David Roche

United Kingdom

30 November 1990

Seven penitential psalms

"Seven penitential psalms is a desperate, exaggerated, frequently-changing piece of music. Each movement is inspired by one of the penitential psalms (seven songs expressive of sorrow and sin). Our world is destitute and dying, and our minds are driven to distraction – is there any way to move beyond this?"

David John Roche’s music is direct, determined, and loud. Strongly influenced by heavy metal, lush orchestral music, and his working-class Welsh background, David’s work has been praised for its “passages of intense expressive power” (Thomas Adès), described as “exquisite” (Adam Walton, BBC Introducing), and marked out as “bold, exciting, and beautiful” (Sir James Dyson). His compositions have been broadcast, televised, and written about internationally to millions of people.