The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble Information

The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble is a virtuoso period instrument ensemble with a host of distinguished recordings to its name. Since its formation in 1993, ECSE has performed at many major music festivals in the UK and abroad. As well as sell-out concerts at London’s Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square and the Purcell Room, it has also performed at the York Early Music Festival, Bath International Festival, Spitalfields Festival, La Folle Journée, Laus Polyphoniae, and the International Izmir Festival. ECSE regularly travels abroad with vocal ensembles inlcuding I Fagiolini, Alamire and Cantus Cölln. The group has appeared on numerous CDs, the latest of which - The Spy's Choirbook with David Skinner and Alamire - won the prestigious 2015 Gramophone Award for Early Music. Following the success of its debut CD Accendo (three 5-star awards) ECSE has been involved in a variety of recordings, including The Madrigal in Venice, a large-scale recording of Andrea Gabrieli’s madrigals with I Fagiolini. It's discography also includes the world premiere of Francesco Scarlatti’s 'Miserere' with Emma Kirkby and The Armonico Consort, a critically acclaimed Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610, and a CD of music by the Flemish composer Philippe Rogier with the choir of King’s College London, directed by the late (and much missed) David Trendell. 2011 saw the release of Le Divin Arcadelt with Musica Contexta, and a further CD collaboration with I Fagiolini: the world premiere recording of the momentous 40-part mass Ecco si beato giorno by Alessandro Striggio, which scooped both the Gramophone Award for Early Music and the Diapason d'Or. In addition to its work with professional vocal groups and solo recitals, ECSE also works closely with instrumental ensembles such as the Monteverdi String Band and the Altenburg Ensemble. ECE also performs regularly with choral societies throughout Britain, including many performances of Claudio Monteverdi’s magnificent 1610 Vespers.