The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble

Bio

The English Cornett & Sackbut Ensemble is a virtuoso period instrument group with a host of distinguished recordings to its name. In addition to its recital work, the ensemble collaborates with leading vocal ensembles such as I Fagiolini, The Tallis Scholars, Alamire, Resurgam, The Marian Consort, Westminster Cathedral Choir, and is a regular at major festivals. ECSE is in demand as a recording ensemble, contributing to Gramophone Award-winning discs such as The Spy’s Choirbook (Obsidian) in 2015, and the monumental Striggio mass in 40 parts Missa ecco si beato giorno with I Fagiolini (which scooped the Gramophone Award for Early Music 2011 and also the Diapason d’Or). ECSE celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018 with a solo CD on the Resonus label entitled Music for Windy Instruments: sounds from the Court of James I.
ECSE celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and we celebrate our anniversary with a collaborative CD with the Irish vocal ensemble Resurgam; of music by Thomas Weelkes – released on November 10th on the Resonus label. Other performances include Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with I Fagiolini, and a Christmas concert celebrating William Byrd’s 400th anniversary with The BBC Singers (directed by Owain Park). This year ECSE once again participated in the NCEM/BBC Radio3 Young Composer Competition and our 30th anniversary concert on November 9th is being recorded by BBC Radio 3 from Stoller Hall, Manchester.