Ensembles
Biography
Sequentia is one of the world's most respected and innovative ensembles for medieval music. Founded in 1977 by Benjamin Bagby and the late Barbara Thornton, Sequentia can look back on more than three decades of international concert tours, a comprehensive discography spanning the entire Middle Ages (including the complete works of Hildegard von Bingen), film and television productions of medieval music drama, and new generations of young performers trained in professional courses given by the ensemble.

Sequentia has performed throughout the world: in Western and Eastern Europe, the Americas, India, the Middle East, East Asia, Africa and Australia. The ensemble's recordings, including the complete works of Hildegard von Bingen (8 CDs) have received many prizes, including the Deutsche Schallplattenpreis (for Vox Iberica, 1993), two Netherlands Edison Awards (for Hildegard von Bingen, 1987 and 1998), a French Disque d'Or (for 100.000 copies sold in France, 1996), the CHOC of Le Monde de la Musique (2002) and Diapason d'Or (1995 and 1999). Sequentia's best-selling CD, Canticles of Ecstasy, has sold more than 500.000 copies worldwide and was nominated for a Grammy Award as best choral recording. Most of Sequentia's 28 recordings released to date are on the Deutsche Harmonia Mundi label (Sony-BMG Classics).

Sequentia has researched and brought to the public over sixty-five innovative concert programs that encompass the entire spectrum of medieval music, in addition to the creation of unique music-theater projects such as Hildegard von Bingen's Ordo Virtutum, the Cividale Planctus Marie, the Bordesholmer Marienklage, Heinrich von Meissen's Frauenleich, and the medieval Icelandic Edda. The work of the ensemble is divided between a small touring ensemble of vocal and instrumental soloists, and an ensemble of voices for the performance of chant and polyphony.

After 25 years based in Cologne, Germany, Sequentia's home has been re-established in Paris. In the 2008-2009 season, Sequentia's newly-formed ensemble of men's voices, based in Paris, will give the premiere of an innovative new program of vocal polyphony and chant from the Cathedral of Notre Dame.
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