Individual biographies

Donald Greig (baritone)

Born 1959 between Dunstable and Luton in England. Significant enough location for someone who has ended up being seen as a singer of early music (Dunstable, famous for its composer; Luton, famous for its airport).

A rather predictable (though by no means predetermined) life for a singer of early music followed (Chorister at Westminster Abbey, Choral Scholar at Canterbury Cathedral).

After getting a degree in English and Film Studies at the University of Kent at Canterbury and then doing post grad work in Film Theory, and despite serious attempts to fly in the face of such an upbringing (taking in lecturing in Film Studies and Semiology, reviewing films, early acting promise squandered in walk-on roles), ended up in the early music 'scene' in London.

More by luck than judgement, found in the right place at the right time and joined Tallis Scholars in 1985. Similar position in 1988 with the Orlando Consort (founder member of group devoted to medieval music). Along the way has sung with Westminster Cathedral, Gothic Voices, Taverner Consort, Fretwork, Gabrieli Consort, Cardinall's Musick and many choruses. Also active in the pop/session/musicals world and general “gun for hire”. Happy and eager to experiment with different vocal styles. Would like to be seen as a thinking singer who is kind to animals and small children.

Hobbies include watching movies, TV (if it involves Aaron Sorkin), reading, listening to jazz, beer, shopping, a very, very occasional game of golf, the odd bit of cycling (it’s always odd), running, weight training, following the sad progress of the English cricket team, writing, planning holidays (but rarely taking them).

Writing: articles for Screen (on Hitchcock and sexual difference), Early Music (on contemporary performance practice and a second article on ars subtilior repertoire), Tijdschrift van de Vereniging voor Nederlandse muziekgeschiedenis (on Ockeghem), Musical Times (on improvisation), book reviews for The Musical Times, and a forthcoming contribution to The Cambridge Companion to Recorded Music

Discography: never kept count. Recordings with which I would be happy to be associated are the Tallis Scholars' recording of Josquin's Pange lingua and La sol fa re mi masses, anything by Gothic Voices I've been fortunate enough to be involved with, and all of the Orlando Consort's recordings. Teaching: Lectures and workshops as well as papers delivered at Conferences. Recent teaching includes visits to Harvard, Notre Dame, Peabody Institute, and Vanderbilt University.