Profile

Biography

Peter Seymour studied at Huddersfield School of Music and at University of York, including post-graduate work researching into the performance of baroque music. In July 1994 he was awarded the degree of D Mus., at University of York for research into performing style. He is director of Yorkshire Baroque Soloists and of Yorkshire Bach Choir, and has worked and recorded in most European countries. He is also an artistic adviser to York Early Music Festival and Professor in Music and Organist at the University of York. He records regularly both as conductor and keyboard player for WDR-Köln, BBC and other radio stations. His keyboard work focuses on harpsichord, organ and fortepiano both as soloist and in ensemble. Particularly rewarding projects have included recording CPE Bach's last six volumes of keyboard compositions and long-term musical partnerships (in both Baroque and Classical repertoire) with Stephen Varcoe, Yvonne Seymour, Emma Kirkby, Lynne Dawson, David Thomas, Thomas Guthrie and Thomas Thomaschke; he also works with James Bowman, Robin Blaze, Christoph Prégardien, James Gilchrist, Ian Partridge, as well as instrumentalists including Lucy Russell, Simon Jones, Anthony Robson, Pamela Thorby and Crispian Steele Perkins.

Departmental roles

• York Early Music Press Editorial Board (Chair)
• Board of Studies
• Performance Supervisors Committee
• Instruments Committee (Chair)
• Director: University Choir
• Director: Chamber Choir
• Director: Baroque Ensemble

Research

Overview

• Late Renaissance, baroque, classical and early Romantic music (c.1550-1850)
• Performance practice
• Choral and vocal music (especially 1550-1850)
• Early instruments, especially keyboard music 1600-1800
• Rhetoric and its influence on performance in Baroque and Classical music
• Early Lieder (c.1750-1850)
• Conducting
• Editing

Teaching

Undergraduate

• 18th Century Performance Practice
• Bach
• Choral Music 1550-1700: practical issues
• Early Lieder (1750-1850)
• Performance
• English Baroque
• Purcell
• Rhetoric and Baroque Performance Practice

Publications

Selected publications

• Andrea Gabrieli: Missa Quando lieta speravi (SATTB) from Primus liber missarum (1572)
• Tomás Luis de Victoria: Psalms from Missae, Magnificat, motecta (1600), Marian antiphons from Missae, Magnificat, motecta (1600)
• J an Pieterszoon Sweelinck: Motets from Cantiones sacrae (1619)
• John Blow: Ode on the Death Mr Henry Purcell
• Daniel Purcell: Again the welcome morn we sing, Welcome, welcome, glorious day, and others
• As well as other publications from the York Early Music Press

Recordings

• Victoria, TL de, Psalms & Motets from Missae, Magnificat, motecta, psalmi et alia quam pluria… with Yorkshire Bach Choir and Yorkshire Baroque Soloists
  Recorded April, 2002; 64’58, released June 2002: Classicprint recordings, CPVP015CD
• Monteverdi, C, Vespro Della Beata Vergine – recording of Monteverdi’s version for voices and continuo only (ie without obbligato instruments); with Yorkshire Bach Choir and Yorkshire Baroque Soloists.
  Recorded March 2004; 80’04 released June 2004; Cloister Records, CLOCD0304
• Bach Family Motets – recording of ten motets by JM Bach, JC Bach, CPE Bach, JL Bach and JS Bach for voices and continuo; with Yorkshire Bach Choir and Yorkshire Baroque Soloists.
  Recorded March 2006; 57’40 released June 2006; Cloister Records, CLOCD0106
• Lieder: settings of Goethe by Beethoven, Zelter, Zumsteeg, Reichardt, Schubert, Hensel and Loewe (87') with Christoph Prégardien (tenor) and Stephen Varcoe (baritone)
• Purcell, H., Blow, J., Biblical narratives (50’) for one, two and three voices with Yvonne Seymour (soprano), Philip Daggett (tenor), Stephen Varcoe (baritone), David Miller (theorbo), Peter Seymour (organ).
• Schütz, H Die sieben Worte Jesu Christi am Kreuz; Historia ... nach dem Evangelisten St. Johannem; and Historia der Auferstehung Jesu Christi with Yorkshire Baroque Soloists, Rose Consort of Viols
• Gabrieli, A Missa Quando lieta sperai # and motets by A Gabrieli, Croce, Donato, Guami, Merulo, Bassano, Grandi, Monteverdi and Rovetta with Corona Coloniensis (80')
• Sonatas for recorder and continuo by Telemann, GP and Handel, GF with Pamela Thorby (recorder) (20’)
• Sonatas by Castello, Marini, Fontana; Monteverdi Il Combattimento; divisions by Bassano, etc. (55’) with University of York, Baroque Ensemble
• Duets by Steffani and Handel; sonatas by Handel and Telemann (70’) with Sophie Daneman (soprano), Robin Blaze (alto), Pamela Thorby (recorder)
• Monteverdi Orfeo (part) (90’) Discovering Music with Robert Hollingworth