Towards the Light

Today sees the re-release of Towards the Light. This is the album I wrote for Classic FM during my time as resident composer. The new release is part of The Full Works Series and retails for around £6. It's great to know that it has a new life because a lot of people have been e mailing me about its lack of availabilty.

No 3 in the Classical Charts

It was great to hear today that the Highgrove Suite CD is placed at No 3 in the Specialist Classical Charts. I'd like to thank everyone at Classic FM for their support - and also thanks to those who have bought the CD!

A new Organ Concerto?

I spent yesterday in Rochester and met with my manager Paul and the cathedral organist Roger Sayer. It's Roger who plays the organ so magnificently on Song of Songs, and I'd love to write a new organ concerto for him. The cathedral itself is the perfect place with it's warm, bright and intimate nave and the mighty organ spanning the width of the chancel screen. If we can get a commissioner, this will be a major project for me in 2011.

BBC Look East

Thanks to all those who’ve been in touch to say how much they enjoyed the BB2 Highgrove Documentary. And then - last night - there was a great piece on Look East about the Suite and the premiere. This media interest in the music has really helped to launch the CD sales! Finally people have got a chance to hear the full four movements rather than just snippets. If you do have a copy of the CD then I hope you enjoy....

Back from Greece

I'm back from a marvellous two-week holiday in Crete and feel full of new ideas and creativity! It has been great to come back to so many positive comments about the BB2 Highgrove documentary. I have to congratulate the producer/director Charlie Clay on doing such a marvellous job. The visuals (and I hope the music!) are really beautiful. From Monday, the album of the Suite is CD of the Week on Classic FM and the pre sales on Amazon and on my own site are very encouraging.

New Website/Song of Songs live performance

It's great to have my revised website up and running! The new layout makes it easier to navigate, and there is now more detail about the Highgrove Suite and also about live performances of Song of Songs. I love to support local amateur choirs so if you would like me to work with you towards a performance of Song of Songs, please click here.

Song of Songs at Marlborough

Last night, there was a performance of Song of Songs in Marlborough Chapel as part of the Summer School Concert Series. The Raven Quartet appeared, along with Claire Jones and the wonderful soprano Natalie Clifton-Griffiths. The choir was the Avebury Vocal Ensemble. I took a rehearsal of the choir on Monday evening and was really impressed with their warmth of tone and enthusiasm. As well as Song of Songs they performed Quanta Qualia, Reflexionem and a couple of my anthems accompanied by Roger Sayer on the mighty chapel organ. There must have been 500 or so in the audience and they gave us a fantastic reception. It was great to meet many of them afterwards.