guypearson

Saturday May 13 2017 Concert All Saints Church, Kingston, UK ‘Poets, Kings & Conscience'

Contact

William Blake

Archive

October 4/5 2016 Song of the Goat Theatre Tiblisi International Festival, Georgia ‘Portraits of the Cherry Orchard'

Events

September 2017 Concert Ognisko Polskie, London Europeans: Songs from adversity

Solo Piano

Working with Polish theatre director Grzegorz Bral, Guy has composed music for three productions, including Tracy Letts ‘AUGUST: Ossage County’ (Teatr Studio, Warsaw, 2012) and ’Blackbird‘ by David Harrower, (Teatr Norwida, Jelenia Gora, 2013). He has composed for and performed with Bral’s award winning, internationally acclaimed Piesn Kosla (Song of the Goat) Theatre group in Wroclaw, Poland. ‘Portraits of the Cherry Orchard’, based on Chekhov’s classic, features an original score by Guy in collaboration with Polish composer, Maciej Richly. The production has been positvely reviewed and very well received at international theatre festivals in Wuhzen, China, Warsaw, Poland and recently in Georgia at the Tiblisi International Festival of Theatre.

SOMEWHERE ACROSS THE WATER

His recording projects feature compositions for solo piano and original settings of poetry to music. Available albums on CD and digital platforms include, Somewhere Across The Water (issimo 2008), a collection of pieces for solo piano and GLAD DAY, (issimo 2010) an album based on the poetry of William Blake. Composed as a fantasy for piano, voice and orchestra, GLAD DAY has been praised, receiving a generous compliment from Judith Weir, composer and Master of the Queen’s music who commented ‘..it seems right for the Blake poetry whilst coming from an unexpected direction.’

2019 saw the completion of ‘POETS, KINGS & CONSCIENCE: Part II, Melencolia & I’ featuring the works of famous poets. Performances of 'Requiem For The Future’ will take place in 2022/23 Please check out the Events page for more information.

BIOGRAPHY

Guy Pearson is a composer, pianist and producer who has contributed to numerous soundtracks for theatre, documentary film & television.

CONTACT

Please direct any enquiries by email to info@cantotheatre.org.uk

GLAD DAY

William Blake

iTunes

‘Seems just right for the Blake poetry, while coming from an unexpected direction’...’ Judith Weir, Composer ‘...an impressive piece of work, passionate and superbly put together ...very infectious....’ John Sugar, independent producer to the BBC ‘.....plaintive, beautiful, and powerful settings of some of Blake's most haunting and memorable songs and poems. Very striking. These are surely some of the most beautiful settings of Blake songs ever recorded.’ Rod Tweedy, Author ‘One of Blake's great gifts to the world is his 'Songs'..one of the most beautiful I have heard is by Guy Pearson. ‘ Tim Heath, Chair of The Blake Society www.blakesociety.org ‘I think this is the first time that I've been prompted by a Blake cover to revisit thesource material..... Glad Day is an album that I'm very pleased to have in my library.....track 13, a cover of the Songs of Experience "Introduction" and "To Tirzah" is exquisite’ Paige Morgan, literary education ‘Pearson provides some extremely interesting interpretations designed to capture elements of Blake’s art or poetry.’ Jason Whittaker, Professor of Blake Studies, Falmouth

Bandcamp

Performances & recording of original musical settings to poetry by

Poet and painter, prophet and visionary, William Blake remains one of the truly original, great British poets. Neglected in his own lifetime he died in poverty. He expressed a caring concern for his fellow man through his art and his legacy would be to inspire and guide the spirits of future generations. GLAD DAY is a powerful and uplifting musical experience. Capturing the spirit of Blake’s work, it continues to champion one of London’s finest artists as an important and influential part of our cultural heritage and to celebrate this internationally loved and often misunderstood figure.

GLAD DAY Songs to William Blake AMAZON reviews!

ALBION UNBOUND I: William Blake's 'Glad Day' & Humanity's struggle against the forces of repression. from Guy Pearson Music on Vimeo.

REQUIEM FOR THE FUTURE: Part 2 Albion Unbound Percy Shelley ‘Beyond Prometheus'

‘….something to both delight and set one thinking. It’s concerts like this, at once enterprising and informal that are the true spirit of music-making.

Albion Unbound

REQUIEM FOR THE FUTURE Part 1 William Blake’s GLAD DAY ‘I must create a system or be enslaved by another man’s...'

POETS, KINGS & CONSCIENCE: Preview

Bryce Morrison, Music Journalist

EVENTS

Poets, Kings & Conscience

A centuries old tradition has revealed the Poets as guardian spirits, witness to the mood of common people and the times in which they lived; POETS, KINGS & CONSCIENCE is a musical work in which the composer has sought to capture the emotional feelings expressed within the poetry. A collection of original settings to music written for voice and instrumental accompaniment, it provides a powerful listening experience and the opportunity to reflect upon the times in which we ourselves live.

read on Substack

discover more

by Guy Pearson

ALBION UNBOUND trailer - view here

Theatre

An epic musica spanning a two hundred and fifty year history in which artists, philosophers and poets have asked the question.

'What is the role of the Poet?'

UNBOUND

'Hear the voice of the Bard!'

CANTO

Canto Theatre

MOON COUNTRY Landscape inspired instrumentals January 2022 Available as digital download here

solo piano & instrumental

BRILLIANT HORIZON A Day In The Life Of Samuel Palmer 2016 Available as digital download here

incandescent! Remembering Byron & Shelley June 2022 Available as digital download here

recordings

SOMWHERE ACROSS THE WATER Original compositions for Solo Piano 2008 Available as digital download here

SINGLE RELEASE ON SPOTIFY