Philip Sawyers – Mayflower on the Sea of Time

“The 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower was in 2020. My task as a composer was to write a substantial choral/orchestral work to celebrate this event and the challenges that the Pilgrims faced in the New World. My librettist wrote an imaginative piece that incorporated both a narrative and a reflection on the wider implications the story contained. Human attributes and frailties, moral, religious and political questions are touched upon. The resulting Oratorio, Mayflower on the Sea of Time, is in 4 parts. The soprano and baritone soloists take on multiple roles as both narrators and different characters from the story.” Philip Sawyers

“…Given the strong narrative of the source material, it will be no surprise to listeners that this is music that is most often striving purposefully forward. Where in his symphonies, Philip is often very careful to highlight structural moments, and to punctuate musical sentences and paragraphs with great precision and clarity, Mayflower is a study in constant transition and transformation.”

Kenneth Woods

This recording captures the debut performance of the English Symphony Chorus. Assembled for this project, the group brings together some of the finest professional singers from across the UK. The ensemble members appear as part of elite groups such as The Sixteen, performers on the operatic stage, working as layclerks at Cathedrals across the UK, as well as working with leading orchestras and new music ensembles.Philip Sawyers’ works have been performed and broadcast in many countries including USA, Canada, Spain, Austria, Czech Republic, France and the UK. He began composing as a teenager after picking up the violin for the first time at the age of 13, and in 2001 he began receiving major commissions and performances by orchestras in the USA.