WHO ARE WE? Cantores Coutances is a three-voice vocal ensemble that specialises in the music of the Late Medieval and Early Renaissance periods; that is, music of the 14th and 15th centuries.
WHY THE FUNNY NAME? Guernsey used to be part of the Diocese of Coutances in France. Our entire repertoire is drawn from that era. By and large, we confine ourselves to music that would have been associated with the Church in one way or another.
WHERE DO YOU FIND THAT STUFF? Our scores are transcribed from facsimiles of surviving manuscripts by Dr Rob Harnish, He keeps labelling his part “Superius”. That leaves Elis Bebb and Tim Feak to fight over who is Tenor and who is Contra Tenor.
IS IT WORTH LISTENING TO? About half the music we sing has been published (though often in rather obscure places). The rest, as far as we know, hasn’t been performed in centuries. We think all of it deserves to be widely heard and appreciated.