Les Voix Humaines is a Canadian viol ensemble based in Montreal, Quebec, specializing in Baroque music with a particular focus on works by French composers. The ensemble was founded in 1985 and is principally composed of two gambists, Susie Napper and Margaret Little. The group is named after a viola da gamba composition by Marin Marais.

History

Les Voix Humaines was formed in 1985 and has since become internationally recognized for its expertise in performing early music on viols. The ensemble's repertoire includes a wide range of Baroque pieces, with a special interest in rediscovering and interpreting the music of Sainte-Colombe, father and son composers who made significant contributions to viol music.

The ensemble has toured extensively across Canada, the United States, Mexico, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, China, and Japan. Over the years, Les Voix Humaines has collaborated with several renowned early music specialists, including Bart and Wieland Kuijken, Charles Daniels, Eric Milnes, Skip Sempe, David Greenberg, and Nigel North. They also formed the Les Voix Humaines Consort with additional musicians such as Mélisande Corriveau and Felix Deak, expanding their performance reach.

Recordings

Les Voix Humaines has an extensive discography with over forty critically acclaimed recordings. Notable albums include:

• The Spirite of Musicke (2001), featuring viol music by Alfonso Ferrabosco, Tobias Hume, John Jenkins, and Christopher Simpson alongside soprano Suzie LeBlanc.
• Fantasies (2009), recorded using six restored eighteenth-century instruments from the University of Toronto’s collection.
• Albums dedicated to the works of Sainte-Colombe, including Sainte Colombe: Concertos for bass viol and Sainte-Colombe Concerts a deux Violes Esgales.
• Bach: L'Art de la fugue (2013).

Their recordings have received numerous prestigious awards such as Diapason d’Or, Choc du Monde de la Musique, Repertoire-Classica 10, Goldberg 5, Classics Today 10/10, and Prix Opus.

Recognition and Support

Les Voix Humaines is recognized for their imaginative and high-quality productions in early music. Despite receiving no sustained grants, they have been supported for special projects by the Canada Council for the Arts, the Conseil des Arts et Lettres du Québec, and the Conseil des Arts de Montréal.

The group welcomes public support in the form of donations and purchases of their recordings to continue their creative and artistic endeavors[1][4][5].