Alamire & David Skinner
Biography Alamire & David Skinner
Alamire
boasts some of the finest consort singers in the world under the directorship of David Skinner. Inspired by the great choral works of the medieval and early modern periods, the ensemble expands or contracts according to repertoire and often combines with instrumentalists, creating imaginative programmes to illustrate musical or historical themes. The ensemble was formed in 2005 by three friends and early music experts: David Skinner, Rob Macdonald and Steven Harrold.
Performing extensively throughout Europe and the USA, the consort records exclusively for Obsidian Records for whom they have won a number of awards. In 2015 they received the coveted Gramophone Award (Early Music) for ‘The Spy’s Choirbook’, while ‘Anne Boleyn’s Songbook was nominated for a BBC Music Award, and was CD of the Year (Choral & Song) in Australia’s Limelight Magazine. Their current project ‘Thomas Tallis: Songs of Reformation’ commemorates the beginning of the European Reformations 500 years ago, famously initiated by Martin Luther on 31 October 1517.
Alamire takes its name from the solemnization symbols found in the 'hand' of Guido d'Arezzo, an 11th-century teacher and theorist; the term was also used as a pseudonym by the early 16th-century scribe and music editor, Petrus Alamire (aka Peter van den Hove, c.1470 - 1536).
