COMPOSER MUSIC DIRECTOR RESEARCHER
CHILDREN’S CHOIR
Mark has written many songs for children’s choirs of all ages and levels of experience, including songs for the London Youth Choir’s celebration of the Benjamin Britten centenary, at Middle Temple, London, in November 2013.
‘There isn’t time’ is a setting of a poem by Eleanor Farjeon which formed part of a larger choral work, Song to the Year, to texts reflecting on the passing of time. This was commissioned by the Phoenix Singers (Taunton, Somerset) and their conductor, Andrew Maddocks
Causley Songs are a set of songs to texts by Cornish poet Charles Causley. ‘The Owl looked out of the Ivy Bush’ tells the unfortunate tale of an owl which goes ‘too-woo too-wit’, (although it turns out he is not entirely alone!)
‘A Mermaid at Zennor’ tells the ancient Cornish legend of Samson Scone, lured by the voice of a mermaid at Zennor Cove (near Land’s End) to a stony fate . . .
Music Box Children’s Opera Group, Bristol conducted by the composer Piano: Chris Green Harp: Kate Watt
There Isn’t Time
The Owl looked out of the Ivy Bush
A Mermaid at Zennor
‘. . a truly incredible premiere. . . the project did much more than commemorate an important moment in history. There was an overwhelming sense of community spirit and togetherness in the hall last night . .’
Director, Bristol Plays Music, Home by Christmas, December 2014.
I felt like we were there, really there and watching a part of the world as it was such a long time ago, and we were in their world, and the music gave it feelings; it made me sad, scared, wondery, and thoughtful'
Young performer, Home at Last WW1 community opera, October 2018