Selected Discography
PHILIPS & DERING: MOTETS - Ensemble In Echo with the choir of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge (Linn Records, 2023)
More information here.
Watch the trailer here.
More information here.
Watch the trailer here.
THE MYTH OF VENICE: 16TH-CENTURY MUSIC FOR CORNETTO AND KEYBOARDS - with Silas Wollston (Delphian, 2021)
'Glenton’s own diminutions are gently and lightly patted into the larger musical line. And together with Wollston’s calm, the whole thing sways like a dance made of chiffon.' - Gramophone, Jan 2022
More information here.
Watch the trailer here.
'Glenton’s own diminutions are gently and lightly patted into the larger musical line. And together with Wollston’s calm, the whole thing sways like a dance made of chiffon.' - Gramophone, Jan 2022
More information here.
Watch the trailer here.
AN ADRIATIC VOYAGE: 17TH-CENTURY MUSIC FROM VENICE TO DALMATIA - with The Illyria Consort and The Marian Consort (Delphian, 2021)
Violinist Bojan Cicic put this programme together as a labour of love. It features beautiful music by a host of underperformed composers and gives the instruments plenty of chance to shine alongside the voices.
More information here.
Watch the trailer here.
Violinist Bojan Cicic put this programme together as a labour of love. It features beautiful music by a host of underperformed composers and gives the instruments plenty of chance to shine alongside the voices.
More information here.
Watch the trailer here.
ICH BIN DIE AUFERSTEHUNG - Concerto Copenhagen (DaCapo, 2020)
17th-century music from the Baltic region with bass/baritone soloist Jakob Bloch Jespersen. The cornetts appear in the first and last pieces of the disc: Buxtehude's cantata Ich bin die Auferstehung and Kaspar Förster's wonderful Sonata à 7. This disc was recorded using the stunning original Italian renaissance organ housed in Copenhagen's beautiful Trinitatis church.
Buy a copy here.
Watch Buxtehude's Ich bin die Auferstehung here.
17th-century music from the Baltic region with bass/baritone soloist Jakob Bloch Jespersen. The cornetts appear in the first and last pieces of the disc: Buxtehude's cantata Ich bin die Auferstehung and Kaspar Förster's wonderful Sonata à 7. This disc was recorded using the stunning original Italian renaissance organ housed in Copenhagen's beautiful Trinitatis church.
Buy a copy here.
Watch Buxtehude's Ich bin die Auferstehung here.
RACHEL STOTT: ODYSSEUS AND THE SORCERESS (Omnibus Classicis, 2020)
Odysseus and the Sorceress is a retelling of stories from Homer’s Odyssey in words and music by English composer Rachel Stott. Featuring virtuosic violin and viola playing from period instrument specialists Catherine Martin and John Crockatt, beautifully accompanied by theorbist Alex McCartney and The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, the instrumental tracks illustrate Odysseus’s adventures as he crosses the Mediterranean in search of his homeland. We had an absolute ball recording this. You can buy a copy here.
Listen to movement VII 'The Sirens' here.
Odysseus and the Sorceress is a retelling of stories from Homer’s Odyssey in words and music by English composer Rachel Stott. Featuring virtuosic violin and viola playing from period instrument specialists Catherine Martin and John Crockatt, beautifully accompanied by theorbist Alex McCartney and The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, the instrumental tracks illustrate Odysseus’s adventures as he crosses the Mediterranean in search of his homeland. We had an absolute ball recording this. You can buy a copy here.
Listen to movement VII 'The Sirens' here.
LA MORTE DELLA RAGIONE - Il Giardino Armonico (Outhere Music, 2019)
‘The senses reign, and Reason now is dead’ (Petrarch). Welcome to a wild journey full of brilliant medieval, renaissance and baroque instrumental oddities. Read about the background and the concept behind this Diapason D'Or-winning album here.
Watch the trailer here.
"For anyone interested in the music of the renaissance and early baroque, it’s simply unmissable, with one gem after another."
Europadisc
‘The senses reign, and Reason now is dead’ (Petrarch). Welcome to a wild journey full of brilliant medieval, renaissance and baroque instrumental oddities. Read about the background and the concept behind this Diapason D'Or-winning album here.
Watch the trailer here.
"For anyone interested in the music of the renaissance and early baroque, it’s simply unmissable, with one gem after another."
Europadisc
17th-CENTURY SACRED MUSIC IN WROCLAW - Concerto Palatino, Gli Angeli Geneve (Claves, 2018)
17th Century Wrocław (then Breslau) was one of Europe’s important musical centres. This disc features
"attractive accounts of works by German and Italian composers living in 17th-century Wrocław, a well as by local Polish cantors and organists" (BBC Music Magazine, June 2018)
Winner of the ICMA Baroque Vocal award 2019. Buy or download here.
17th Century Wrocław (then Breslau) was one of Europe’s important musical centres. This disc features
"attractive accounts of works by German and Italian composers living in 17th-century Wrocław, a well as by local Polish cantors and organists" (BBC Music Magazine, June 2018)
Winner of the ICMA Baroque Vocal award 2019. Buy or download here.
MUSIC FOR WINDY INSTRUMENTS: SOUNDS FROM THE COURT OF JAMES I - The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble (Resonus Classics, 2018)
It isn't often we get to play the exact repertoire of a known historical cornett and sackbut ensemble, but the Fitzwilliam partbooks Mu MS. 734 let us do just that. This disc is devoted to the international repertoire of the cornetts and sackbuts to King James VI/I and includes 6-part vocal and instrumental music by composers such as Lassus, Ferrabosco, Marenzio, Vecchi and Jerome Bassano. Silas Wollston intersperses the wind music with some gems from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.
It isn't often we get to play the exact repertoire of a known historical cornett and sackbut ensemble, but the Fitzwilliam partbooks Mu MS. 734 let us do just that. This disc is devoted to the international repertoire of the cornetts and sackbuts to King James VI/I and includes 6-part vocal and instrumental music by composers such as Lassus, Ferrabosco, Marenzio, Vecchi and Jerome Bassano. Silas Wollston intersperses the wind music with some gems from the Fitzwilliam Virginal Book.
MONTEVERDI: THE OTHER VESPERS - I Fagiolini, The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, dir. Robert Hollingworth (Decca)
There's more to Monteverdi than his 1610 Vespers as this collection of music from his later Selva Morale proves. It was nominated for a Gramophone Award in 2018, and includes a career highlight for me - playing Bovicelli's diminutions on Ave verum corpus with a truly stellar group of singers.
Watch clip of that track here.
There's more to Monteverdi than his 1610 Vespers as this collection of music from his later Selva Morale proves. It was nominated for a Gramophone Award in 2018, and includes a career highlight for me - playing Bovicelli's diminutions on Ave verum corpus with a truly stellar group of singers.
Watch clip of that track here.
MUSIC IN A COLD CLIMATE: SOUNDS OF HANSA EUROPE - In Echo/Gawain Glenton (Delphian Records)
a fascinating snapshot of the musical landscape during the heyday of the Hanseatic League. The seafaring nations of northern Europe have always been connected: London to Tallinn via Lübeck, Hamburg, Bremen and the ports of Holland, Denmark and Sweden. The sixteenth- and seventeenth-century composer/musicians on this recording each looked beyond their own shores and toward a sense of shared European culture and understanding. Andrew Keeling’s new work Northern Soul was commissioned specially to complement this programme.
Watch the trailer here.
a fascinating snapshot of the musical landscape during the heyday of the Hanseatic League. The seafaring nations of northern Europe have always been connected: London to Tallinn via Lübeck, Hamburg, Bremen and the ports of Holland, Denmark and Sweden. The sixteenth- and seventeenth-century composer/musicians on this recording each looked beyond their own shores and toward a sense of shared European culture and understanding. Andrew Keeling’s new work Northern Soul was commissioned specially to complement this programme.
Watch the trailer here.
VENICE TO HAMBURG - The Bach Players
This disc shows how the Italian ‘stylus fantasticus’ crossed the Alps to the centres of Habsburg culture, then on north to Hamburg, with music by Valentini, Schmelzer, Weckmann, and others. ‘Venice to Hamburg’ centres on pieces for an unusual combination of instruments – violin, cornetto, sackbut (trombone), dulcian (bassoon), and basso continuo – improvisatory in character, and jazz-like also in the way that each instrument is in turn given a solo spot. A warning: this CD contains ear-worms!
This disc shows how the Italian ‘stylus fantasticus’ crossed the Alps to the centres of Habsburg culture, then on north to Hamburg, with music by Valentini, Schmelzer, Weckmann, and others. ‘Venice to Hamburg’ centres on pieces for an unusual combination of instruments – violin, cornetto, sackbut (trombone), dulcian (bassoon), and basso continuo – improvisatory in character, and jazz-like also in the way that each instrument is in turn given a solo spot. A warning: this CD contains ear-worms!
THE SPY'S CHOIRBOOK - Alamire/The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble
Released on Obsidian in October 2014, this 2 CD set includes the complete music from the exquisite manuscript MS Royal 8.g.vii, housed today in the British Library. The manuscript was produced in the famous workshop of Petrus Alamire and given as a gift to Henry VIII. Featuring composers such as Josquin, Pierre de la Rue and Mouton this is renaissance polyphony of the highest calibre performed by great voices and a colourful mix of instruments: straight cornetto, slide trumpet, shawm and tenor trombone. Watch a video of us recording the CD here.
Released on Obsidian in October 2014, this 2 CD set includes the complete music from the exquisite manuscript MS Royal 8.g.vii, housed today in the British Library. The manuscript was produced in the famous workshop of Petrus Alamire and given as a gift to Henry VIII. Featuring composers such as Josquin, Pierre de la Rue and Mouton this is renaissance polyphony of the highest calibre performed by great voices and a colourful mix of instruments: straight cornetto, slide trumpet, shawm and tenor trombone. Watch a video of us recording the CD here.
L'ORFEO - Taverner Consort and Players - Andrew Parrott
This recording is very close to my heart. Andrew invited me to work directly with the singers on this project, allowing me to advise on various aspects of early 17th century vocal style and ornamentation, skills which I have been studying and developing throughout my cornetto career. Charles Daniels sings the title role with great panache. I play cornetto alongside Jamie Savan and recorder next to Uri Smilansky.
This recording is very close to my heart. Andrew invited me to work directly with the singers on this project, allowing me to advise on various aspects of early 17th century vocal style and ornamentation, skills which I have been studying and developing throughout my cornetto career. Charles Daniels sings the title role with great panache. I play cornetto alongside Jamie Savan and recorder next to Uri Smilansky.
COLOURS IN THE DARK - Ensemble Leones/Marc Lewon
This CD celebrates the beautiful music of Alexander Agricola (1445-1506). It also includes premieres of three compositions by Manchester-based composer and Agricola expert Fabrice Fitch. One of Fabrice's pieces (AGRICOLOGY IX) uses mute cornetto in some very surprising ways!
This CD celebrates the beautiful music of Alexander Agricola (1445-1506). It also includes premieres of three compositions by Manchester-based composer and Agricola expert Fabrice Fitch. One of Fabrice's pieces (AGRICOLOGY IX) uses mute cornetto in some very surprising ways!
PETER PHILIPS - CANTIONES SACRAE OCTONIS VOCIBUS (1613)
This first collaboration between Rupert Gough, his Choir of Royal Holloway and The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, presents a selection of the 8-part double-choir motets published by Peter Philips in 1613. The pieces are recorded colourfully, with the aim being to make the 2 choirs distinct and 'different sounding' rather than equal, with the same number of singers and instrumentalists in each.
Venetian double-choir music North-European style.
This first collaboration between Rupert Gough, his Choir of Royal Holloway and The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble, presents a selection of the 8-part double-choir motets published by Peter Philips in 1613. The pieces are recorded colourfully, with the aim being to make the 2 choirs distinct and 'different sounding' rather than equal, with the same number of singers and instrumentalists in each.
Venetian double-choir music North-European style.
TERPSICHORE - MUSE OF THE DANCE - Capriccio Stravagante Renaissance Orchestra
dir. Skip Sempé
This attractive disc uses a big band of viols, recorders, violins, cornetts, trombones and percussion to perform the fantastic 17th century dance music of Praetorius, Dowland and William Brade. Dance music can be art music!
dir. Skip Sempé
This attractive disc uses a big band of viols, recorders, violins, cornetts, trombones and percussion to perform the fantastic 17th century dance music of Praetorius, Dowland and William Brade. Dance music can be art music!
CODEX TARASCONI DIMINUITO - Ensemble I Fedeli
The Tarasconi Codex was copied in Parma and includes countless polyphonic pieces, including many of the hit Italian madrigals of the late 16th century. Interestingly, although all the works are vocal, none of the pieces in the codex have texts which hints strongly at an instrumental performance.
This CD gives a flavour of the Italian piffari: wind ensembles characterised by a mix of brass, reeds and cornetti, often of the highest quality, employed by the town to perform daily in squares, from towers, and in church.
The Tarasconi Codex was copied in Parma and includes countless polyphonic pieces, including many of the hit Italian madrigals of the late 16th century. Interestingly, although all the works are vocal, none of the pieces in the codex have texts which hints strongly at an instrumental performance.
This CD gives a flavour of the Italian piffari: wind ensembles characterised by a mix of brass, reeds and cornetti, often of the highest quality, employed by the town to perform daily in squares, from towers, and in church.
1612 ITALIAN VESPERS
This follow-up to the Striggio 40-part Mass is also on a grand scale. Robert Hollingworth directs poly-choral Vespers music by Viadana, Monteverdi and Gabrieli in a rich mixture of voices and instruments. The CD also features Hugh Keyte's dramatic reconstruction of Gabrieli's Magnificat a 20/28.
Amidst all the large-scale music, I play a lovely solo motet by Bartolomeo Barbarino called 'Exaudi Deus', accompanied by David Roblou on the organ.
This follow-up to the Striggio 40-part Mass is also on a grand scale. Robert Hollingworth directs poly-choral Vespers music by Viadana, Monteverdi and Gabrieli in a rich mixture of voices and instruments. The CD also features Hugh Keyte's dramatic reconstruction of Gabrieli's Magnificat a 20/28.
Amidst all the large-scale music, I play a lovely solo motet by Bartolomeo Barbarino called 'Exaudi Deus', accompanied by David Roblou on the organ.
BYRD - THE GREAT SERVICE IN THE CHAPEL ROYAL
The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble combine with vocal ensemble Musica Contexta (directed by Simon Ravens) in this pioneering project. William Byrd's sacred masterpiece is recorded for the first time using cornets and sackbuts alongside voices, a combination of sounds typical of the time. Musica Contexta's use of original pronunciation also helps transport the listener back to the sound-world of Elizabethan England.
The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble combine with vocal ensemble Musica Contexta (directed by Simon Ravens) in this pioneering project. William Byrd's sacred masterpiece is recorded for the first time using cornets and sackbuts alongside voices, a combination of sounds typical of the time. Musica Contexta's use of original pronunciation also helps transport the listener back to the sound-world of Elizabethan England.
JESU MEINE FREUDE - Muscia Amphion/Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam
The first in Musica Amphion's Book/CD 'Bach in Context' series, this disc includes the cantatas Sehet, welch eine Liebe (BWV 64), Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffe (BWV 81) as well as the sumptuous vocal motet Jesu meine Freude (BWV 227), placing these pieces alongside the sort of organ music that would have been played alongside them in church. The singing by the Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam is first class. The recording was done in Bach's old church in Arnstadt, using the beautiful main organ there as both a solo and continuo instrument. I play cornetto in BWV 64 (A=466 down a tone on a left curving instrument in case anyone is interested!) and recorder in the exquisite opening movement of BWV 81.
The first in Musica Amphion's Book/CD 'Bach in Context' series, this disc includes the cantatas Sehet, welch eine Liebe (BWV 64), Jesus schläft, was soll ich hoffe (BWV 81) as well as the sumptuous vocal motet Jesu meine Freude (BWV 227), placing these pieces alongside the sort of organ music that would have been played alongside them in church. The singing by the Gesualdo Consort Amsterdam is first class. The recording was done in Bach's old church in Arnstadt, using the beautiful main organ there as both a solo and continuo instrument. I play cornetto in BWV 64 (A=466 down a tone on a left curving instrument in case anyone is interested!) and recorder in the exquisite opening movement of BWV 81.
SHAKESPEARE - THE SONNETS
It's not often a cornetto player gets asked to play on a pop project! Some of Shakespeare's loveliest words are here set to modern pop songs accompanied by various instruments from his day: lute, sackbut, lirone, shawm, baroque violin and of course cornetto. These early instruments were arranged in by Robert Hollingworth. It was great to do something so totally different and I even got to record in the Kinks' studio in Muswell Hill. Not my average day in the office. I'm on several tracks including Shall I compare thee to a summer's day, sung by Cara Dillon.
It's not often a cornetto player gets asked to play on a pop project! Some of Shakespeare's loveliest words are here set to modern pop songs accompanied by various instruments from his day: lute, sackbut, lirone, shawm, baroque violin and of course cornetto. These early instruments were arranged in by Robert Hollingworth. It was great to do something so totally different and I even got to record in the Kinks' studio in Muswell Hill. Not my average day in the office. I'm on several tracks including Shall I compare thee to a summer's day, sung by Cara Dillon.
CHAMBER VESPERS - The Gonzaga Band
This is a collection of miniature sacred masterpieces from 17th century Italy. There is such a wealth of fantastic music still waiting to be performed from this time, so well done to The Gonzaga Band for bringing some of it to a wider audience. Lovely vocal motets (some solo, some with instruments) are interspersed with instrumental music. Clare Wilkinson and I were guests on this project.
This is a collection of miniature sacred masterpieces from 17th century Italy. There is such a wealth of fantastic music still waiting to be performed from this time, so well done to The Gonzaga Band for bringing some of it to a wider audience. Lovely vocal motets (some solo, some with instruments) are interspersed with instrumental music. Clare Wilkinson and I were guests on this project.
STRIGGIO MASS IN 40 PARTS - I Fagiolini/Robert Hollingworth
Surely the largest-scale piece I will ever play? Striggio's 40-part Missa ecco si beato giorno even expands to a staggering 60 independent voices for the final Agnus dei. This chart-topping CD also includes Thomas Tallis' 40-part Spem in alium, a work probably inspired directly by Striggio's motet Ecce beatam lucem on which his mass is based.
I Fagiolini combine with instrumentalists including The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble.
Surely the largest-scale piece I will ever play? Striggio's 40-part Missa ecco si beato giorno even expands to a staggering 60 independent voices for the final Agnus dei. This chart-topping CD also includes Thomas Tallis' 40-part Spem in alium, a work probably inspired directly by Striggio's motet Ecce beatam lucem on which his mass is based.
I Fagiolini combine with instrumentalists including The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble.
DIETRICH BUXTEHUDE - OPERA OMNIA XIV
Ton Koopman and his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra embarked on a hugely ambitious 'Complete Buxtehude' recording project. The results are tremendous and some of the writing for cornetti is extremely florid. On this disc I perform alongside bass Klaus Mertens and cornettist Bruce Dickey in the motet Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben (BuxWV 44).
Ton Koopman and his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra embarked on a hugely ambitious 'Complete Buxtehude' recording project. The results are tremendous and some of the writing for cornetti is extremely florid. On this disc I perform alongside bass Klaus Mertens and cornettist Bruce Dickey in the motet Ich bin die Auferstehung und das Leben (BuxWV 44).
LES FANTAISIES DE JOSQUIN - The Instrumental music of Josquin Desprez
This recording by Ensemble Leones shows just how rich, sonorous and colourful the instruments of Josquin's time could be. The distinctive timbres of bray harp, plectrum lute, mute cornetto, viola d'arco etc each have their own expressive qualities and combine wonderfully with each other.
This recording by Ensemble Leones shows just how rich, sonorous and colourful the instruments of Josquin's time could be. The distinctive timbres of bray harp, plectrum lute, mute cornetto, viola d'arco etc each have their own expressive qualities and combine wonderfully with each other.
STEFANO LANDI - LA MORTE D'ORFEO
This opera was new to me when I recorded it with French ensemble Akadêmia. It's a very attractive piece and a great example of mid-17th century opera. As would have been typical at that time, instrumental pieces have been inserted into the sung drama at key moments, so this 2-CD set also includes great pieces by Marini, Usper, Gabrieli and Falconieri.
This opera was new to me when I recorded it with French ensemble Akadêmia. It's a very attractive piece and a great example of mid-17th century opera. As would have been typical at that time, instrumental pieces have been inserted into the sung drama at key moments, so this 2-CD set also includes great pieces by Marini, Usper, Gabrieli and Falconieri.
FLOWER OF CITIES ALL
The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble with William Lyons. A critically acclaimed recording of music from London 1580 – 1620, the time of William Shakespeare. Featuring countertenor Mark Chambers and lutenist Matthew Wadsworth.
The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble with William Lyons. A critically acclaimed recording of music from London 1580 – 1620, the time of William Shakespeare. Featuring countertenor Mark Chambers and lutenist Matthew Wadsworth.
