Quink Vocal Ensemble - Renaissance Madrigals (1989)

Quink, an a cappella vocal quintet from Holland, was formed in 1978. The five members, Machteld van Woerden and Paula de Wit (soprano), Corrie Pronk (alto), Harry can Berne (tenor), Kees-Jan de Koning (bass), have toured Europe and Asia extensively, and have made several tourds of the U.S. since their American debut in 1985.

Quink’s repertoire rances from the 16th to the 20th centuries. For their Telarc debut recording they chose “Madrigals & Canzonets of the Italian Rennaissance and Baroque”. An already planned second release featuring Christmas music will be available on compact disc and cassette in late 1989.

Quink’s unusual name does not have a specific meaning, but according to soprano Machteld van Woerden, it is mostly derived from the Dutch works kwetteren (to chirp) and kwinkslag (a joke). “Although we like to think that music should be beautiful, like the singing of birds,” she says, “we also think it does not have to be so terribly serious.” It is this light-hearted attitude, in tandem with their undeniable virtuosity, that has endeared them to audiences around the world.