Joyner’s Dream is the sweeping story of a family and its dubious legacy: an abiding love of music coupled with a persistent knack for thieving. Beginning in England in the 1780s, continuing in Halifax at the time of the Great Explosion, and ending in Toronto in the present, eight larcenous generations from all walks of life—craftsmen and highwaymen, aristocrats and servants, lawyers and B-movie actors—are connected by music, a secret family journal and one long-lived violin. When the branches of the family are reunited and lingering secrets are revealed, we have come full circle in a hugely satisfying and surprising tale.

This multi-generational story—told in a spellbinding series of historical voices—abounds in such rich social detail and sharply rendered characters, it affords the deep reading pleasures to be found in the novels of Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy.

Enjoy the accompanying album, Joyner’s Dream: The Kingsfold Suite, with all-original music by Sylvia Tyson. Available at zunior.com.

Sylvia Tyson was part of the landmark folk and country duo Ian and Sylvia who recorded thirteen albums from the early sixties to the mid-seventies. She then embarked on a successful solo career and has recorded seven solo albums. She has headed up her own record label and publishing company, and has had a parallel career as a host, producer, researcher, and writer for both radio and television. She has been a songwriter since 1962. She is active in several music industry associations, and in 1992 was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Another project is Quartette, a recording and touring project with three other female singer/songwriters. In 1996 Sylvia received the Order of Canada.

Sylvia Tyson's profile page