His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts
His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts is a group of virtuoso wind players who specialise in playing early music in authentic styles on original instruments. The original incarnation of His Majestys Sagbutts and Cornetts was founded in 1516, and for almost three centuries was the jewel in the crown of the English royal musical establishment.
His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts is celebrating its 25th season this year having given its debut concert in London in 1982. Essentially a recital group comprising two cornetts, three sackbutts and chamber organ, HMS&C often joins with singers and string players, and is frequently asked to take part in projects with choirs: Monteverdi Choir, the BBC Singers, Ex Cathedra, the choirs of Trinity and King’s College, Cambridge, as well as those of Westminster Abbey, St Paul's and Westminster Cathedrals, London.
His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts has eighteen recordings to its credit, among them a Bach Album, which was honoured as the "recording of the year" in Gramophone Magazine, December 2002.
2007 saw the launch of the group’s own recording label sfz; their first release, a premiere recording of the complete instrumental music and selected motets of Giovanni Battista Grillo, winning a five star maximum award from Goldberg Magazine.
Recently the group had two performances at the BBC Proms : His Majestys joined The Tallis Scholars and The BBC Singers in Striggio’s reconstructed Mass in 60 parts; and they joined the Black Dyke and Grimethorpe brass bands for an extravagant celebration of brass music ancient and modern. At the South Bank Festival, His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts joined The King’s Singers in the Queen Elizabeth Hall for a truly memorable occasion.