Chanticleer () is a full-time male classical vocal

ensemble Ensemble may refer to: Art * Architectural ensemble * ''Ensemble'' (album), Kendji Girac 2015 album * Ensemble (band), a project of Olivier Alary * Ensemble cast (drama, comedy) * Ensemble (musical theatre), also known as the chorus * ''En ...

based in

San Francisco San Francisco (; Spanish language, Spanish for "Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the List of Ca ...

, California, founded in 1978. It is known for its interpretations of

Renaissance music Renaissance music is traditionally understood to cover European music of the 15th and 16th centuries, later than the Renaissance era as it is understood in other disciplines. Rather than starting from the early 14th-century '' ars nova'', the Tr ...

, for which they were founded, but also a wide repertoire of

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

gospel Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...

and

contemporary classical music Contemporary classical music is classical music composed close to the present day. At the beginning of the 21st century, it commonly referred to the post-1945 modern forms of post-tonal music after the death of Anton Webern, and included seria ...

. Its name is derived from the " clear singing rooster" in Chaucer's ''

The Canterbury Tales ''The Canterbury Tales'' ( enm, Tales of Caunterbury) is a collection of twenty-four stories that runs to over 17,000 lines written in Middle English by Geoffrey Chaucer between 1387 and 1400. It is widely regarded as Chaucer's ''Masterpiece, ...

''. The ensemble has made award-winning recordings.

History

Chanticleer was founded in 1978 by tenor

Louis Botto Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS Louis, HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also

Derived or associated te ...

, who sang with the group until 1989, and served as Artistic Director until his death from

AIDS Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...

in 1997. As a graduate student of

musicology Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some mu ...

, Botto found that much of the

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

and

he was studying was not being performed, and, because of this, he formed the group to perform this music with an all-male ensemble, as it was traditionally sung during the Renaissance. Originally, the group contained ten singers, but its size has varied from eight to twelve. Currently, Chanticleer comprises twelve men, including two

basses Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass ...

, one

baritone A baritone is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range lies between the bass and the tenor voice-types. The term originates from the Greek (), meaning "heavy sounding". Composers typically write music for this voice in the r ...

, three

tenor A tenor is a type of classical music, classical male singing human voice, voice whose vocal range lies between the countertenor and baritone voice types. It is the highest male chest voice type. The tenor's vocal range extends up to C5. The lo ...

s, and six

countertenor A countertenor (also contra tenor) is a type of classical male singing voice whose vocal range is equivalent to that of the female contralto or mezzo-soprano voice types, generally extending from around G3 to D5 or E5, although a sopranist (a s ...

s (three

alto The musical term alto, meaning "high" in Italian (Latin: ''altus''), historically refers to the contrapuntal part higher than the tenor and its associated vocal range. In 4-part voice leading alto is the second-highest part, sung in choruses by ...

s and three

sopranos ''The Sopranos'' is an American crime drama television series created by David Chase. The story revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster, portraying his difficulties as he tries to balance ...

). The original members included Jim Armington (tenor), Ted Bakkila (baritone), Rob Bell (countertenor), Louis Botto (who sang alto as well as tenor), Sanford Dole (tenor), Kevin Freeman (bass), Tom Hart (baritone), Jonathan Klein (baritone), Neal Rogers (tenor), Tim Gibler (bass), Randall Wong (countertenor), and Doug Wyatt (bass). However, only ten of the singers were available to go on tour. When the ensemble first became full-time in 1991, its members included Eric Alatorre (bass and longest-standing member as of his retirement after the 2018–2019 season),

Frank Albinder Frank Scott Albinder is a conductor of male choral music. A former director of Chanticleer (ensemble), Chanticleer, Albinder currently conducts the Washington Men's Camerata, the Woodley Ensemble, and the Virginia Glee Club, and is president of I ...

(baritone), Kevin Baum (tenor), Mark Daniel (tenor), Kenneth Fitch (countertenor), Jonathan Goodman (tenor), Tim Gibler (bass and last member of the original ensemble), Joseph Jennings (countertenor and Music Director), Chad Runyon (baritone), Foster Sommerlad (countertenor), Matthew Thompson (tenor), and

Philip Wilder Philip Wilder (born 1968) is an American counter-tenor and business manager best known for his recording and concert career with the a cappella ensemble Chanticleer. Life and career Philip Wilder is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, t ...

(countertenor).

Discography

* 1988 – ''The Anniversary Album'', 1978–1988 * 1990 – ''Our Heart's Joy: A Chanticleer Christmas'' (remastered in 2004) * 1991 – ''Psallite! A Renaissance Christmas'' * 1992 – Josquin: Missa Mater Patris; Agricola: Magnificat and motets * 1993 – ''Byrd: Missa In Tempore Paschali'' * 1993 – Cristóbal de Morales: Missa Mille Regretz and motets * 1993 – ''Mysteria: Gregorian Chants'' * 1994 – ''Where the Sun Will Never Go Down'' * 1994 – ''Out of This World'' * 1994 – Palestrina: Missa pro defunctis; motets * 1994 – ''Mexican Baroque'' * 1994 – ''Our Heart's Joy / A Chanticleer Christmas'' * 1995 – ''Sing We Christmas'' * 1996 – ''Old-fashioned Christmas'' * 1996 – ''Lost in the Stars'' * 1998 – ''Wondrous Love: A World Folk Song Collection'' * 1998 – ''Byrd: Music for a Hidden Chapel'' * 1997 – ''Reflections'' * 1998 – Jerusalem: ''Matins for the Virgin of Guadalupe'', 1764 * 1999 – ''The Music of'' * 1999 – '' Colors of Love'', works by

Augusta Read Thomas Augusta Read Thomas (born April 24, 1964) is an American composer and professor. Biography Thomas studied composition with Oliver Knussen at Tanglewood; Jacob Druckman at Yale University; Alan Stout and Bill Karlins at Northwestern University ...

Steven Stucky Steven Edward Stucky (November 7, 1949 − February 14, 2016) was a Pulitzer Prize-winning American composer. Life and career Stucky was born in Hutchinson, Kansas. At age 9, he moved with his family to Abilene, Texas, where, as a teenager, he ...

, John Tavener and Bernard Rands. * 2000 – ''Magnificat'', works by

Josquin Desprez Josquin Lebloitte dit des Prez ( – 27 August 1521) was a composer of High Renaissance music, who is variously described as French or Franco-Flemish. Considered one of the greatest composers of the Renaissance, he was a central figure of the ...

Giovanni Palestrina Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina ( – 2 February 1594) was an Italian composer of late Renaissance music. The central representative of the Roman School, with Orlande de Lassus and Tomás Luis de Victoria, Palestrina is considered the leading ...

Tomás Luis de Victoria Tomás Luis de Victoria (sometimes Italianised as ''da Vittoria''; ) was the most famous Spanish composer of the Renaissance. He stands with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Orlande de Lassus as among the principal composers of the late Ren ...

John Taverner John Taverner ( – 18 October 1545) was an English composer and organist, regarded as one of the most important English composers of his era. He is best-known for ''Missa Gloria tibi Trinitas'' and ''The Western Wynde Mass'', and ''Missa Coro ...

, William Cornysh,

Vasily Polikarpovich Titov Vasily Polikarpovich Titov (russian: Василий Поликарпович Титов; c. 1650 – c. 1715) was a Russian composer, one of the foremost exponents of the so-called Moscow Baroque. Although Titov's works are not widely known today, ...

and

Claudio Monteverdi Claudio Giovanni Antonio Monteverdi (baptized 15 May 1567 – 29 November 1643) was an Italian composer, choirmaster and string player. A composer of both secular and sacred music, and a pioneer in the development of opera, he is considered ...

* 2001 – ''Glory to Christmas'' * 2001 – ''Christmas with Chanticleer'' * 2002 – John Tavener: ''Lamentations and Praises'' * 2002 – ''Our American Journey'' * 2003 – ''Evening Prayer: Purcell Anthems and Sacred Songs'' * 2003 – ''A Portrait'' * 2004 – ''How Sweet the Sound: Spirituals and Traditional Gospel Music'', arrangements by Joseph Jennings * 2004 – ''Music for a Hidden Chapel'' * 2005 – ''Sound in Spirit'', works by

Carlos Rafael Rivera Carlos Rafael Rivera (born 18 August, 1970) is an American composer based out of Guatemala. In 2014, his music score for the movie '' A Walk Among the Tombstones'' advanced for Oscar in the Best Original Score category. He has won an Emmy Awar ...

, Joseph Jennings, Victoria, Alfonso X of Castile,

Jan Gilbert Jan Gilbert (born August 6, 1946) is an American composer, cellist, and professor of music. Life and career Janet Monteith Gilbert was born in New York City, NY. She studied cello at the Naples Conservatory and was granted her bachelor of arts in ...

Patricia Van Ness Patricia Van Ness (born 1951) is an American composer living in Saco, Maine, U.S.A. She is also the Staff Composer for First Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Van Ness's work draws upon elements of medieval and Renaissance music. She primarily ...

, Nectarie Vlahul, Sarah Hopkins,

Giacinto Scelsi Giacinto Francesco Maria Scelsi (; 8 January 1905 – 9 August 1988, sometimes cited as 8 August 1988) was an Italian composer who also wrote surrealist poetry in French. He is best known for having composed music based around only one pitch, ...

and Jackson Hill * 2007 – ''And on Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass'' * 2007 – ''Let it Snow'' * 2008 – ''Mission Road'' * 2009 – ''I Have Had Singing: A Chanticleer Portrait'' * 2010 – ''A Chanticleer Christmas'' * 2011 – ''Our Favorite Carols'' * 2011 – ''Between Two Wars'' * 2011 – ''Chanticleer Takes You Out of this World!'' * 2011 – ''For Thy Soul's Salvation'' * 2011 – Jean-Yves Daniel-Lesur: ''Annunciation'' * 2011 – ''Ludus Paschalis: Resurrection Play of Tours'' * 2011 – ''My Chanticleer: A Collection for Chanticleer'' * 2011 – ''The Boy Whose Father was God'' * 2011 – ''With a Poet's Eye'' * 2012 – ''Love Story'' * 2012 – ''By Request'' * 2013 – ''The Siren's Call'' * 2013 – ''Someone New'' * 2014 – ''She Said/He Said'' * 2015 – ''Over the Moon'' * 2017 – ''Heart of a Soldier'' * 2018 – ''Then and There, Here and Now'' * 2020 – ''Chanticleer Sings Christmas'' In May 2007, Chanticleer released "''And On Earth, Peace: A Chanticleer Mass''" (Warner Classics) a new mass written by five contemporary

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

s. Israeli-born composer

Shulamit Ran Shulamit Ran ( he, שולמית רן; born October 21, 1949, in Tel Aviv, Israel) is an Israeli-American composer. She moved from Israel to New York City at 14, as a scholarship student at the Mannes College of Music. Her Symphony (1990) won her th ...

wrote the Credo to the

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

text "Ani Ma'amin"; US composer Douglas Cuomo contributed the Kyrie; Turkish-American composer

Kamran Ince Kamran N. Ince (spelled İnce in Turkish, born May 6, 1960) is a Turkish-American composer. He is the winner of many prestigious awards, including a Rome Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Lili Boulanger Memorial Prize, and various others. His wo ...

composed the

Gloria Gloria may refer to: Arts and entertainment Music Christian liturgy and music * Gloria in excelsis Deo, the Greater Doxology, a hymn of praise * Gloria Patri, the Lesser Doxology, a short hymn of praise ** Gloria (Handel) ** Gloria (Jenkins) ...

section to a

sufi Sufism ( ar, ''aṣ-ṣūfiyya''), also known as Tasawwuf ( ''at-taṣawwuf''), is a mystic body of religious practice, found mainly within Sunni Islam but also within Shia Islam, which is characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ...

text; English composer Ivan Moody composed the

Sanctus The Sanctus ( la, Sanctus, "Holy") is a hymn in Christian liturgy. It may also be called the ''epinikios hymnos'' ( el, ἐπινίκιος ὕμνος, "Hymn of Victory") when referring to the Greek rendition. In Western Christianity, the ...

; and Irish composer

Michael McGlynn Michael McGlynn (born 11 May 1964) is an Irish composer, producer, director, and founder of the vocal ensemble Anúna. Career McGlynn was born in Dublin and attended Coláiste na Rinne and Blackrock College. He was a student of Music and Eng ...

(director of Anúna) composed the

Agnus Dei is the Latin name under which the " Lamb of God" is honoured within the Catholic Mass and other Christian liturgies descending from the Latin liturgical tradition. It is the name given to a specific prayer that occurs in these liturgies, and ...

. The Mass was

premiere A première, also spelled premiere, is the debut (first public presentation) of a play, film, dance, or musical composition. A work will often have many premières: a world première (the first time it is shown anywhere in the world), its first ...

d in performance at the

Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

and was followed by six performances throughout the

San Francisco Bay area The San Francisco Bay Area, often referred to as simply the Bay Area, is a populous region surrounding the San Francisco, San Pablo, and Suisun Bay estuaries in Northern California. The Bay Area is defined by the Association of Bay Area Go ...

.''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' has more on the repertoir
here
. On October 16, 2007, Chanticleer released "''Let it Snow,''" the group's 29th recording. A portion of the album is accompanied by orchestra and/or

big band A big band or jazz orchestra is a type of musical ensemble of jazz music that usually consists of ten or more musicians with four sections: saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and a rhythm section. Big bands originated during the early 1910s an ...

; as such, the album brings a new sound to Chanticleer's almost exclusively

a cappella ''A cappella'' (, also , ; ) music is a performance by a singer or a singing group without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. The term ''a cappella'' was originally intended to differentiate between Ren ...

repertoire.

Notable past members

(baritone), designed the concept and chose the repertoire for Chanticleer's Grammy Award-winning album ''Colors of Love'' *

Matt Alber Matt Alber (born February 6, 1975) is an American singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and youth advocate based in Portland, Oregon. Early life Alber was born in Wichita, Kansas, and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He began singing as a child and stu ...

Terry Barber Terry Barber is an American countertenor with his own tours and recordings, many of which have been considered for Grammy nomination. He is additionally known for the creation of the non-profit organization Artists for a Cause. Career Barber has ...

Awards and honors

Joseph Jennings (as artistic director) and Chanticleer won a

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...

for Best Small Ensemble Performance for their 1999 recording '' Colors of Love''. Chanticleer was awarded two Grammy Awards, in categories Best Small Ensemble Performance and Best Classical Contemporary Composition, their 2002 recording of Taverner's ''Lamentations and Praises''. Their 2003 recording ''Our American Journey'' was nominated for a Grammy a year later. In November 2007, in its 30th anniversary season, Chanticleer was named '' Musical America''s 2008 Ensemble of the year. This marks the first time a vocal ensemble has received this award. Additionally, on October 9, 2008, Chanticleer became the first vocal ensemble to be inducted into the

American Classical Music Hall of Fame The American Classical Music Hall of Fame and Museum is a non-profit organization celebrating past and present individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to classical music—"people who have contributed to American musi ...

in Cincinnati, Ohio.

References

External links

Official site
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Chanticleer Early music choirs Grammy Award winners Choirs in the San Francisco Bay Area Musical groups from San Francisco Musical groups established in 1978 1978 establishments in California