose is to sing daily services. There are 16 choristers (14choral scholars and two organ scholars) who attend King's College School. The Choir is especially known for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that it broadcasts to the world each Christmas Eve. The Choir also gives regular concerts and organizes national and internatiinal tours. While religious mucic is at the center of the Choir's existence, the choir also performs contemporary music.

History

King Henry VI founded King's College in 1441 and looked forward to the daily singing of services in the Chapel. The construction of King's College Chapel, one of the most important church buildings in England, took over 100 years, but was finally completed in 1547.

Purpose

The Choir's purpose is to sing daily services. There are 16 choristers (14choral scholars and two organ scholars) who attend King's College School. The Choir is especially known for the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols that it broadcasts to the world each Christmas Eve. There is also a televisioin broadcast of the service.

Concerts

The Choir also gives regular concerts and organizes national and internatiinal tours. The Choir had a concert tour of South Africa in 1996. Tours in recent years have been organized to Japan and Australia and several European countries;. The Choir in 1996 performed at Copenhagen’s European City of Culture celebrations. The Choir in 1997 organized another tour of America, Canada, and Barbados. There was an Australian tour in 1998. The Choir in 2000 toured Bermuda and later an Asian tour that included Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Japan, and ending in America. There are also many English performances.

Music

While religious mucic is at the center of the Choir's existence, and is the music for which the Choir is best kinown. the Choir also has an extensive repoitre of contemporary music for its many concernt performances. The Choir has commissioned works from some of the leading modern composers. These modern works have included: Dormi Jesu by John Rutter, Illuminare, Jerusalem by Judith Weir and Fayrfax Carol by Thomas Adès. Other modern composers have written for the choir, including Richard Rodney Bennett, Judith Bingham, Diana Burrell, John Casken, Peter Maxwell Davies, Stephen Dodgson, Alexander Goehr, Jonathan Harvey, James Macmillan, Nicholas Maw, Arvo Pärt, Stephen Paulus, Peter Sculthorpe, and John Tavener. service on December 24, 2000.

Reader Comments

A reader tells us, "I have an outstanding record on EMI with Benjamen Britten's A Ceremony of Carols, Rejoice in the Lamb, Te Deum, Massa Brevis, and more. Outstanding Choir conducted by Sir David Wilcocks & Philip Ledger."