Video of the Day is Marcus Rock's Toe by Toe performed by The Marian Consort, commissioned by Gramophone's sister publication, Choir & Organ.

In the preface to his New Music piece Toe by Toe, Rock describes how, after not finding what he sought, he turned to one of his own texts from a collection of short stories. The imagery in that prose is vivid and the musical setting even more so. No extended vocal techniques are required, though imaginative scoring includes glissandi, speaking, whispering, free unconducted repetition and divisi with precise directions. 

Rock told Choir & Organ's Matthew Power, ‘My familiarity with the text made it easier to set; I knew I needed to include some unconducted narrative.’ The vocal lines are very singable and seem to come from an experienced choral composer. ‘No, this was my first choral piece, actually! I knew it was essential to sing through the individual lines – then I’d know it’s singable because I could do it. When does this person need to breathe? How are they going to approach this phrase?’

marianconsort.co.uk

marcusrockcomposer.com