Today’s Video of the Day is a performance of Joanna Marsh’s ‘Batter My Heart’ by I Fagiolini, conducted by Robert Hollingworth. This is the first single from Marsh’s upcoming album A Plastic Theatre out 31 January on Signum Records.

‘Batter My Heart’ aims to capture emotive power in an eight-part texture that required an almost forensic alignment of text and music. Each phrase is crafted to reflect the emotional journey of the text. ‘Batter My Heart’ was commissioned by the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn for the 400th anniversary of the dedication of New Chapel. Its premiere was on 18 October 2023 by The Choir of Lincoln’s Inn Chapel, London, directed by Nicholas Shaw. It was nominated for the 2024 Ivor Novello Choral Composition Award. The video was recorded by Greg Browning in St Alban’s Church, Holborn.

Conductor Robert Hollingworth said: 'This piece is remarkable on three fronts.  Firstly it carries the energy and desperation of the poem the whole way through.  Secondly It's a 'fast' piece.  This is unusual in an era of slow-moving lush harmonies and the lack of such energetic a cappella choral music has been much discussed on (for example) the podcast Choral Chihuahua!  Thirdly it allows singers to unleash their full dramatic sound (within the frame of what works in a piece like this of course) - which is similarly rare.  As a result, it carries a visceral pleasure for both singer and listener.'