Billings - Early American Choral Music Vol. 1

"The performances are notable for their impeccable musicianship, full-throated tone, warmth and security of blend and expressive intelligence, qualities that have long characterized the Clerkes' musicmaking... highly recommended." - Chicago Tribune

PAUL HILLIER began his career as a singer in the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in London and later became a member of the Queen's Chapel Royal at Windsor Castle. For many years he devoted his principal energies to the Hilliard Ensemble, of which he was co-founder and musical director. During his tenure the group rose to international prominence, making tours throughout the world, with numerous television and radio appearances. Hillier also established the ensemble's summer festival and planned and directed over thirty recordings, many of which earned distinguished prizes.

Throughout the 1980's Hillier increasingly divided his time between England and America: during 1980-81 he taught at the University of California, Santa Cruz and in 1984 he was Copeland Colloquium Fellow at Amherst College in Massachusetts. In 1990 he moved to the United States where he was Professor of Music at the University of California, Davis until 1996. There he formed Theatre of Voices, of which he is artistic director. Theatre of Voices now tours throughout North America and Europe and has an exclusive recording contract with harmonia mundi USA. In 1996 Paul Hillier was named Director of the Early Music Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington.

Hillier's interest in the music of Steve Reich and Arvo Pärt has lead to several collaborations with both composers. In addition to his book on Pärt published in 1997 by Oxford University Press, Hillier is currently editing the writings of Reich, and has published several anthologies of choral music. He is General Editor of Fazer Editions of Early Music (Helsinki) and a member of the Advisory Council of Early Music America