'Gentleman Extraordinary': Anthems, Services, and Instrumental Music by Thomas Weelkes
AN HISTORIC RECORDING OF WEELKES' MUSIC UNLIKE ANY OTHER
Resurgam, Ireland's premier early music choir, is proud to announce its first-ever commercial recording project. Together with the award-winning English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble (ECSE), Resurgam has released a unique recording of the choral and instrumental music of Thomas Weelkes (1576-1623) just ahead of the 400th anniversary of his death.
Weelkes' remarkable output of church music, still largely unpublished, brings together the delicacy of the English verse anthem with the massive sonorities of the Venetian polychoral style. Weelkes was quite likely a Gentleman Extraordinary of the Chapel Royal, and the title seems an apt description of a composer who made such a colourful and unique contribution to English church music of the time, and was equally colourful in the conduct of his personal life!
Supported by research from scholar-performers Andrew Johnstone and Helen Roberts, the recording features Resurgam & ECSE's captivating combination of voices and historic brasswinds, together with the stunning sounds of a reproduction Tudor-era organ, all performed at high pitch (A=465Hz): a combination as yet unheard in recordings of this repertoire. We're making history!
Weelkes' remarkable output of church music, still largely unpublished, brings together the delicacy of the English verse anthem with the massive sonorities of the Venetian polychoral style. Weelkes was quite likely a Gentleman Extraordinary of the Chapel Royal, and the title seems an apt description of a composer who made such a colourful and unique contribution to English church music of the time, and was equally colourful in the conduct of his personal life!
Supported by research from scholar-performers Andrew Johnstone and Helen Roberts, the recording features Resurgam & ECSE's captivating combination of voices and historic brasswinds, together with the stunning sounds of a reproduction Tudor-era organ, all performed at high pitch (A=465Hz): a combination as yet unheard in recordings of this repertoire. We're making history!
TWO ENSEMBLES, THREE ANNIVERSARIES
2023 marks the 400th anniversary of Weelkes' passing (30 November 1623) and it was a natural fit for these two acclaimed ensembles, who are enjoying over 6 years of fruitful collaborations: the same year marks Resurgam's 20th anniversary and ECSE's 30th. We can't think of a better way to celebrate these milestones than partnering with the multi-award-winning UK label, Resonus Records, to bring this project to reality!
AN EXTRAORDINARY UNDERTAKING
This project, like any other, comes with a considerable overall price tag to Resurgam: €47000! Your generous support helps bring this glorious music to your (and the world's) ears. The greatest cost, understandably, is paying our artists. All of our CD sales go directly to paying the Resurgam & ECSE performers—some of the finest artists performing early music in Ireland & the UK today—and this can only be made possible with your contributions.
WHY CROWDFUNDING? CAN'T I JUST BUY YOUR CD LATER, OR STREAM IT, TO SUPPORT YOU?
Unfortunately, the reality of today's digital music landscape is that artists won't get a considerable amount—if anything—from the sales of their recordings. Streaming brings in only a few cents per play (if that), and as Resurgam & ECSE don't and won't own the rights to the recording, this isn't part of the picture now or in the future. The best way to help us reach our financial goal is by ordering a CD through us, and supporting us with a contribution at the same time! How to do this? Support us at the €25 level or higher, and the CD is yours, along with the knowledge that you helped make this historic project a reality! There are plenty of other perks and gifts, so...read on! (And click the 'Donate' button above to check out the different perks we offer.)
BE A PART OF RECORDING HISTORY
If you'd like to see your name on a piece of recording history, please make a donation today. Everyone who makes a contribution will get their name listed on our dedicated recording page on our website. We would like to have you on this exciting journey, so every Euro helps us reach our goal of making this recording a reality. And if you'd like to see your name in print, consider giving at the €1000 level or higher before mid-May: you'll get your name in the CD, plus a host of other perks.
3...2..1...LAUNCH!
The CD is being released by Resonus Classics in November 2023, and is available directly from Resurgam by purchasing directly from us. Be a part of this excellent project by supporting our CD recording, Gentleman Extraordinary, today!
Donor Wall10
Maria | €104.40
James O'Shea | €30
We really enjoyed the GIAF concert!
Ger O'Donohoe | €50
Cecilia Madden | €104.39
Patrick | €100
Richard | €31.53
wishing all success from an Old St John's Boy!!
Caitriona
Lucy Hayward | €25
Keep up the excellent work.
matthew Harrison | €52.45
Kate Manning | €100