New York Polyphony are fast-rising stars on the classical music scene.  Praised for a “rich, natural sound that’s larger and more complex than the sum of its parts” (National Public Radio),  “Early music’s Fab Four” (Brattleboro Reformer) are recognized as one of the finest vocal ensembles active today.  The all-male quartet apply not only refined musicianship and interpretative detail but also a refreshingly modern touch to repertoire that ranges from austere medieval melodies to cutting-edge contemporary works.  Dedication to innovative programming, as well as a focus on rare and rediscovered early music, have earned New York Polyphony critical accolades and a devoted following.

In early 2012, New York Polyphony released endBeginning, their third album and first on acclaimed label BIS Records.   Containing rare and never-before recorded works from the Franco-Flemish Renaissance, it has amassed substantial critical acclaim.  endBeginning has been featured on NPR’s Deceptive Cadence, selected as ‘CD of the Week’ by Alex Ross (The Rest Is Noise), and rated 10-out-of-10 by Classics Today.  It also received high marks from international publications including Klassik Heute (Germany), Diapason (France) and Gramophone (UK). ... read full bio

New York Polyphony are fast-rising stars on the classical music scene.  Praised for a “rich, natural sound that’s larger and more complex than the sum of its parts” (National Public Radio),  “Early music’s Fab Four” (Brattleboro Reformer) are recognized as one of the finest vocal ensembles active today.  The all-male quartet apply not only refined musicianship and interpretative detail but also a refreshingly modern touch to repertoire that ranges from austere medieval melodies to cutting-edge contemporary works.  Dedication to innovative programming, as well as a focus on rare and rediscovered early music, have earned New York Polyphony critical accolades and a devoted following.

In early 2012, New York Polyphony released endBeginning, their third album and first on acclaimed label BIS Records.   Containing rare and never-before recorded works from the Franco-Flemish Renaissance, it has amassed substantial critical acclaim.  endBeginning has been featured on NPR’s Deceptive Cadence, selected as ‘CD of the Week’ by Alex Ross (The Rest Is Noise), and rated 10-out-of-10 by Classics Today.  It also received high marks from international publications including Klassik Heute (Germany), Diapason (France) and Gramophone (UK).

Hailed as a “stunning tour through chant, polyphony and renaissance harmonies” (Minnesota Public Radio), their second album Tudor City spent three weeks in the Top 10 of Billboard’s classical album chart.  It has been featured on Danish Public Radio, American Public Radio and NPR’s All Things Considered.

NYP’s debut album I sing the birth was released in 2007.  The disc—an intimate meditation on the Christmas season— garnered unanimous praise.  Gramophone named it “one of the season’s best,” BBC Music Magazine selected it as Editor’s Christmas Choice 2007, and Classic FM Magazine deemed it “a disc for all seasons.”

Since their founding in 2006, New York Polyphony have maintained an active performance schedule.  They have participated in major concert series and festivals throughout North America and Europe, including Miller Theatre at Columbia University; Dallas Chamber Music Series; Ireland’s Ardee Baroque Festival; Denmark’s Vendsyssel Festival; Festival de Música de Morelia, Mexico; and Choral at Cadogan Hall in London.  They have been featured on Footprints to Paradise: A Medieval Christmas for Public Radio International, Performance Today for American Public Media, and In Practice for National Public Radio.  In December 2011, New York Polyphony made their national television debut on The Martha Stewart Show.

Recent engagements include a residency at Dartmouth College, a broadcast holiday event for Minnesota Public Radio, and the premiere of the Missa Charles Darwin—a newly commissioned secular Mass setting based on texts of Charles Darwin by composer Gregory Brown—at a TEDx event in Woods Hole, Massachusetts.

Upcoming highlights of the 2012-2013 season include a return to Miller Theatre, a holiday performance for the Kansas City Friends of Chamber Music, as well as a residency at Stanford University.  In addition to appearing in recital on the inaugural season of Stanford’s new Bing Hall, NYP will be the featured ensemble in the world premieres of Theotokia and The War Reporter.  Composed by Stanford music professor Jonathan Berger with librettist Dan O’Brien, these two new chamber operas will be directed by Grammy winner Rinde Eckert and accompanied by members of the St. Lawrence String Quartet.  The ensemble will also return to Sweden for the recording of their next album with BIS Records slated for release in 2013.

NEW YORK POLYPHONY is:
Geoffrey Williams, countertenor
Steven Caldicott Wilson, tenor
Christopher Dylan Herbert, baritone
Craig Phillips, bass

 

Audio Clips:
Surrexit Christus by Andrew Smith from the album Tudor City (Avie Records)
Away in a manger from the album I Sing the Birth (Avie Records)
Sequentia: Confutatis - Pie Jesu
Missa pro defunctis
Antoine Brumel
from the BIS Records CD endBeginning (BIS-SACD-1949)
© 2011 & © 2012, BIS Records AB, Åkersberg

Video Clip:
Missa Charles Darwin composed by Gregory Brown. Video by David Croy.