The Renaissance Society was founded in 1944 to promote the
understanding and appreciation of plainchant, Renaissance
polyphony and other types of vocal and instrumental music from the
period. The founder was Michael Howard who was later to achieve
distinction as the Organist and Master of the Choristers at Ely
cathedral before holding other prestigious posts in the musical
world.
The Renaissance
Singers was formed at the same time as the performing arm of
the Society, and apart from a period of silence in the 1980s has
maintained an impressive schedule of concerts. Many recordings
have been made-the last in February 1998.
The success of the Singers is evidenced by the detailed and
fascinating archive dating from July 1944, but it took 55 years
for a wider role for the Society to emerge.
In 1999
Saeculum was
launched as a festival of early music and is the first major
activity undertaken by the Society other than the running of the
Renaissance Singers. The immediate success of Saeculum meant that
in 2000 the scope was broadened beyond the running of a single
annual weekend event and now Saeculum events take place throughout
the year. They include cultural events beyond the staging concerts
and include workshops for musicians and the appreciation of wine
and art.
Aims and Objectives
The Rules and Constitution of the Society state the following
objectives;
The objects of the Society shall be to promote, improve,
develop and maintain education in and appreciation of the art and
science of music in all its aspects, and in particular the sacred
music, polyphony and plainchant, of the Renaissance Period, by the
presentation of public concerts and recitals, the running of
workshops, festivals, and by such other ways as the Society
through its other suitable media committee shall determine from
time to time.
Status
The Renaissance Society's legal status is a Society with
charitable status.
The Renaissance Singers is also a Society and achieved
charitable status in 1994: Registration number: 101953
Personnel
The Renaissance Society is structured as follows:
- Chairman: Alistair Dixon
- Treasurer: Anthony Damer
- Secretary: Alison Burroughes
- Artistic Director: vacant
The non-executive board comprises:
- President: The Earl of Harewood
Vice-Presidents:
- John Whitworth
- Howard Williams
- Bruno Turner
- Stephen Willis
- Michael Procter
The membership of the society comprises:
- Life members
- All members of the Renaissance Singers
- All "Friends" of the Renaissance Singers
The Renaissance Singers
The Renaissance Singers is the performing arm of the Society,
and is registered as a charity in its own right. Admission is by
audition and the choir rehearses weekly during term time, giving
six performances each year. In addition, workshops and some open
rehearsals are hosted to encourage amateur singers who are not
members of the choir to participate in discovering new repertoire
from the Renaissance.
In the last few years the choir has made trips abroad to give
concerts in Germany, France, Ireland, Czech Republic, the
Netherlands and Italy, and their warm reception in these countries is a
reflection of the high esteem in which English choirs, both
amateur and professional, are held on the continent.
In the programming of concerts, great emphasis is laid on the
investigation of newly discovered works from the Renaissance
period. The Singers have always valued the scholarly input of its
members and directors,
The Friends of Renaissance Singers
In 1996 the Renaissance Singers founded the Friends scheme
which enables regular audience members and singers who are not
members of the choir to purchase tickets at a discount and
participate in special activities that the Singers stage such as
workshops, talks etc.
Saeculum
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