Slow Release
Friday 15th November saw the first performance since 1973 of my ‘Romanza’ for ‘cello and piano! One of three pieces (Intrada, Romanza and Burlesca) which started life in my ‘Cello Sonata (the fourth movement did not survive!). The performance was at a tour de force concert by Ivana Peranic, cello and Rachel Fryer, piano at St Luke’s Brighton. They also played the Debussy sonata and pieces by no less than ten New Music Brighton composers.
Grounding
On 9th November is the first performance of the orchestral version of my ‘Grounds’ for oboe and string orchestra, played by the Musicians of All Saints with Clare Worth, oboe. An abrupt concertino, each of the three short movements is spun from a repeating figure (the ground). Earlier this year the piano reduction was performed at the Royal College of Music by Izy Cheeseman as part of her final recital.
Zany violas?
On 19th October at 7.00pm at St Margaret, Rottingdean, my ‘At Two’ for two violas was played by the violists who commissioned it, Peter Mallinson and Matthias Wiesner – both members of the BBCSO. Reviewing their new CD, MusicWeb International said:
“One work stands at something of a remove; John Hawkins’ ‘At Two’ …. Taking its name from a laconic Woody Allen line – ‘I’m at two with nature’ – the two brief movements offer plentiful contrast, with an especially fast moving, even zany second movement to entertain the listener and stretch the performers.”
See the CD on Meridian Records
Getting Balance
On 29th September we recorded my Clarinet Sonata and ‘In Touch’ trio, with Steve Dummer (clarinet), Ivana Peranic (‘cello) and Yoko Ono (piano). The venue was the huge St Bartholomew in Brighton and, to get balance between the instruments, the clarinet and ‘cello needed to be lofted. They came down safely and the CD of all my music for clarinet will be released on 29th November by Claudio records.
Looking Back
On September 25th, violinist Siân Philipps who recorded my 
‘Cortège?’ on her CD ‘Homage à Lorca’, will be performing ‘Looking Back’ for violin and piano which I wrote for her and which she premiered at Blackheath Concert Halls last year. The concert is entitled ‘Outsiders: Being on the Edge’ and includes rarely-heard pieces by Egon Wellesz and Grace Williams as well as an early sonata by Mendelssohn.
The concert is at 1.00 pm at the Friends’ Meeting House in Brighton
John Hawkins studied composition with Malcolm Williamson and Elisabeth Lutyens. He has written a wide range of chamber, vocal, choral and orchestral pieces, which have been performed worldwide.