The Clerks' Group

This is, personally, one of my favorite Early Music ensembles. They do Franco-Flemish polyphony, and their sound is very unique. I’ve heard them some years ago on Mezzo channel, performing music of Pierre de La Rue and I was in loved immediately with the group’s sonority. Their recording of the Masses by Johannes Tinctoris is of a profound understanding of how Franco-Flemish polyphony should sound like.

A biographical note

The Clerks’ Group was founded at Oxford University, made its Professional London debut in 1992, and has received widespread praise for its interpretations of Renaissance repertoire, much previously neglected. The group particularly specializes in Franco-Flemish sacred music, and has recorded for Sanctuary Classics the entire sacred output of Johannes Ockeghem, undoubtedly the most renowned composer of the late 15th century. These recording earned them Gramophone magazine’s Early Music Artist of the Year Award in 1997, and two previous nominations for the award. More recently the group has released discs devoted to Josquin Desprez, Pierre de La Rue and Jacob Obrecht.

The Clerks’ Group has performed throughout Europe and the United States, as well as in many of the major UK concert halls, including the Proms; it has broadcast in many European countries, and has made programmes for Belgian and French television. In recent years the group has been exploring contemporary and “cross-over” repertoire Meltdown Festival, and commissioning new work has become an important part of the group’s activities.

The group’s founder and director is Edward Wickham. Edward is a conductor, choral coach and academic who divides his time between performance, teaching and research. He is currently Director of Music at St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge.

More information: Official Webpage