Delightful news this week: my piece, Batter My Heart, has been nominated for a prestigious Ivor Novello Composer Award. The piece is a setting of John Donne’s powerful sonnet and was written to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the dedication of Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, where Donne served as Dean from 1621 until his death in 1631. Some of you may remember…
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The Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale are due to premiere my new work No Final Shore this May. Read more about the commission here.
Read MoreThe Choir of St John's College Cambridge premiered a new commission, Refugee, on Saturday, January 20, 2024. The piece is based on a poem by Malcolm Guite and is the second piece of a Triptych commission for Joanna. This recording was captured during the Epiphany Carol Service. The third piece, Still to Dust, with an environmental theme, will be premiered…
Read MoreI'm freshly back at my desk in Dubai feeling extremely effervescent today, having hung out with some exceptionally brilliant musicians this week, aka the Choir of St John's College, Cambridge and new Director of Music, Christopher Gray. You can hear the world premiere of the first of three pieces I am writing for the choir this year, The Hidden Light at A Service for Advent with Carols,…
Read MoreA new commission for Choir of Lincoln's Inn was premiered on 18th October in a evensong to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the dedication of the New Chapel in 1623, conducted by Nick Shaw. The piece, Batter My Heart is a setting of John Donne's sonnet, who was a Reader of Divinity there from 1616). The work will be…
Read MoreThe Gesualdo Six have just released their new single 'In Winter's House' ahead of their 'Morning Star' album launch. Stream and buy the album here and listen to the recording on YouTube here.
Read MoreThe Scottish Ensemble recently performed the string arrangement of In Winter's House. Take a look at The Guardian's four-star review of their concert here.
Read MoreLimelight Magazine has reviewed my album, Sanctifica Nos, featuring works for choir and viol consort, performed by the Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge and Fretwork. Read here.
Read MoreThe Journal of the Association of Anglican Musicians has written a glowing review of my Jubilate and Te Deum in their July - August 2023 edition. Read below and see in print here. TEXT: Traditional TECHNICAL LEVEL: Difficult MUSICAL STYLE: Extended chromatic tonality COMMENTS: Duke University commissioned this set of canticles, and Marsh delivered with music as expansive and…
Read MoreOne of the texts I am loving working with at the moment is John Donne's 'Batter my heart, three-person'd God'. It is the first time I have worked with a sonnet and is proving a brilliant intellectual challenge! This is a commission for the Choir of Lincoln's Inn to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the dedication to the New…
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