John Marsh

At the age of fourteen Marsh studied the violin with Wafer who was an organist at Gosport. His family unfortunately moved shortly thereafter and he was not able to formally continue his studies. In 1774, when he settled in Salisbury, Marsh joined the provincial orchestra and became its leading violinist. At the same time he began to teach himself how to play the organ. Marsh began composing anthems and occasionally substituted for the organist at Canterbury. In 1787, when he went to Chichester, he became a leader among the amateur musicians there. This is where Marsh spent the remainder of his life. While in Chichester he composed a bounty of music including chamber works, organ fugues and voluntaries, anthems, psalms and secular songs. As a musicographer he clearly distinguished between the styles of the late Baroque and early Classical works in "Comparison." Though he personally did not care for the "two camp" mentality he incorporated both styles in his own compositions. Marsh composed in excess of twenty eight overtures and symphonies, and twelve concerto grossi. Although an amateur, Marsh's compositions demonstrate a thorough understnding of musical idioms and techniques. His music was chracteristically unassuming as it was written for orchestral performances in the provinces. He was versed in thoroughbass, instrumentation and word-setting. The keyboard compositions, particularly the voluntaries, were among the best works written during this period. ~ Keith Johnson