EX CORDE
vocal ensemble
Projects
MUSIC FROM MEDIEVAL YORK
As a religious centre during the Middle Ages, York was second only to London, with its large Gothic cathedral, three monasteries (including St Mary’s Abbey), a nunnery, the biggest hospital in the north of England, four friaries, and 40 parish churches – and of course, the annual Mystery Plays. The ruins of St Mary’s Abbey in the heart of the city reflect the very physical impact felt by the Dissolution of the Monasteries (St Mary’s Abbey was dissolved in 1539), quite apart from the shift in religious practices that soon followed.
We are exploring liturgical music from pre‐Reformation York that did survive, and putting it in the wider English - and European - context.
Projects
DAVID LANCASTER - APOCALYPSE
Our debut recording, released by Resonus Music in August 2023
APOCALYPSE sets words from Pricke of Conscience, a medieval poem telling of the last 15 days of the world, which is also depicted in stained glass in a stunning 15th century window in All Saints Church, North Street, in York. All Saints also provides the inspiration for AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD. Composed in collaboration with poet Abi Curtis, this is the tale of Emma Raughton, an anchoress who lived in solitary isolation in All Saints during the early years of the 15th century, and who allegedly received visitations from the Virgin Mary.
Click here for more information about David Lancaster
CHRISTOPHER FOX
Five Humble Verses
first performance TBC
Verses by Emilia Lanier, from Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum (1611). Lanier was associated with both Byrd and Shakespeare, and one of the first English women to be published.
Brave New Worlds
Three very different visions of a new world, as seen by Thomas More, Aldous Huxley, and von Harbou (his book Metropolis, the basis of the influential film).
first complete performance National Centre for Early Music, 26 November 2022
first performance of Brave New Worlds I: News from Nowhere St John's RC Church, 20 June 2021, Beverley Early Music Festival
Click here for more information about Christopher Fox
AMRBOSE FIELD - ARCHITEXTURE
A project in collaboration with AudioLab, part of the Department of Electronic Engineering. University of York. Recorded in the university's Rymer Studio and anechoic chamber, performances of Ambrose Field's Architexture I and an anonymous 15th century Gloria from the 'York Masses' may be listened to as an immersive audio experience. More information can be found here https://architexture.york.ac.uk/the-app and in a demonstration of the app in the video below.
In the video below, the extract begins with the Rymer acoustic before transitioning to the immersive audio acoustic of the Guildhall.
