Tenebrae
Tenebrae is a professional chamber choir formed and founded by King's Singers alum Nigel Short. It has established itself as a leading international choir through its performances, active touring schedule, and growing recording catalog, as well as educational and community engagement programs.
Tenebrae was conceived by Short while he was a member of the King's Singers; he was looking for a group with more flexibility for performing. Tenebrae was founded in 2001 by Short and Barbara Pollock, with Short serving as the artistic director since its founding. Tenebrae's premiere came in London in 2001, with a performance of Short's The Dream of Herod. Short's work was part of Tenebrae's debut recording, which came shortly after its formation. A unique aspect of Tenebrae's performances is in performing only in candlelight and that the choir moves about the venue during its appearances. The difficulty of which led to the lighting -- as it were -- being taken care of in-house by Short and Tenebrae. The group's repertoire covers choral music from the Renaissance through newly commissioned works by such composers as Judith Bingham, Owain Park, and Roderick Williams, the first of which, Path of Miracles by Joby Talbot, came in 2005.
Tenebrae has toured widely internationally and is very active in the U.K., where it has performed with other leading ensembles, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the Britten Sinfonia, and the Academy of Ancient Music. Tenebrae's 2012 recording of Victoria's Requiem Mass of 1605 earned a Best Choral Performance Award from BBC Music Magazine, capturing that prize again for 2016's Brahms, Bruckner: Motets. Tenebrae also earned its first Grammy nomination in 2016 for the album Music of the Spheres on the Bene Arte imprint.
In 2017, Tenebrae launched an annual Holy Week Festival at St. John's Smith Square. Each year this festival offers performances from Tenebrae as well as other esteemed ensembles and soloists such as the BBC Singers, Voces8, and violinist Lana Trotovsek. Tenebrae has established an Associate Artist program, an educational and mentorship program for professional singers still early in their careers, in addition other workshops and programs for amateur musicians, ensembles, and students at disadvantaged schools. In 2018, the group issued three albums, including A Walk with Ivor Gurney with the Aurora Orchestra, mezzo-soprano Dame Sarah Connolly, and narrator Simon Callow. Returning in 2022, Tenebrae was heard on the albums When Sleep Comes with saxophonist Christian Forshaw and the Christmas album In Winter's House; like much of its recording catalog, these albums were issued on the Signum Classics label.
© Keith Finke & Chris True /TiVo
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"Mother and child"
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Jun 21, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
A Walk with Ivor Gurney
Tenebrae, Aurora Orchestra, Nigel Short
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Oct 19, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
On Eagles' Wings: Sacred Choral Works by Alexander L'Estrange
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Apr 1, 2016
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Daylight Declines: Choral Music by Paweł Łukaszewski
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Jun 1, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Path of Miracles - Joby Talbot
Classical - Released by Signum Records on May 8, 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Will Todd: Lux Et Veritas - Music for Peace and Reflection
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Sep 9, 2014
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
O vos imitatores (Arr. for Soprano, Saxophone and Vocal Ensemble by Nigel Short)
Tenebrae, Christian Forshaw, Victoria Meteyard
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Mar 23, 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gaudete - Arranged By Karl Jenkins
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Jun 21, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Abide With Me (Arr. for Saxophone and Vocal Ensemble Christian Forshaw)
Tenebrae, Christian Forshaw, Nigel Short
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Feb 24, 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Gesualdo / Victoria - Responsories And Lamentations For Holy Saturday
Classical - Released by Archiv Produktion on Jan 1, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Dream of Herod
Christmas Music - Released by Signum Records on Jun 21, 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Tenebrae Responsories for Maundy Thursday, First Nocturn: In Monte Oliveti
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Mar 4, 2020
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
The First Noel (Arr. Gregson for Solo Cello, Choir and Strings)
Peter Gregson, Tenebrae, Nigel Short
Classical - Released by Deutsche Grammophon (DG) on Nov 3, 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Alexander Levine: The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Mar 11, 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Daylight declines. Choral music by Paweł Łukaszewski
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Mar 23, 2018
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
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Psalm 121 (Arr. for Saxophone and Vocal Ensemble by Christian Forshaw)
Tenebrae, Christian Forshaw, Nigel Short
Classical - Released by Signum Records on Mar 10, 2022
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Surge Illuminare (Live)
Tenebrae, Michael John Trotta, Nigel Short
Classical - Released by Hampton Roads Music Group on Feb 2, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
O Nata Lux (Live)
Tenebrae, Michael John Trotta, Nigel Short
Classical - Released by Hampton Roads Music Group on Jan 12, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Requiem: XI. Lux Aeterna (Radio Cut)
Michael John Trotta, Tenebrae, Nigel Short
Choral Music (Choirs) - Released by Hampton Roads Music Group on Mar 8, 2024
24-Bit 192.0 kHz - Stereo -
Dies Irae (Live)
Tenebrae, Michael John Trotta, Nigel Short
Classical - Released by Hampton Roads Music Group on Jan 19, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo