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Katherine Jenkins, one of the world’s biggest selling and most popular artistes, has recorded my ‘Ave Maria’ and it is included on her new CD ‘Daydream’, released on Warner Brothers on 10th October 2011. This piece was written especially for Katherine (see upcoming article in Classicfm magazine) and was recorded in London and Prague over the course of the Summer. I am thrilled with the result. I interviewed Katherine and talked to her about 'Ave Maria' and her new album.
You can watch it here.
Download the sheet music here.
The Capital Arts Choir, a children’s choir with an international reputation forged through working with many leading composers and impresarios will shortly record ‘Pie Jesu’ at Abbey Road Studios under their founder and musical director Kathleen Shanks. ‘Pie Jesu’ will feature on an upcoming release from the choir called ‘Soul of a Child’.
Xuefei Yang has recorded 'Romance No.1' with The Barcelona Symphony orchestra under Eiji Oue, along with the solo piece 'Sahara'. The tracks are available only as iTunes downloads, tracks 16 & 17 on the album download page here.
A concert that was held at St.John's Co-Cathedral, Malta, on the 3rd November featured 'Pie Jesu' performed by featured soloists Anita Vella Bondin, Roseann Cordena, Rosabelle Bianchi and Claire Massa in the presence of the Prime Minister of Malta. See Malta Concert photographs.
The Band of the Parachute Regiment's recording of 'When Poppies Fall', featuring tenor John Craig Innes, is now available from the band's online shop. The song is the title track, and all proceeds from the song will go to services charities. Full details of the genesis of the song, along with photographs of the recording session, are here.
'Meditation No.2', for violin and piano, is now available for download from on the sheet music page. Price £1.99
'Romance No.1' is now available in a tab version from the sheet music page. Price £1.99
John has a new piece, 'Romance No.2' on Craig Ogden's new CD 'The Guitarist'. The Pavão String Quartet are performing with Craig and the release also features them on an updated version of 'Romance No.1'. Click here if you wish to purchase the CD or download any tracks.
World-famous vocal group The King's Singers have now recorded my Pie Jesu, and I'm thrilled with the result. It is featured on their new EP, 'From the Heart'. You can buy it here: http://3.ly/PieJesu and the sheet music for this arrangement is available from the sheet music page.
My new choral work, 'Amazing Day', was given its first performance at the Bradbourne School in Sevenoaks on 3rd July 2009 as part of the Sevenoaks Festival. Anthony Dawson conducted, and with the Amazing Singers and the Bradbourne Minstrels brought the work to life in the way I had always imagined it. You can see photographs of the concert here.
Rebecca Lundberg recently scored 'Pie Jesu' for Brass Band and her arrangement was heard on 'Listen to the Band' on Radio 2 on 10th July.
My new guitar piece, 'Sahara', inspired by my recent trek to the Sahara for the ClassicFM charity Music Makers (see photos here) has been recorded by Craig Ogden and is featured on the No.1 Classical chart-topping album 'Summer Guitar'. This CD can be purchased here.
'Come Una Pregheira' (Eternal Prayer) has been recorded by Jon Christos and will be featured on his album 'Artist' to be released later this year.
Artists that have recorded my work include All Angels (Pie Jesu),
Roisin O' Reilly (Christmas Gift of Love),
Jon Christos (Come Una Preghiera) and Craig Ogden (Romance No.1 & Romance No.2)
I am currently presenting Classic fm's evening show live from 5-8pm Monday to Friday.
When Poppies Fall
Photos | Lyrics | Press | Listen to Garrison FM Item
On 3rd. March, the Colchester-based Band of the Parachute Regiment recorded my recent composition, 'When Poppies Fall', which is to be the title track of an album of remembrance music to be released this autumn, with proceeds going to various service charities.
Having been born in the garrison town of Colchester and lived there for most of my life, I have always been keenly aware of the bravery and sacrifices our servicemen and women make on our behalf. My feelings in this regard were further strengthened when I heard firsthand accounts from a friend of my son, who has served on the frontline with the ‘Paras’ in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Walking my dog recently with these matters on my mind, I noticed a single poppy growing in a field, and the title of the song sprang into my mind in that instant, so on returning home, I set about writing the song.
It is therefore completely fitting that the Band of the Parachute Regiment has chosen to record the song, and I look forward to its release later this year.
Photos | Lyrics | Press | Listen to Garrison FM Item
