Peter Giles (countertenor)

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Peter Giles (born 1939) is a British countertenor and writer of scientific books about countertenors. Giles began his career as a boy chorister in a traditional all-male choir in London. In the years from 1961 to 1966 his teacher was the celebrated countertenor John Whitworth. [1] He first was appointed as alto lay clerk at Ely Cathedral, then at Lichfield Cathedral, followed by Canterbury Cathedral, where he was senior lay clerk from 1978 until 1994. During his career he had numerous performances as a soloist singer within the UK, but also in the US and in Canada. Occasionally he can be seen on TV with solo performances and readings.

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He took additional lessons by Arthur Hewlett and specialised on 'Sinus Tone Control', a sound technique by Ernest George White, which puts special emphasis for singers on using the resonances in the head. In this method he gives lessons for speakers and singers as a professional voice teacher.

He performed with the male trio Canterbury Clerkes for 25 years. In 2000, he founded the mixed voice quintet Quodlibet, with which he made three albums. Besides that he plays the organ at different churches and conducts and coaches choirs.

Giles is also known for his publications on the subject of countertenor.

Discography

As part of the trio Canterbury Clerkes

Six albums including

As part of the quintet Quodlibet

Readings of poetry

Books

References

  1. Peter Giles: A Basic Countertenor Method, p. viii
  2. Giles, Peter; Mallinder, David (5 January 1982). The counter tenor. Muller. OCLC   8785378 . Retrieved 5 January 2021 via Open WorldCat.
  3. Giles, Peter (5 January 1994). The history and technique of the counter-tenor: a study of the male high voice family. Scolar Press; Ashgate Pub. Co. OCLC   28212358 . Retrieved 5 January 2021 via Open WorldCat.