Paul Halley
Encyclopedia
Paul Halley is an organist
, singer, pianist
, and composer
. He is perhaps best known as being a member of and composer for the Paul Winter Consort
.
. While organist and choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1977 to 1989, he collaborated with Paul Winter
to create the Missa Gaia/Earth Mass
, Halley became a member of the Paul Winter Consort
, and earned five Grammy Awards for his contributions as a composer and performer with the group. He left the Consort in 1999 after recording Journey With The Sun to pursue a solo career. Paul Halley's compositions have been performed and recorded by the New Jersey Symphony and John Williams
and the Boston Pops Orchestra
.
After leaving the Cathedral in 1989, Halley founded Joyful Noise, Inc., a non-profit organization designed to teach children proper vocal technique, music theory, and musicianship. The two groups involved with the organization are Chorus Angelicus
and Gaudeamus.
He currently plays organ and sings bass
for the Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir and directs the King's College
Chapel Choir in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has a son, Nick Halley, who directs Capella Regalis.
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, singer, pianist
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is perhaps best known as being a member of and composer for the Paul Winter Consort
Paul Winter Consort
The Paul Winter Consort is an American musical group, led by soprano saxophonist Paul Winter. Founded in 1967, the group mixes elements of jazz, classical music, world music, and the sounds of animals and nature. They are often classified as new age music or "ecological jazz", and their unique...
.
Biography
Paul Halley was born in England in 1952 and sang in the choir of St. Matthew's Church, Ottawa, when his family migrated there. At age 16 he became an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto and won an organ scholarship to Trinity College, CambridgeTrinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
. While organist and choirmaster at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1977 to 1989, he collaborated with Paul Winter
Paul Winter
Paul Winter is an American saxophonist , and is a six-time Grammy Award nominee.- Biography :Paul Winter attended Altoona Area High School and graduated in 1957...
to create the Missa Gaia/Earth Mass
Missa Gaia/Earth Mass
Missa Gaia/Earth Mass is an album released by Paul Winter in 1982 for Living Music. The title stems from two languages, latin and greek . The Earth Mass was one of the first contributions made by Paul Winter when he and his Paul Winter Consort became the artists in residence at the Cathedral of...
, Halley became a member of the Paul Winter Consort
Paul Winter Consort
The Paul Winter Consort is an American musical group, led by soprano saxophonist Paul Winter. Founded in 1967, the group mixes elements of jazz, classical music, world music, and the sounds of animals and nature. They are often classified as new age music or "ecological jazz", and their unique...
, and earned five Grammy Awards for his contributions as a composer and performer with the group. He left the Consort in 1999 after recording Journey With The Sun to pursue a solo career. Paul Halley's compositions have been performed and recorded by the New Jersey Symphony and John Williams
John Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
and the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra
The Boston Pops Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts, that specializes in playing light classical and popular music....
.
After leaving the Cathedral in 1989, Halley founded Joyful Noise, Inc., a non-profit organization designed to teach children proper vocal technique, music theory, and musicianship. The two groups involved with the organization are Chorus Angelicus
Chorus Angelicus
Chorus Angelicus is composed of approximately 60 children ages 5 to 18 who travel to Torrington, Connecticut, from 25 towns and cities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York...
and Gaudeamus.
He currently plays organ and sings bass
Bass (voice type)
A bass is a type of male singing voice and possesses the lowest vocal range of all voice types. According to The New Grove Dictionary of Opera, a bass is typically classified as having a range extending from around the second E below middle C to the E above middle C...
for the Capella Regalis Men and Boys Choir and directs the King's College
University of King's College
The University of King's College is a post-secondary institution in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. King's is a small liberal arts university offering mainly undergraduate programs....
Chapel Choir in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has a son, Nick Halley, who directs Capella Regalis.
Discography
- Nightwatch (1982)
- Pianosong (1986)
- New Friend (1986) w/Eugene FriesenEugene FriesenEugene Friesen is an American cellist and composer.Friesen is a graduate of the Yale School of Music. He has been a member of the Paul Winter Consort since 1978, and performs with Howard Levy and Glen Velez as Trio Globo...
- Whales AliveWhales AliveWhales Alive is a 1987 album of improvisational duets and sometimes trios between Paul Winter, Paul Halley, and recordings of singing humpback whales. Winter and Halley also collaborate with Leonard Nemoy, who reads poems and prose from various writers, including D.H...
(1987) w/Paul WinterPaul WinterPaul Winter is an American saxophonist , and is a six-time Grammy Award nominee.- Biography :Paul Winter attended Altoona Area High School and graduated in 1957... - Angel On A Stone Wall (1991)
- Sound Over All Waters (1998) w/Theresa ThomasonTheresa Thomason-Musical career:Thomason reached the airwaves with Fresh Enuff, a popular club single and a winning performance at the Apollo Theater in New York City. She toured Europe for over 10 years, performing in over 150 European cities. She remains a featured artist with the Paul Winter Consort at the...
- Triptych (2000)
External links
- http://www.pelagosmusic.com - Official site