Fearful Symmetry: Songs & Piano Music of John Sykes

Featuring

Gareth Brynmore John
Rowan Pierce
William Vann
Iain Farrington
John Sykes

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Compositional Technique

In his settings of William Blake's poems, John Sykes often uses accompaniments with decreasing note lengths in each verse, reminiscent of Renaissance 'divisions'.

Historical Context

Randall Swingler, a poet whose works are set on this album, was a left-wing poet and Communist Party member whose activities were monitored by MI5 during the Cold War.

Recording & Production

All tracks on this album are world première recordings.

Composer's Artistic Vision

John Sykes, the composer, was an instinctive composer who, like Mozart, conceived entire compositions in his head before writing them down.

Composer Biography

John Sykes, the composer, was born in India in 1909 and later studied composition at the Royal College of Music under Ralph Vaughan Williams.

Album & Artwork

The album's cover image, 'The Ancient of Days', is by William Blake, whose poetry is extensively featured in the songs on this recording.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Composer John Sykes and poet Randall Swingler shared a passionate interest in the work of William Blake, whose poems form the basis of many songs on this album.