The Hilliard Ensemble: the A Capella group who revived “old music“ (Whenever Angels Sing, 2003)

When it comes to old and new vocal music, the Hilliard Ensemble is probably the best-known group in the world. The British four singers have managed to revive the interest in “old music“, which for a long time was only a niche existence, and their success can be seen in the immense number of records sold, which otherwise only pop stars or “great tenors“ achieve. Click here for more music documentaries: Subscribe to EuroArts: The original members were David James (counter-tenor), Rogers Covey-Crump (tenor/high tenor), John Potter (tenor), and Gordon Jones (bass), except that in 1998 John Potter was replaced by Steven Harrold. Like angels, the voices float through the space of which the Hilliards claim to be the fifth musician in the band. Everything is immensely precise: the intonation, the timing, the dynamic tuning between the voices, the carefully weighed, strictly painted sound until the last audible moment in the end. The film accompanies the musicians during their summer courses in the romantic surroundings of Engers Castle on the Rhine. The Hilliards give some classic concerts, from Perotin to new compositions, written especially for the ensemble. Music performed at the documentary: 00:00-02:25 Joanne Metcalf - Il nome del bel fior (1998) 04:23-05:58 Joanne Metcalf - Il nome del bel fior (1998) 06:09-09:20 Perotin - Viderunt Omnes 11:22-16:28 Ken Ueno - Shiroi Ishi (2001) 19:18-21:32 Piers Hellawell - Saphire (1995) 22:08-25:07 Perotin - Viderunt Omnes 27:10-28:24 Jonathan Wild - Cloud of Unknowing (2002) 28:48-33:28 Josquin des Prés - Absalon fili mi 34:27-35:15 Clement Janequin - Oh mal d`aymer 35:15-37:25 Jean Courtois - Si pas souffrir 38:25-40:13 Anonym - Ave pura tu puella