Mark Daniel Merritt

Mark Daniel Merritt (b. New London, CT^[1] 1961) (ASCAP) is an American composer and arranger with published choral works mostly for church choirs. Merritt's recent commissions,^[2][3] include a commission in 2007 partially funded by the Kentucky Arts Council, to compose the score to the musical River Dreams,^[4] which had its world premiere in July of that year.^[5] River Dreams is an adaptation of the book, A Long Row to Hoe, the autobiography of Kentucky author Billy C. Clark.^[6] The play was written by Betty Peterson. In an interview with the Daily Independent newspaper in Ashland, Kentucky, the director of the play Edward Figgins states, "Music by composer Mark Daniel Merritt captures the mood of Peterson's lyrics.^[7]"

The American Organist gave the following review of Merritt's published Christmas piece, "Deo Gratias:"

This setting of "Adam lay ybounden" will give Boris Ord's a run for its money. Well crafted and singable, this is sung with "traditional" harmonic language. An accompaniment for rehearsal is provided.^[8]

Originally from Noank, CT, Merritt now resides in Mount Airy, North Carolina.^[9]

References

1. ^ Town of Groton, CT Birth Records
2. ^ "Stepping Out" The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, Winter 2006
3. ^ [1]
4. ^ Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Daily News, May 25, 2007
5. ^ Kentucky Community and Technical College System, Daily News, July 27, 2007
6. ^ [2]
7. ^ The Daily Independent Newspaper, Ashland, Kentucky, July 2007
8. ^ The American Organist, March, 2008
9. ^ Surry Arts Council, Mount Airy, North Carolina

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Name	Merritt, Mark Daniel
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Date of birth	1961
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