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Press Releases
The King's Singers Release 'Swimming Over London' on May 25th
May 6, New York, NY -- After the 2009 Grammy Award-winning Simple Gifts and a world premiere recording of Pachelbel Vespers in March 2010, internationally-acclaimed vocal group The King's Singers return to the studio to record Swimming Over London, available on the Signum label on May 25, 2010. Featuring a diverse array of songs, this latest release captures jazz classics, current hits, and more, all arranged, performed, and recorded with the meticulous attention to detail and artistry that has established The King's Singers as one of the finest vocal ensembles throughout their history.
Swimming Over London includes five original songs, commissioned specifically for the disc and written by Mia Makaroff, composer and arranger for Finnish vocal ensemble Rajaton; Ysaye M. Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock; Roger Treece, arranger and performer in Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra ensemble; Alexander L'Estrange, composer and arranger for the Swingle Singers; and Bob Chilcott, a former King's Singer. Chilcott, a respected composer of vocal music, wrote the title track for the album, an evocative tale of a woman stretching her way over London to the coast based on a poem by Charles Bennett. Roger Treece, renowned arranger for groups including Manhattan Transfer and New York Voices, composed an original song ("Keeper of the Seasons") and arranged two contrasting songs: Sarah McLachlan’s beautiful "Angel" and Pat Metheny’s "September 15th." This release also marks the final King's Singers recording to feature bass Stephen Connolly, who departs the group in September to serve as Head of Vocal Studies at Cheltenham Ladies' College in the UK. A new group member will be announced later this spring.
Praised by Gramophone for "enchanting the ear from first to last note," The King's Singers are one of the most artistically adventurous and highly sought-after vocal ensembles in the world. With a musicianship that reaches effortlessly between the classical field and the lighter end of the repertoire, The King's Singers infuse each performance and recording with impeccable vocal blend and intonation, flawless articulation and timing, and remarkable sensitivity. Described by The Times (UK) as a group that has "stayed in character over four decades, yet retuned itself to the times," The King's Singers have a discography of well over 100 recordings and a host of international awards.
Active as a performing ensemble as well, the 2009/10 season sees The King's Singers performing at London's Cadogan Hall, Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, York, Oxford, and the Sage Gateshead in the UK. An extensive international tour includes performances throughout the USA, Europe, and Scandinavia, with additional concerts in Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea. While on tour in the USA, The King's Singers will make an album with renowned Concordia College Choir for release in summer 2011. The ensemble has an incredible record of television appearances and performances as well, ranging from the 2002 Winter Olympics to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2007 Christmas Concert and a special 40th anniversary BBC Proms performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Passionate about supporting new choral music, The King's Singers have commissioned over 200 works from a host of prominent contemporary composers, including Richard Rodney Bennett, Luciano Berio, György Ligeti, Gian Carlo Menotti, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ned Rorem, John Rutter, Toru Takemitsu, and John Tavener. This season, the group will premiere works by Ivan Moody, Gabriela Lena Frank, John McCabe, Bob Chilcott, and Eric Whitacre. In addition to their sold-out concerts worldwide, The King's Singers share their artistry through numerous workshops and master classes. With over two million pieces of sheet music sold worldwide through publisher Hal Leonard, The King's Singers' arrangements are performed by schools, college choirs, and amateur and professional ensembles all over the world.
Track listing:
1. Swimming over London (Bob Chilcott & Charles Bennett)
2. I'm Yours (Jason Mraz, arr. Philip Lawson)
3. Angel (Sarah McLachlan, arr. Roger Treece)
4. By the Time (Mika, arr. Philip Lawson)
5. September 15th / Keeper of the Seasons (Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, lyrics: Don Rosler, arr. Roger Treece / Roger Treece, add’l lyrics: Don Rosler & Linda Goldstein)
6. It's a New World (Harold Arlen & Ira Gershwin, arr. Richard Rodney Bennett)
7. Don't Let Go (Ysaye M. Barnwell)
8. Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap, arr. Christopher Gabbitas)
9. Lazy Bones / Up a Lazy River (Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer & Sidney Arodin, arr. Daryl Runswick)
10. Andromeda (Mia Makaroff)
11. Recipe for Love (Harry Connick, Jr., arr. Berty Rice)
12. Silent Love (Mia Makaroff)
13. Straighten Up and Fly Right (Nat King Cole & Irving Mills, arr. Alexander L’Estrange)
14. Home (Michael Bublé, Amy Foster-Gillies & Alan Chang, arr. Alexander L’Estrange)
###
For additional information or to obtain a press copy of the album, please contact:
Amanda Ameer
First Chair Promotion
ph. 212.368.5949
e. amanda@firstchairpromo.com
Swimming Over London includes five original songs, commissioned specifically for the disc and written by Mia Makaroff, composer and arranger for Finnish vocal ensemble Rajaton; Ysaye M. Barnwell of Sweet Honey in the Rock; Roger Treece, arranger and performer in Bobby McFerrin's Voicestra ensemble; Alexander L'Estrange, composer and arranger for the Swingle Singers; and Bob Chilcott, a former King's Singer. Chilcott, a respected composer of vocal music, wrote the title track for the album, an evocative tale of a woman stretching her way over London to the coast based on a poem by Charles Bennett. Roger Treece, renowned arranger for groups including Manhattan Transfer and New York Voices, composed an original song ("Keeper of the Seasons") and arranged two contrasting songs: Sarah McLachlan’s beautiful "Angel" and Pat Metheny’s "September 15th." This release also marks the final King's Singers recording to feature bass Stephen Connolly, who departs the group in September to serve as Head of Vocal Studies at Cheltenham Ladies' College in the UK. A new group member will be announced later this spring.
Praised by Gramophone for "enchanting the ear from first to last note," The King's Singers are one of the most artistically adventurous and highly sought-after vocal ensembles in the world. With a musicianship that reaches effortlessly between the classical field and the lighter end of the repertoire, The King's Singers infuse each performance and recording with impeccable vocal blend and intonation, flawless articulation and timing, and remarkable sensitivity. Described by The Times (UK) as a group that has "stayed in character over four decades, yet retuned itself to the times," The King's Singers have a discography of well over 100 recordings and a host of international awards.
Active as a performing ensemble as well, the 2009/10 season sees The King's Singers performing at London's Cadogan Hall, Manchester's Bridgewater Hall, the Royal Albert Hall, York, Oxford, and the Sage Gateshead in the UK. An extensive international tour includes performances throughout the USA, Europe, and Scandinavia, with additional concerts in Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea. While on tour in the USA, The King's Singers will make an album with renowned Concordia College Choir for release in summer 2011. The ensemble has an incredible record of television appearances and performances as well, ranging from the 2002 Winter Olympics to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir's 2007 Christmas Concert and a special 40th anniversary BBC Proms performance at the Royal Albert Hall.
Passionate about supporting new choral music, The King's Singers have commissioned over 200 works from a host of prominent contemporary composers, including Richard Rodney Bennett, Luciano Berio, György Ligeti, Gian Carlo Menotti, Krzysztof Penderecki, Ned Rorem, John Rutter, Toru Takemitsu, and John Tavener. This season, the group will premiere works by Ivan Moody, Gabriela Lena Frank, John McCabe, Bob Chilcott, and Eric Whitacre. In addition to their sold-out concerts worldwide, The King's Singers share their artistry through numerous workshops and master classes. With over two million pieces of sheet music sold worldwide through publisher Hal Leonard, The King's Singers' arrangements are performed by schools, college choirs, and amateur and professional ensembles all over the world.
Track listing:
1. Swimming over London (Bob Chilcott & Charles Bennett)
2. I'm Yours (Jason Mraz, arr. Philip Lawson)
3. Angel (Sarah McLachlan, arr. Roger Treece)
4. By the Time (Mika, arr. Philip Lawson)
5. September 15th / Keeper of the Seasons (Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, lyrics: Don Rosler, arr. Roger Treece / Roger Treece, add’l lyrics: Don Rosler & Linda Goldstein)
6. It's a New World (Harold Arlen & Ira Gershwin, arr. Richard Rodney Bennett)
7. Don't Let Go (Ysaye M. Barnwell)
8. Hide and Seek (Imogen Heap, arr. Christopher Gabbitas)
9. Lazy Bones / Up a Lazy River (Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer & Sidney Arodin, arr. Daryl Runswick)
10. Andromeda (Mia Makaroff)
11. Recipe for Love (Harry Connick, Jr., arr. Berty Rice)
12. Silent Love (Mia Makaroff)
13. Straighten Up and Fly Right (Nat King Cole & Irving Mills, arr. Alexander L’Estrange)
14. Home (Michael Bublé, Amy Foster-Gillies & Alan Chang, arr. Alexander L’Estrange)
###
For additional information or to obtain a press copy of the album, please contact:
Amanda Ameer
First Chair Promotion
ph. 212.368.5949
e. amanda@firstchairpromo.com
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