Ensembles: Peter Phillips and the Tallis Scholars, Polyphony, Gabrieli Consort, Andrew Carwood and the Cardinall's Musick, Andrew Parrott and the Taverner Choir, Word of Mouth Chorus.
Contemporary Composers: Thomas Tallis, John Taverner, Tomas Luis de Victoria, William Byrd, William Cornysh. Contemporary composers: John Tavener, Peter Hallock, Kevin Siegfried, Jeff Junkinsmith
Sounds Like
“... the nearest thing one can imagine to a tapestry in sound, with all the intricate interweaving of pitches, colors, shading and density.”
(Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
“...Its sound was bright and focused with each member of the chorus contributing his or her potential, giving the impression of something greater than actual numbers would suggest.” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
"...characterized by a seamless blend across the ranges and a marvelous clarity of texture." (Crosscut)
Hailed as "a superb choir" (Gramophone, Nov, 2005), as well as "a choir to watch" (Fanfare, Sept/Oct. 2001), the Tudor Choir and its director Doug Fullington are receiving increasing national and international attention as interpreters of both Renaissance polyphony and early American music. Founded in 1993, the Seattle-based professional vocal chamber ensemble comprises 12 core singers, but can expand to up to 40 members for works such as Thomas Tallis' monumental Spem in alium.
Doug Fullington and the Tudor Choir have established themselves as leading interpreters of early American music. Their Shapenote Album (Loft) is widely regarded as the definitive professional recording of the shapenote genre and has been regularly broadcast on National Public Radio. Other recordings – Gentle Words: Shaker Songs arranged by Kevin Siegfried and An American Christmas, shapenote carols from New England and Appalachia (both Loft) &ndash have reinforced this reputation. The choir's newest recording-Simple Gifts-is a follow-up CD to Gentle Words with expanded repertoire to include British and American music characterized by the same simple character and enduring melody. Several beautiful new pieces by Kevin Siegfried are also featured.
The Tudor Choir is also receiving international recognition for its performances of Renaissance polyphony. Reviewing the choir's recent CD, Jacob Clemens non Papa: Requiem and Motets (Loft), a disc of Flemish polyphony, Gramophone magazine stated, "Let us hope this is the first of many recordings of this repertoire by this superb group" (Nov. 2005).
The Tudor Choir has performed extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest, including concert appearances in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Portland, Oregon. The choir presents an annual subscription series in the Seattle area, where it is both an Artist-in-Residence at St. Mark's Cathedral and a Resident Ensemble at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Medina. The Tudor Choir has collaborated numerous times with Seattle Baroque Orchestra and appeared on the Early Music Guild's International Series. The choir has also performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet and Mark Morris Dance Group and in conjunction with Seattle Opera. The choir has recorded for Seattle Symphony Orchestra's Musically Speaking series and performed live on National Public Radio's A Prairie Home Companion broadcast.
The Tudor Choir has cultivated relationships with a number of world-renowned conductors and especially with Peter Phillips, director of the Tallis Scholars. Mr. Phillips has conducted the choir in a number of performances, including a joint performance with members of the Tallis Scholars for the opening of the 2005 Tallis Scholars Summer School in Seattle, co-hosted by the Tudor Choir. The choir has also sung under the direction of Stephen Cleobury (King's College, Cambridge), Martin Haselböck (Vienna), Paul Hillier (Hilliard Ensemble, Theatre of Voices) and Andrew Parrott (Taverner Choir).
