Composer Chats - William Marsey
Photo Marika Kochiashvili
Hi William! Thanks so much for taking the time to chat to us ahead of us performing your piece, Doctor, as part of the NightMusic Series at St David’s Hall on Tuesday 14th April 2020. Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Good to speak to you! I’m a composer, born Hartlepool, living in London. I mainly write things for concerts but I’m recently doing a bit more other stuff – like this thing where I stole my parents voices and sent them to the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0801kyg. I also run Listenpony, a concert series and record label for a peculiar mix of new, old and pop music.
You wrote this work for us back in 2016 and we are so excited to be playing it again: had you written for the saxophone before at all? What did you enjoy about writing for saxophone quartet and what did you find challenging?
I hadn’t written for saxophone before! Was a bit intimidating but I knew it was a versatile instrument, and I’m a choir singer so I wasn’t too worried about forgetting the needing-to-breath stuff. It was great to write for an ensemble that naturally blends so well, as I mainly wanted to play around with simple chords.
Who or what would you say has been the biggest influence on you as a composer?
I think probably all the composers / musicians / artists I’ve been able to work with. Since I was a kid I’ve known I wanted to do something like what I’m doing now, but it didn’t properly click before seeing people doing similar things around me. I mean ‘click’ practically, the why and how, as well as creatively. And that still happens, day to day.
You are one third of the artistic board for Listenpony, that's actually how we first ‘met’. For those who don’t know can you tell us more about Listenpony? What is it you most enjoy about championing other young composers?
I don’t think I can imagine being a composer and not championing other composers, I think all composers do it in their own way... though with Listenpony Josephine, Freya and I take a direct approach! Since 2012 we’ve been producing the kind of events we wanted to go to – relaxed evenings with multiple intervals, combining fantastic performances of new music, classical music, pop and jazz, all mixed up. The most enjoyable bit is seeing what everyone comes up with. We don’t order the concert until we get the new stuff in, and the links between the programme sometimes isn’t apparent until the very night, and it’s nice watching that come together.
Where does the inspiration for Doctor come from?
It means to portray a normal day in the life of a ward doctor. I had in mind all the repetitive and mundane tasks that make up much a job which is, overall, pretty noble and grand.
If you could only take one piece of music to a desert island what would you take?
Tallis’s Dum transisset Sabbatum, the 2011 Alamire recording. Is that too specific?! It has so much depth and the best ending ever and for me this recording gets it completely right. I have a bad habit of putting it on repeat. Actually, it’s been a few days, I’ll listen to it after finishing this.
Some quick fire questions now
Cats or Dogs? Dogs!
Popcorn; sweet or salty? Salty!
Beer or wine? Both!
Rugby or football (or neither!)? Neither!
Tea or coffee? Coffee!
Big night out or quiet night in? Sorry I do quiet nights out or big nights in!
Will and Kate or Harry and Meghan? Who?!
Finally, have you got any upcoming projects you would like to tell us about/what’s next for you
I’ve got a set of very tiny piano sonatas I’m writing, then an older piano album to finish and record, and a few singles to get out of things written in the last few years – that’s soonest. Then it’ll be Listenpony for a while, and a piece for wind instruments for the LA Phil, which will be premiered over there at Walt Disney Hall before coming over to the Barbican, April and May 2021.
The Laefer Quartet will be performing William Marsey’s Doctor at St David’s Halll on Tuesday 14th April at 8pm as part of the Nightmusic Series. Tickets and more information can be found below.
For more informaion and futher works by William visit: