Lionheart

Lionheart is one of America's leading ensembles in vocal chamber music. Acclaimed for its "smoothly blended and impeccably balanced sound" (Allan Kozinn, The New York Times), Lionheart (Jeffrey Johnson, Lawrence Lipnik, John Olund, Richard Porterfield, Kurt-Owen Richards, and Michael Ryan-Wenger) is best known for its interpretation of medieval and Renaissance a cappella music, with Gregorian Chant as the keystone of its repertoire. The ensemble also collaborates with instrumental ensembles, dance companies, and contemporary composers, and was recently selected for inclusion on the Star Spangled Touring Roster, the first year of an initiative by Early Music America. On radio, Lionheart has been featured on Performance Today, on PRI's Harmonia, on WGBH, and appears regularly on WNYC. Lionheart has also received significant air play on Radio Shanghai, which broadcasts Western music to a wide audience in China.

In 1998 the six men of Lionheart began a continuing collaboration with Anonymous 4,Ý joining forces to explore rare and ravishing repertoire to create a combined sound that is "mystical... resonant with haunting beauty" (The New York Times).Ý In December 2000, Lionheart furthered its commitment to presenting the work of living composers by premiering a new piece by composer Julia Wolfe as part of the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival. In New York City Lionheart performs regularly on the distinguished series Music Before 1800, at The Cloisters, and in its own concert series at Saint Ignatius of Antioch Episcopal Church. The ensemble has also appeared at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at Lincoln Center, and at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (in collaboration with composer Steve Reich). Out-of-town venues include the Kennedy Center, the National Cathedral and the Folger Library in Washington, D.C., the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Friends of Chamber Music series in Kansas City, and the campuses of Stanford, UCLA, and Yale University.Ý In Europe they have participated in festivals including musikpodium in Stuttgart, Tage Alte Musik in Regensburg, and the Covent Garden Festival in London.

Discography

El Siglo De Oro

Ojos Claros Serenos - Guerrero anctissima Maria - Guerrero Introit Rorate Caeli Desuper - Gregorian Chant Kyrie Missa Ave Maria - Morales Gloria Missa Ave Maria - Morales Sancta Et Immaculata - Guerrero Offertory Ave Maria - Gregorian Chant Sanctus Missa Ave Maria - Morales Agnus Dei Missa Ave MAria - Morales Communion Ecce Virgo Concipiet - Gregorian Chant Pan Divino Gracioso - Guerrero Pastor Quien Madre Virgen - Guerrero Que Te Dare Senor - Guerrero O Virgen Quand'os Miro - Guerrrero Vana Speranca - Guerrero Antiphon Ave MAria - Gregorian Chant Missus est Gabriel - Morales Hymn Ave Maria Stella - Gregorian Chant

Great recordings of the Spanish Renaissance composers Francisco Guerrero and Cristobal de Morales are often hard to find. Luckily, Lionheart has simplified the task by taking matters into their own hands - they recorded their own album. Perfectly balanced and blended voices are qualities to which every vocal ensemble aspires, but not everyone acquires. Lionheart does. If you love the Renaissance Period or you're wanting something other than the usual Mozart and Beethoven, Lionheart's El Siglo de Oro is just the album for you.

Tydings Trew

A Solis ortus cardine Nowell, nowell Hayl Mary, ful of grace Venter tuus Facta est cum angelo Benedicite omnia opera domini domino As I outrode this endres night Ecce, quod natura Nesciens mater A, my dere, a, my dere Son Nowel, nowel Sancte dei preciose Eya, martir Stephane Hic est discipulus Worcepe we this holy day Lully lulla Seynt Thomas honour we Magi videntes stellam Ave Rex angelorum Gaude virgo mater Christi Alleluya, omnes de saba Nunc dimitts

Lionheart combines the best of the familiar with the rarely performed to bring the richly beautiful and often intense and earthy heritage of English Christmas in this excellent collection of yuletide music. Lionheart is one of America's leading ensembles in vocal chamber music. Acclaimed for its "smoothly blended and impeccably balanced sound" (Allan Kozin, The New York Times), Lionheart (Jeffrey Johnson, Lawrence Lipnik, John Olund, Richard Porterfield, Kurt-Owen Richards, and Michael Ryan-Wenger) is best known for its interpretation of medieval and Renaissance a cappella music, with Gregorian Chant as the keystone of its repertoire.

7017 CD $15.98

Palestrina

Ave Maria - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina Kyrie: Missa in duplicibus minoribus I - Palestrina Gloria: Missa in duplicibus minoribus I - Palestrina Petrus beatus catenarum laqueos - Costanzo Festa Adoramus Te - Palestrina Credo: Missa in duplicibus minoribus I - Palestrina Tibi Christe splendor Patris - Festa Sanctus: Missa in duplicibus minoribus I - Palestrina O regem caeli - Tomas Luis de Victoria Gloriosi principes terrae - Palestrina Agnus Dei: Missa in duplicibus minoribus I - Palestrina Surrexit pastor bonus - Palestrina Litaniae de Beata Virgine Marie - Palestrina Ave Maris - Victoria

This thoughtfully constructed program, beautifully sung by Lion-heart, features music by composers closely connected with the papal choir (hence the word Rome in the title): Costanzo Festa (cl490-1545), Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c1525-1594), and Tomas Luis de Victoria (1548-1611).Ý This is Lionheart 's first recording in nearly three years and it is worth the wait. The ensemble's tonal quality is sublime, and their voices blend flawlessly. Typically, Lionheart 's articulation is crystalline, and there's an emotional weight behind each note - these guys are paying attention to the words.Ý The sonic quality of the disc is stellar, with a realistic church acoustic that doesn't skimp on clarity or warmth. This is a vital addition to the Palestrina discography and one of the best recordings of Renaissance polyphony in recent (or distant) memory.

6639 CD $15.98

My Faire Ladye

*The Beloved* Quam pulcra es - Sarum Chant Quam pulcra es - John Dunstable Ibo michi ad montem mirre - Sarum Chant Who shall have my fayre ladye? - Anon. Salve regina misericordie -Sarum Chant *The Unfathomable* Adew mes amours - William Cornysh A robyn, gentyl robyn - William Cornysh Iff I had wytt for to endyght - Anon. *The Maternal* Quid petis o fili? - Richard Pygott *The Desired* Tota pulcra es - Sarum Chant Up Y Arose - Anon. And I war a maydyn - Anon. Blow thi horne hunter - William Cornysh *The Triumphant* Anima mea liquefacta est - Sarum Chant O regina mundi clara - John Brown Beata Dei genitrix - Sarum Chant

This musical homage to the fairer sex is performed by the all male sextet "Lionheart," whose member's impeccable credentials include past association with Anonymous 4. The group's foundation, and the cornerstone of it's sound, is Gregorian Chant, a style that is epitomized here. In medieval times, the church was the locus of existence, and expressions of devotion were central in music and art. Therefore, it is understandable that the role of woman in culture would be regarded similarly, and that songs of praise to her would take on a religious connotation, as to the Virgin Mother Mary. Predominant on this recording is the Sarum Chant, a plainsong used in rituals at Salisbury Cathedral in England. The melodies are simple and unembellished, the mood subdued.

6398 CD $15.98

Paris 1200

Breves dies hominis Virtutum thronus frangitur Pange melos lacrimosum Te sanctum dominum Ave Maria fons letitie Ave virgo virginum Olim sudor Herculis Condimentum nostre spei Sic mea fata Mundus vergens Mens fidem / Encontre / In odorem Gaude Maria virgo Veris ad imperia O curas hominum Procurans odium Diffusa est gratia Veste nuptiali Mors vite propitia

This is the second recording from the six-member Lionheart, dedicated to the performance of Gregorian chant. The group has appeared at venues such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and has been featured in the New York and Los Angeles "Times." "Paris 1200" collects twelfth-century polyphony from France, composed by Perotin and Leonin, both men considered masters of the period; Notre Dame Cathedral, founded in 1163, provided an outlet for these new works. The primary forms used were organum, motet and conductus. Though harmonically fundamental, the beauty of chant lies in its very simplicity, and in the quality of the performance, at which Lionheart excel.

6399 CD $15.98

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