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The King's Singers is an '' A Cappella '' group. Their name recalls King's College in Cambridge , England , where the group was formed by six Choral Scholars in 1968 . Although their popularity peaked in the 1970s , with a lineup of:
they remain one of the world's most popular vocal groupshttp://www.singers.com/kings.html. They travel worldwide for their performances, but are mostly heard in Europe and the U.S. The group consists of six singers in total, with their membership changing over the years. The current ensemble is composed of:
Although the King's Singers are almost exclusively ''a cappella'' in their Live Performance s, they sometimes use one or two Musical Instrument s to provide minimal Accompaniment in their Studio Recording s. Throughout the group’s history, there have been a total of 21 members. They sing a wide variety of music, from renaissance to contemporary, classical to popular. Their reputation for musical perfection in balance, tone, and general musicianship is matched by their keen wit and congenial banter. Most of their a capella concerts are grouped into five distinct sets. The first four vary widely (madrigals, folk songs, recently commissioned pieces, etc), but the last set of the concert is typically a “close harmony” set. Often it consists of lighter fare, often music of The Beatles , Billy Joel , or Irving Berlin . Sometimes the final set (in a concert of religious music) will be a spiritual harmony set. That set is composed of American Spirituals arranged by contemporary composers, including group member Philip Lawson . Pieces in this set could include Deep River, Down To The River To Pray, and Stand Still, Jordan. The King’s Singers are known for frequently commissioning works from contemporary composers. They have commissioned pieces by Ned Rorem , György Ligeti , Libby Larsen , Daron Hagen , Francis Pott , Jackson Hill, Geoffrey Poole, Joby Talbot , and Jocelyn Pook . Many former members of the King’s Singers have remained active in the world of Institute for Sacred Music and Tony Holt is on the music faculty at St. Olaf College as a voice instructor. In addition to recording and performing, the King’s Singers have a commitment to education, often participating in Master Class es and workshops. They also have several videos of masterclasses available. Several of the King’s Singers also put their arranging skills to the test, arranging both pieces for the group and pieces to publish in their line of music. Recently, Philip Lawson and Bob Chilcott have been the most prolific composers in the group. The group's latest CD was released on 11th December 2006 and is a selection of 19 classic Salvation Army songs. The CD is called The Quiet Heart - Choral Essays Vol. 1. and is available from Salvationist Publishing and Supplies Limited in London (www.sps-shop.com) and other outlets, like Amazon.co.uk. All arrangements and voicing on this CD are by Philip Lawson. DISCOGRAPHY http://www.dj-records.com http://www.kingssing.com http://www.kingssingers.com REFERENCES EXTERNAL LINKS
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