Vivien Ellis voice William Lyons flutes, shawm, bagpipes, simfony, percussion Susanna Pell vielle Peter Skuce harp, percussion, harpsichord

The Dufay Collective’s CD Music for Alfonso the Wise, received 5 stars in BBC Music Magazine and was ‘Classical CD of the Week’ in The Observer. They attracted the largest audiences ever at the Banqueting House in December 2005 and 2006 for their medieval Christmas programme Goday Sire Cristemas. The highly successful years since its formation have taken The Dufay Collective on tours throughout most of Europe, the Middle East, India, Hong Kong, Australia, the US and Latin America. At home the group has appeared in numerous concert series and festivals around the country, and has given sell-out concerts at London’s main concert halls. The Dufay Collective has broadcast on many radio and TV networks around the world and their CDs have all met with critical acclaim: ‘Cancionero’ was nominated for a Grammy Award 2003 and was voted one of the CDs of the year in Gramophone Magazine.

Sample Programme:

Alchemy: The Dufay Collective and Spanish-based Arab group ‘Alquimia’ has created a fascinating programme that brings together the traditions of East and West, combining Dance songs of the Troubadours, Cantigas de Santa Maria from the court of Alfonso el Sabio and music of the Arab Nuba.

Education:

Medieval Madness: From Dancing and Drums to Folk-Rock and Medieval Poetry, using improvisatory techniques the group creates programmes of variety, colour and educational value to give a sense of history and an understanding of how music fitted into people’s lives during the Middle Ages.

Recordings:

A L’Estampida - Medieval Dance Music (Avie)
Miri It Is - Songs and Instrumental Music from Medieval England (Chandos)
A Dance in the Garden of Mirth - Medieval Instrumental Music (Chandos)
Johnny, Cock thy Beaver - Popular music making in 17th century England (Chandos)
On the Banks of the Seine - Music of the Trouveres (Chandos)
Miracles - 13th century Spanish songs in Praise of the Virgin Mary (Chandos)
Cancionero - Music for the Spanish Court 1470-1520 (Avie)
Music for Alfonso the Wise (Harmonia Mundi)

Performances:

20 Oct 06 The English Music Festival
28 May 07 Beverley Early Music Festival
18 Aug 07 Turku Music Festival, Finland

Contact:

Christopher Lawrence (General Manager)
The Academy of Ancient Music,
10 Brookside, Cambridge CB2 1JE
Tel: 01223 301509
Fax: 01223 327377
Email: info@aam.co.uk
Website: www.aam.co.uk