English Choral Tradition Visits St. Philip’s

Mary Tudor established The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge, England in 1533. It consisted of ten choristers, six lay-clerks, four priests, an organist, and a schoolmaster, that survived in that configuration essentially unchanged for over three centuries. 30 years ago, the University of Cambridge for the first time admitted women and Trinity made the radical change of replacing its boy trebles with female sopranos.  It is in that form that the Choir has existed now for three decades. 

This weekend, the Choir of Trinity is in Atlanta for a Sunday concert at the Cathedral of St. Philip.  Stephen Layton, the Choir’s conductor since 2006, spoke with me from a tour stop in Nashville about the vocal group, the tradition of English choral music, and this weekend’s program.