Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier - First Drop (2017) [Hi-Res]

Taking its name from the "New Art" of 14th century polyphony, the Ars Nova Ensemble is one of Scandinavia's leading chamber choirs. Consisting of 12 singers, the ensemble specializes in both Renaissance and contemporary choral music. Ars Nova was founded in 1979 by conductor Bo Holten, but since 1996, Hungarian-born Tamás Vetö has acted as the principal conductor. The choir has worked with prominent conductors such as Peter Philips (the Tallis Scholars), Bruno Turner (Pro Cantione Antiqua), and Paul Hillier (the Hilliard Ensemble, Theatre of Voices), who has regularly performed as guest conductor of the ensemble since 1997. The choir is well-known for its interpretation of polyphonic Renaissance choral music with acclaimed recordings of works by Desprez, Tallis, di Lasso, Palestrina, and Taverner. The group has also recorded previously unknown works by Pierre de la Rue, Nicolas Gombert, Filipe de Magalhaes, Giaches de Wert, Alonso and Duarte Lobo, Manuel Cardoso, and Jacob Obrecht. Ars Nova has premiered more than 150 works and enjoy established relationships with contemporary Scandinavian composers such as Per Nørgård, Ib Nørholm, Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen, Sven-David Sandström, Poul Ruders, and Hans Abrahamsen, all of whom have written works for the group. Ars Nova was awarded the Danish Music Critics' Artist's Prize in 1998, a Danish Grammy in 1991 for the recording of sacred music by Nicolas Gombert, and a Diapason d'Or (France) for its recording of works by Josquin Desprez. The group's recordings have appeared on Kontrapunkt, Naxos, and Dacapo.