Future tense
It is very exciting that three of my pieces are being played by students of the Royal College of Music in their final recitals this year: ‘Urizen’ (viola), ‘Variations’ (piano) and ‘Grounds’ (oboe).
Winds (and strings) in May
On 11th May at St Michael and All Angels in Brighton, at 7.30 pm Ellie Blackshaw (violin) and David Elwin (piano) are playing my ‘Cortege?’ in a concert including Beethoven, Rebecca Clarke and Frank Bridge.
On 30th May at St Anne’s, Lewes, at 1.00 pm Klio Blonz of the Amalthea Duo (flute and harp) is including in their recital my virtuoso piece for solo flute ‘Disturbed Nights’ . Originally written for artist/oboist Emily Bakker it was rewritten last year for flute. Emily Bakker used to babysit for us – hence the title!
Between these events, Steve Dummer, clarinet, and the Stane Street Sinfonietta will be recording both my Clarinet Concerto and ‘Simplicius Simplicissimus’ for clarinet and strings, conducted by Holly Matthieson. The CD will be issued, in due course, by Claudio Records.
Antique Romance?
Just finished the tricky process of rewriting my ‘Romantique’, first performed in 2018 with piano, now in a version for the more usual grouping of flute, viola and harp.
The Dong and the Stranger
This month, my new setting of Edward Lear’s ‘The Dong with a Luminous Nose’ for voice and solo clarinet will be recorded for a forthcoming CD of my music which includes clarinet. Other pieces will include my Clarinet Concerto, Clarinet Sonata, and several chamber works. The Clarinettist for all the pieces is Steve Dummer and for this first recording the voice is Aidan Smith.
On 5th April my ‘Stranger, Lover, Dancer’ for solo ‘cello will get another performance – in the past it has featured at both the Presteigne and Cheltenham festivals – this time the performance will be in Brighton with ‘cellist Ivana Peranic.
These Lovers
Just rewritten this 5 minute drama for flute and ‘cello, first performed at the ‘Music Past and Present’ series in London:
‘… these lovers, these people entering into illusion glittering eyed, must be danced round with mockery, decorated with garlands.’
Virginia Woolf ‘To the Lighthouse’
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.