The Oxford Camerata is an English

chamber choir A chamber choir is a small or medium-sized choir of roughly 8 to 40 singers (occasionally called 'chamber singers'), typically singing classical or religious music in a concert setting. (This is distinct from e.g. a church choir, which sings in rel ...

based in

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

, England. The Camerata was founded in 1984 by conductor

Jeremy Summerly Jeremy Summerly (born 28 February 1961) is a British conductor. He was educated at Lichfield Cathedral School, Winchester College, and New College, Oxford. While at Oxford he conducted the New College Chamber Orchestra and the Oxford Chamber Ch ...

and singers David Hurley and Henrietta Cowling and gave its first performance on 22 May of that year. The ensemble consists of a core membership of fifteen singers, though personnel size varies according to the demands of the repertoire. While the Camerata is known for performing primarily unaccompanied repertoire, it has also performed accompanied repertoire, employing the services of the Oxford Camerata Instrumental Ensemble (founded 1992) and the Oxford Camerata Baroque Orchestra (founded 2007).

Recordings

The Camerata became known for its interpretations of

early music Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad musical era for the beginning of Western classical m ...

following the release of a number of recordings on

Naxos Records Naxos comprises numerous companies, divisions, imprints, and labels specializing in classical music but also audiobooks and other genres. The premier label is Naxos Records which focuses on classical music. Naxos Musical Group encompasses about 1 ...

in the 1990s and 2000s. In spring 1991, Naxos signed Summerly and the Camerata to a five-album contract to record a number of Renaissance masterworks, with recording sessions commencing in July of that year. Following the success of the initial five albums, Naxos continued to release albums by the Camerata, eventually branching out beyond Renaissance repertoire to include recordings of the original 1888 version of Fauré's ''

Requiem A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead ( la, Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead ( la, Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, ...

'' and medieval music by

Hildegard von Bingen Hildegard of Bingen (german: Hildegard von Bingen; la, Hildegardis Bingensis; 17 September 1179), also known as Saint Hildegard and the Sibyl of the Rhine, was a German Benedictine abbess and polymath active as a writer, composer, philosopher ...

Discography

All recordings conducted by Jeremy Summerly. *

Palestrina Palestrina (ancient ''Praeneste''; grc, Πραίνεστος, ''Prainestos'') is a modern Italian city and ''comune'' (municipality) with a population of about 22,000, in Lazio, about east of Rome. It is connected to the latter by the Via Pren ...

: ''

Missa Papae Marcelli ''Missa Papae Marcelli'', or ''Pope Marcellus Mass'', is a mass ''sine nomine'' by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina. It is his best-known mass, and is regarded as an archetypal example of the complex polyphony championed by Palestrina. It was sung ...

'', ''Missa Aeterna Christi Munera'', April 1992 (Naxos 8.550573) * ''Lamentations'' (

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, Tallis,

Lassus Orlande de Lassus ( various other names; probably – 14 June 1594) was a composer of the late Renaissance. The chief representative of the mature polyphonic style in the Franco-Flemish school, Lassus stands with Giovanni Pierluigi da Palest ...

, de Brito), May 1992 (Naxos 8.550572) *

Byrd Byrd commonly refers to: * William Byrd (c. 1540 – 1623), an English composer of the Renaissance * Richard E. Byrd (1888–1957), an American naval officer and explorer Byrd or Byrds may also refer to: Other people * Byrd (surname), includin ...

: ''

Mass for Four Voices The Mass for Four Voices is a choir, choral Mass (music), Mass setting by the English composer William Byrd (''c.''1540–1623). It was written around 1592–1593 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and is one of three settings of the Ordinary ...

'', ''Mass for Five Voices'', ''Infelix ego'', July 1992 (Naxos 8.550574) *

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

: ''Missa O magnum mysterium'', ''Missa O quam gloriosum'' / Lobo: ''Versa est in luctum'', February 1993 (Naxos 8.550575) * Tallis: ''Mass for Four Voices'', ''Motets'', October 1993 (Naxos 8.550576) * ''Medieval Carols'', October 1993 (Naxos 8.550751) * Gesualdo: ''Complete Sacred Music for Five Voices'', November 1993 (Naxos 8.550742) * Allegri: '' Miserere and Other Choral Masterpieces'' (compilation with other artists), November 1993 (Naxos 8.550827)* *

: ''Masses for Five Voices'', ''Infelix ego'', November 1993 (Naxos 8.550842) * Fauré: ''

'' (1888 version), '' Messe basse'', ''

Cantique de Jean Racine ''Cantique de Jean Racine'' (Chant by Jean Racine), Op. 11, is a composition for mixed choir and piano or organ by Gabriel Fauré. The text, "Verbe égal au Très-Haut" ("Word, one with the Highest"), is a French paraphrase by Jean Racine of a L ...

'' / Vierne: ''Andantino'' / de Séverac: ''Tantum ergo'' (with Lisa Beckley, Nicholas Gedge,

Schola Cantorum of Oxford Schola Cantorum of Oxford is the longest running chamber choir of University of Oxford, and one of the longest established and most widely known chamber choirs in the United Kingdom. The conductor is Steven Grahl. The choir was founded in 1960 ...

), April 1994 (Naxos 8.550765) * ''Renaissance Masterpieces'' ( Ockeghem,

Josquin 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 ...

Morales Morales is a Spanish surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Alfredo Morales (born 1990), American footballer * Alvaro Morales (disambiguation), several people * Amado Morales (born 1947), Puerto Rican javelin thrower * Bartolomé Mo ...

, Lhéritier,

Rogier Rogier may refer to: Given name Rogier is a Dutch masculine given name equivalent to Roger. People with this name include: * Rogier van Aerde, pseudonym of Adolf Josef Hubert Frans van Rijen (1917–2007), Dutch writer and journalist *Rogier Bli ...

Clemens Clemens is both a Late Latin masculine given name and a surname meaning "merciful". Notable people with the name include: Surname * Adelaide Clemens (born 1989), Australian actress. * Andrew Clemens (b. 1852 or 1857–1894), American folk artist * ...

), May 1994 (Naxos 8.550843) * Tye: ''Missa Euge bone'', ''Peccavimus'', ''Omnes gentes'' /

Mundy Edmond Enright (born 19 May 1975), known professionally as Mundy, is an Irish singer-songwriter and founder of the independent record label Camcor Records. Biography He released his debut album ''Jelly Legs'' in 1996 on the Epic Records label ...

: ''Kyrie'', ''Magnificat'', July 1994 (Naxos 8.550937) *

Purcell Henry Purcell (, rare: September 1659 – 21 November 1695) was an English composer. Purcell's style of Baroque music was uniquely English, although it incorporated Italian and French elements. Generally considered among the greatest Eng ...

: ''Full Anthems & Organ Music'', '' Music on the Death of Queen Mary'' (

Laurence Cummings Laurence Cummings (born 1968, Birmingham) is a British harpsichordist, organist, and conductor. He is currently music director of the Academy of Ancient Music. Biography Cummings was educated at Solihull School, Christ Church, Oxford and th ...

, organ), February 1995 (Naxos 8.553129) *

: ''Heavenly Revelations'', April 1995 (Naxos 8.550998) * Dufay: ''Missa L'homme armé'', ''Supremum est mortalibus bonum'', April 1995 (Naxos 8.553087) *

: ''

'', ''Mass for Five Voices'' / Tallis: ''Mass for Four Voices'', September 1995 (Naxos 8.553239)† *

/ A. Lobo / D. Lobo /

: ''Masses'' (with

), September 1995 (Naxos 8.553240)‡ *

: ''

'', ''Missa Aeterna Christi Munera'', ''Stabat mater'' (

) / Allegri: '' Miserere'', December 1995 (Naxos 8.553238)§ * Gibbons: ''Choral and Organ Music'' (

, organ), January 1996 (Naxos 8.553130) *

Weelkes Thomas Weelkes (baptised 25 October 1576 – 30 November 1623) was an English composer and organist. He became organist of Winchester College in 1598, moving to Chichester Cathedral. His works are chiefly vocal, and include madrigals, anth ...

: ''Anthems'', January 1996 (Naxos 8.553209) *

Schütz Schütz (also spelled ''Schuetz'' without Umlaut ü) is a German surname, deriving from ''Schütze'' (shooter/marksman). Notable people with the surname include: People * Alfred Schütz (1899–1959), sociologist and philosopher * Antal Schütz ...

: ''

Psalmen Davids Psalmen Davids (Psalms of David) is a collection of sacred choral music, settings mostly of psalms in German by Heinrich Schütz, who had studied the Venetian polychoral style with Giovanni Gabrieli. Book 1 was printed in Dresden in 1619 as his O ...

'', July 1996 (Naxos 8.553044) * ''English Madrigals and Songs'', August 1996 (Naxos 8.553088) *

: '' The Christmas Story'', '' Cantiones sacrae'', ''Psalm 100'', September 1996 (Naxos 8.553514) *

Machaut Guillaume de Machaut (, ; also Machau and Machault; – April 1377) was a French composer and poet who was the central figure of the style in late medieval music. His dominance of the genre is such that modern musicologists use his death to ...

: '' La Messe de Nostre Dame'', Songs from ''Le Voir Dit'', October 1996 (Naxos 8.553833) *

Obrecht Obrecht is a patronymic surname. Obrecht was a Germanic given name derived from Od-brecht, meaning "famed for his heritageNotable people with the surname include: * Jacob Obrecht (c. 1457/58 – 1505), Flemish Renaissance composer *Hermann Obrecht ...

: ''

Missa Caput The ''Missa Caput'' was a musical setting of the Roman Catholic mass, dating from the 1440s, by an anonymous English composer. It circulated widely on the European continent in the mid-15th century and was one of the best-loved musical works of ...

'', ''Salve Regina'', January 1998 (Naxos 8.553210) *

: ''

Missa L'homme armé Over 40 settings of the Ordinary of the Mass using the tune '' L'homme armé'' survive from the period between 1450 and the end of the 17th century, making the tune the most popular single source from the period on which to base an imitation mass. ...

'', ''Ave Maria'', ''Absalon fili me'', March 1998 (Naxos 8.553428) * Ockeghem: ''Missa L'homme armé'', ''Ave Maria'', ''Alma Redemptoris Mater'' /

: ''Memor esto verbi tui'', March 1998 (Naxos 8.554297) * Willaert: ''Missa Christus resurgens'', ''Magnificat sexti toni'', ''Ave Maria'', November 1998 (Naxos 8.553211) * ''Let Voices Resound: Songs from

Piae Cantiones ''Piae Cantiones ecclesiasticae et scholasticae veterum episcoporum'' (in English ''Pious ecclesiastical and school songs of the ancient bishops'') is a collection of late medieval Latin songs first published in 1582. It was compiled by Jacobus F ...

'' (female voices), January 1999 (Naxos 8.553578) * Tomkins: ''Choral and Organ Music'' (

, organ), September 1999 (Naxos 8.553794) * Tallis: ''

Spem in alium ''Spem in alium'' (Latin for "Hope in any other") is a 40-part Renaissance motet by Thomas Tallis, composed in c. 1570 for eight choirs of five voices each. It is considered by some critics to be the greatest piece of English early music. H. B. ...

'', ''Missa Salve intemerata'', June 2005 (Naxos 8.557770) * Gombert: ''Magnificat I'', ''Salve Regina'', ''Credo'', ''Tulerunt Dominum'', January 2006 (Naxos 8.557732) *

: ''Celestial Harmonies'', May 2008 (Naxos 8.557983)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oxford Camerata Early music choirs English choirs Naxos Records artists Oxford choirs