Ars Nova Copenhagen

Ars Nova Copenhagen is a Danish vocal ensemble focusing on Renaissance and contemporary music but with frequent excursions into Baroque and Romantic repertoire. The basic line-up is 12 singers (SSSAAATTTBBB). Ars Nova Copenhagen is led by Paul Hillier who made his first appearance with the group in 1997 and was appointed chief conductor and artistic director in 2002. Former chief conductors were Bo Holten (1979-1995) and Tamás Vetö (1995-2000). Ars Nova has toured in more than 35 countries on 5 continents and has recorded more than 40 CDs many of which have received top ratings in the international music press. In 2010 the group received a Grammy reward for ‘The Little Match Girl Passion’ featuring music by David Lang.

Selected discography

Renaissance to Baroque

• Josquin Desprez: Missa de beata virgine. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Kontrapunkt
• Pierre de la Rue: Requiem, Giaches de Wert 5 Motets. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Kontrapunkt 32001.
• Pierre de la Rue: Missa L'Homme Arme. Nicolas Gombert: Lugebat David Absalon, Musae Jovis. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Kontrapunkt 32008
• Nicolas Gombert: Sacred Music. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Kontrapunkt 32038
• Thomas Tallis: Felix Namque (I), Felix Namque (II), O Nata Lux Salvator Mundi, The Lamentations Of Jeremiah I, The Lamentations Of Jeremiah II, Videte Miraculum. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten with Lars Ulrik Mortensen (harpsichord). Kontrapunkt 32003
• Lassus: Lagrime di San Pietro. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Naxos (1995)
• Portuguese Polyphony Manuel Cardoso, Pedro de Escobar, Manuel da Fonseca Duarte Lobo. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Naxos (1995)
• Mogens Pedersøn: Sacred Music From The court Of Christian IV: 3 Hymns from Pratum Spirituale. Ad Te Levavi Oculos Meos. Missa Quinque Vocum. John Dowland Thou Mighty God. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Kontrapunkt 32100
• John Taverner: Taverner & Tudor Music I - The Western Wind. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Ars Nova Records 2006
• John Taverner: Taverner & Tudor Music II - Gloria tibi Trinitas. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Ars Nova Records (2008)
• Heinrich Schütz: The Complete Narrative Works. Lukas-Passion SWV 480 (1666), Weihnachtshistorie SWV 435 (c. 1660), Auferstehungshistorie SWV 50 (c. 1623), Die Sieben Worte, SWV 478 (before 1658), Johannes-Passion, SWV 481 (1666), Matthäus-Passion, SWV 479 (1666). Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. 4CD Dacapo (2011). Also available as single discs.
• Plainchant, various. The Christmas Story. Ars Nova Copenhagen, Theatre of Voices & Paul Hillier. Harmonia Mundi (2011)

Romantic

• Julens Sange - Christmas songs. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Exlibris
• Årstidernes sange. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Exlibris
• Carl Nielsen: Songs. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Exlibris
• Fædrelandssange. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Tamás Vetö. Exlibris
• The Golden Age of Danish Partsongs. Music by Nielsen, Kuhlau, Weyse, Hartmann, Gade, Laub, Heise, Schultz and Nørholm. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Dacapo (2014)

Contemporary

• Bo Holten: Sønderjysk Sommer Symfoni. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Exlibris
• Per Nørgård: Den Foruroligende Ælling. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Ivan Hansen. Exlibris
• New Music For Choir - Hans Abrahamsen Universe Birds. Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen Konstateringer. Bo Holten Grundtvig Motets. Per Nørgård Wie Ein Kind. Poul Ruders 2 Motets. Sven-David Sandström En Ny Himmel Och En Ny Jord. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Bo Holten. Kontrapunkt 32016
• Ib Nørholm: Elverspejl (The Elf Mirror), Pavlovski, Resmark, Hoyer, Vocal Group Ars Nova & Frans Rasmussen. Kontrapunkt 1996
• Bo Holten: Orfeo-Fragmenter I-VI. Niels Rosing-Schow Sommerfugledalen. Exlibris 30055 (1996)
• Ib Nørholm: Choral Works. Americana op.89, MacMoon Songs III op.154, Sjaefuld Sommer op. 146, 3 Lieder, Fuglene op.129. Vocal Group Ars Nova, Danish Chamber Players & Tamás Vetö. Dacapo
• Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen: Works for Voices and Instruments. Vocal Group Ars Nova, Athelas Sinfonietta Copenhagen & Ivan Hansen. Dacapo
• Per Nørgård. Singe die Gärten Works for Choir I. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Tamás Vetö. Dacapo
• Per Nørgård. Mythic Morning - Works for Choir II. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Tamás Vetö. Dacapo 2005
• Rued Langgaard: Rose Garden Songs Dacapo. Vocal Group Ars Nova & Tamás Vetö. reissued 2009
• Terry Riley. In C. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Ars Nova Records 2006
• Per Nørgård: Lygtemaendene tager til byen (The Will-o'-the-Wisps Go to Town), Dam-Jensen, Kihlberg, Gjerris, Henning-Jensen, Jensen, Ars Nova Copenhagen, Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Thomas Dausgaard. Dacapo
• Svend Nielsen (b. 1937). Sommerfugledalen, for 12 solo voices. (Also includes a reading of the poem by the poet recorded in 1991 for the earlier Kontrapunkt release). Ars Nova Copenhagen & Tamás Vetö. Dacapo 2007
• David Lang (composer). The little Match Girl Passion. Theatre of Voices, Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Harmonia Mundi 2009
• Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen (b. 1932). The Natural World of Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Dacapo 2010
• A Bridge of Dreams. Lou Harrison (America, 1917-2003) Mass for Saint Cecilia's Day (1983). Ross Edwards (composer) (Australia, b. 1943) Sacred Kingfisher Psalms (2009). Jack Body (New Zealand, b.1944) Five Lullabies (1989). Liu Sola (China, b.1955) The Seafarer to a text of Kevin Crossley-Holland (2009). Anne Boyd (Australia, b.1946) As I crossed a bridge of Dreams (1975). A cappella music from Australia and New Zealand. Andrew Lawrence-King, Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Ars Nova Records 2011
• Arvo Pärt (b. 1935). Creator Spiritus. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Harmonia Mundi (2012)
• Bent Sørensen (composer) (b. 1958)/ Johannes Ockeghem. Fragments of Requiem. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Dacapo 2012
• John Cage: The Complete John Cage Edition Volume 18: The Choral Works 1. Ars Nova Copenhagen & Paul Hillier. Mode Records

External links

• Homepage of Ars Nova Copenhagen