Powerful new choral music by award-winning composer to premiere at Epiphany Carol Service

To mark the liturgical season of Epiphany, the Choir of St John’s College will premiere the second of three new choral pieces by British composer Joanna Marsh. Specially commissioned for the Choir, Refugee is a compelling piece that deals with themes that are as relevant now as they were in Biblical times. 

The candlelit Epiphany Carol Services of readings and music tell the story of the coming of Christ, the Magi’s visit, and the presentation in the Temple. 

Refugee is based on a poem by Malcolm Guite, a poet, Anglican priest, and singer-songwriter. It was selected by King Charles III for inclusion in a ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service at Westminster Abbey, read by actress Dame Kristin Scott Thomas DBE. “It captured the attention of the public and was widely shared on social media, which is where I came across it,” said Joanna. 

“The poem offers a succinct reality check, drawing our attention to the contrast between our cosy annual celebrations of the birth of Christ and the terror of fleeing a tyrant, which Christ’s family did in the latter part of the story. There is the implicit reminder that the people living this today are as much Christ’s family as those in the story.  

“What excited me compositionally was this paradox of worlds in the poem and the need to recreate or emphasise them in the composition. To do this I have placed the music firmly within ‘carol' context by using some of the musical tropes that are traditionally associated with them,” added Joanna, who won the 2022 Ivors Academy Award for Choral Composition. “I have added a ‘Hallelujah’ to the end of some of the lines and inserting the kinds of rhythms and harmonies that feel Christmassy. From this I have developed textures that gradually subvert these ideas. The music grows darker, more dissonant and emotionally intense and I have aimed to provide a musical resolution that gives finality, but which is arresting and open, just like the poem.” 

The Rev’d Andrew Hammond, Chaplain of St John’s College, said a fundamental of Christian faith is that Jesus shares the pain of every refugee. “When the refugee looks to you for help, in their eyes you see not only their own desperate appeal, but Jesus too, saying, ‘what are you going to do?’.  

“As the final couplet of Guite’s poem says of the Herods of this world, so too we will be responsible for our response. An Epiphany Carol Service is not just about the awe-inspiring revelation of Jesus as God-with-us, but the demanding implications of that.” 

The first part of this triptych, or triology of compositions – The Hidden Light – was featured in the 2023 Advent Carol Service, broadcast on BBC Radio 3. The third piece will be performed at the Lent Meditation service on Saturday 9 March 2024 and the Choir looks forward to recording all three parts later this year for a new album to be released in 2025. 

Director of Music, Christopher Gray, said, “Preparing Refugee for its first performance has been a moving experience for members of our Choir. The group is known for its expressive, emotional singing and this new work certainly makes use of those qualities. Joanna’s music picks up on every nuance of Malcolm’s profound text as it connects harrowing issues faced by millions in the world today with the Epiphany story of 2,000 years ago. Giving life to significant new works of art is an important part of what the Choir does, and it will be a privilege to share this piece with those present at the magical Epiphany Carol Services.” 

Epiphany Carol Services at St John’s College are taking place on 20 and 21 January and are fully booked.