The ensemble was formed in 1988 by the British early music specialist Michael Procter , with the aim of reconstructing the most beautiful music of the renaissance as authentically as possible. Most of the sacred 'choral' music of the time was written in, and for, the various Court Chapels (German 'Hofkapellen') - in Venice, Rome, Munich, the Royal courts of England, France and Spain, and in many other, smaller courts. The performers were the leading professional musicians of the time - naturally all men, the soprano parts being taken by falsettists, or in some places by boys (the English tradition was more consistent in its use of boy sopranos, or 'trebles'). The new ensemble draws together professional singers from throughout the German-speaking regions of Europe. The central ensemble consists of 6 men, SSATTB, with additional singers, an organist and/or instrumentalists as required.