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This group is a four-member a-cappella female ensemble
that was established in New York in 1986 after the members got together for
a session. It was so successful
that they created the program “Legends of Nicholas” and it went
from there. They named
themselves after a treatise of music called Anonymous 4 which details the
music and styles used in 13th century Paris at the Cathedral of
Notre Dame.
Their repertoire is largely medieval music but through
time they have added Renaissance, British and American traditional and
contemporary styles. These
contemporary styles have seen them giving
premieres of works by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Richard Einhorn, Steve
Reich and John Tavener.
Gaining a lot of recognition through the course of
their career, the ensemble has appeared at festivals and many national and
international venues as well as on various television and radio
programmes.
Also acclaimed for their recordings they have released
many albums including Billboard album chart entries and winning several
awards. These albums include American Angels, An English Ladymass,
Gloryland, On Yoolis Night, A Portrait of Anonymous 4, The Second Circle
and Voices of Light.
They stopped touring and recording on a full-time
basis in 2004 but still often appear together.
Members over the years:
Ruth Cunningham
Marsha Genensky
Susan Hellauer
Jacqueline Horner
Johanna Marie Rose
Anonymous 4 recordings
Awake and Join the Cheerful Choir (English
Traditional)
Harmonia Mundi HMU 907325 (CD: Wolcum Yule)
Harp - Andrew Lawrence King
Sources:
- http://www.anonymous4.com/
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=41:10359~T1
- http://www.myspace.com/theanonymous4
- http://harmoniamundi.com/usa/artistes_fiche.php?artist_id=8
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_4
- http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=41:10359~T3
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