Matthew Martin
b. 1976
British
Summary
Matthew Martin is Precentor and Director of College Music at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge, and studied at Oxford University and The Royal Academy of Music. He has been commissioned by The Tallis Scholars, the choirs of Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, The Gabrieli Consort and The Sixteen, and won the Liturgical category in the 2013 British Composer Awards. Recent projects include a festival anthem (In the midst of thy Temple) for the choir of Westminster Abbey, marking the 750th anniversary of its refounding, and a test piece (Triptych) for the 2019 St Albans International Organ Competition.
Biography
Matthew Martin is Precentor and Director of Music at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge where he is a fellow and directs the renowned college choir. He read Music at Magdalen College, Oxford, before studying at the Royal Academy of Music and (privately) under Marie-Claire Alain in Paris.
From 2015 to 2020 he was Director of Music at Keble College, Oxford, and Artistic Director of the Keble Early Music Festival. Matthew spent much of his early life immersed in cathedral music and in 2010, after six years as Assistant Master of Music at Westminster Cathedral, he decided to focus more on composition.
Since then he has been commissioned to write music for many leading ensembles. He won the Liturgical category in the 2013 Ivors Composer Awards, and the first album of his choral music (Jubilate Deo) was recorded by Daniel Hyde and the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford. He has written for the Cheltenham Music Festival (Trumpet Sonata) and The Tallis Scholars (Lamentations of Jeremiah).
His Rose Magnificat for Paul McCreesh and the Gabrieli Consort & Players won the Choral category in the 2019 BBC Music Magazine Awards. In 2019, he was asked to write a festival anthem (In the midst of thy Temple) for the choir of Westminster Abbey, marking the 750th anniversary of its refounding, and a test piece for organ (Triptych) for the 2019 St Albans International Organ Competition.
Most recently, he was commissioned to write a new carol (Angelus ad Virginem) for the 2022 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge, and is currently working on a major new work for The Tallis Scholars to be performed as part of Miller Theatre’s 2025-26 Early Music series in New York.
Matthew’s music is published by Novello and Faber Music.
News
- New King’s College Cambridge Christmas Eve Carol by Matthew Martin
- 8th December 2022
- A new commissioned carol for King’s College Cambridge's broadcast Christmas Eve service is composed by Matthew Martin.
- Judith Weir and Matthew Martin choral music recording release
- 31st January 2022
- Music by Judith Weir and Matthew Martin feature in a new recording by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.
- Psalms, Psalms, and more Psalms
- 1st November 2017
- With Lincoln Center's White Light Festival upon New York City, hats must be tipped to the Psalms Experience, featuring Psalm settings by 150 composers over 12 concerts. These include the U.S. premieres of Marrow, a...
- Matthew Martin signs to Music Sales
- 12th October 2017
- We are delighted to announce that Matthew Martin has signed a publishing agreement with Novello and Company Limited, part of the Music Sales Group of Companies. Novello will publish his recent works including A...
Performances
Features
- Choral Highlights 2022
- In recent months and for the season ahead the Wise Music choral catalogues are once again burgeoning with new works. There are new pieces and publications from Richard Allain, Peter Bruun, Britta Byström, Cheryl Frances-Hoad, Matthew Martin, Paul Mealor, Nico Muhly, Owain Park, Joby Talbot and Judith Weir, plus new repertoire from recent Australian signing Ross Edwards.
Photos
Discography
- LabelHyperion
- Catalogue NumberCDA68350
- ConductorJames O'Donnell
- EnsembleChoir of Westminster Abbey
- SoloistPeter Holder, organ
- Released4th February 2022
- Works
- LabelSignum Classics
- Catalogue NumberSIGCD536
- ConductorPaul McCreesh
- EnsembleGabrieli Consort
- Released11th May 2018
- Works