Another first for Fenham Ensemble

joolegill
Sep 14, 2025
3 min read

As we prepare for our upcoming concert on 1st October 2025, 'Deep in the Night', we are working on a brand new piece by Newcastle-based composer and member of the choir, Kerrin Tatwood, which will receive its first public performance at the concert.

O Magnum Mysterium is the second of Kerrin's compositions which we have had the privilege of singing and it makes such a difference to us to be able to rehearse with the composer in person, directing exactly how they want the piece to sound whilst giving a real insight into the process of composition.

Kerrin joined Fenham Ensemble's tenor section in 2024 and has an impressive CV when it comes to composition. In March 2024 we performed their moving Stabat Mater which Kerrin wrote at the age of 18. The piece won the National Centre for Early Music Young Composer's Competition in 2008, recorded in concert at the NCEM in York by the Ebor Singers and subsequently performed by The Tallis Scholars in Beverley Minster as part of the Early Music Festival. In 2022/23 Kerrin spent a year as 'Artist in Residence' at The Glasshouse: International Centre for Music writing and presenting Requiem for a Fading World for choir, orchestra and solo singers. Other portfolio commissions include a Fantasy for Viola & Orchestra premiered by the Hull Philharmonic and arranging Joe Hisaishi's score for the world's first stage production of Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke.

Kerrin's style of composition encompasses a whole range of musical genres from classical to folk, to musical theatre. Here, they explain their thought process in writing O Magnum Mysterium:

"I've pushed myself a little with the writing of this piece - experimenting with a sound world that sits adjacent to my previous work, but also mixes in some new elements and influences. I've attempted to blend dark and dramatic choral writing with sprinklings of light shining through, and a few curve balls thrown in. Although the piece is busy and sometimes challenging harmonically, I hope the audience can pick out the melody through-line which is passed around the different voices. I've imagined the choir a bit like an orchestra concerto for this piece, where all the voice parts take the spotlight at points and show what is possible in their range.

"I'm really excited that Fenham Ensemble will be premiering the piece in 'Deep in the Night'. It's a real privilege to be able to write for the choir I'm a member of as it feels like a safe space! I'm also truly grateful to Simon Davies-Fidler, our Director, for giving me the opportunity to showcase my work again in this concert as part of such a beautiful and varied programme of pieces." (http://www.kerrintatwood.co.uk @kerrrintatwoodcomposer )

The concert, which is inspired by themes of nature and conservation, will also include performances from Soprano Hannah Fumoleau and Pianist Alison Gill in a varied programme including music by Handel, Purcell, Dvorák, Arvo Pärt, Eriks Esenvalds, Frank Ticheli, Jussi Chydenius, Christopher Tin and Amy Beach (full Programme details below).