About

Cut Circle animates Renaissance music. Hailed as “masterful,” “driving,” “passionate,” and “revelatory,” the ensemble marries cutting-edge research with deep knowledge of and commitment to the music’s twists and turns. Cut Circle’s forward-looking approach is rooted in a flexible vocal technique, a tireless pursuit of technical perfection, and a belief that polyphony engages all the emotions, from the serious to the silly to the crushingly sad.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Cut Circle publishes recordings, gives concerts and lecture-recitals, and organizes workshops, masterclasses, and musical feasts. The ensemble performs internationally, with recent or upcoming appearances in the United States at the San Francisco Early Music Society and Stanford Live, and in Europe for the Fondazione Guido d’Arezzo (Arezzo, Italy), the FloReMus Festival (Florence, Italy), the Early Music Season (The Netherlands), the Tage Alter Musik (Regensburg, Germany), Laus Polyphoniae (Antwerp, Belgium), and Musica Sacra (Maastricht, The Netherlands).

Founded in 2003 by Jesse Rodin (Director), Cut Circle specializes in music of the long fifteenth century—Guillaume Du Fay, Johannes Okeghem, Josquin des Prez, and their contemporaries. The ensemble is the recipient of the Noah Greenberg Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to historical performing practices (American Musicological Society); the Prix Olivier Messiaen (France); Editor’s Choice (Gramophone, UK); and a Diapason d’Or (France).

Recent albums include a disc of riveting anonymous masses and a double album devoted to the complete songs of Okeghem. The ensemble’s latest release is the first disc in a cycle devoted to the complete works of Josquin. Titled Josquin: I. Motets & Chansons, the album was a finalist for a Gramophone Award. Cut Circle records for the Belgian label Musique en Wallonie.

Our Name

“Cut Circle” refers to a symbol that in the fifteenth century functioned as both a time signature (the “O” indicates triple meter) and a tempo marking (the “|” calls for an accelerated tempo). Following composers’ tempo indications helps the music come alive.

Auditions

Cut Circle holds auditions on a rolling basis.