Reviews
Black, Black Night, 2025
“Praise is due to the composer of the next piece, Samuel Ives, a young member of Phoenix Choir, whose composition “Black, Black, Night” was given its world premiere.
Samuel told me that he had been inspired to write it whilst on a visit to Bolivia and he had experienced such a night. The musical construction is mature and expressive, for example in the third line “Obscurity to Eternity” moves from minor to major key, demonstrating a shift from dark to light. The piece was sung very well, supplemented by superb string playing. I felt the whole piece was quite emotionally charged. Samuel is to be applauded and encouraged by the positive reaction to his work.”
Source : https://www.phoenixchoir-eastbourne.co.uk/a-winter-meditation
Dorothy May
“The musical construction is mature and expressive…
I felt the whole piece was emotionally charged”
The Cuckmere, 2019
“The Cuckmere”, with composer Samuel Ives conducting, brought about five minutes of delight. Beautiful string playing and fine work (on the clarinet this time) by Philip Edwards. I felt this was well worth developing into a short suite, perhaps 15 or 20 minutes in length. What about four movements representing the Cuckmere in spring, summer, autumn and winter? Nose down, Samuel. The talent’s there, now let’s have something more substantial.
Source: https://www.phoenixchoir-eastbourne.co.uk/past-midsummer-mass-fell-the-spirit
Robin Gregory