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’
Old Year/New Year
Pieces written in 2018
Grounds (Concertino for oboe and strings)
The Dong with a Luminous Nose (Voice and Clarinet)
Last Tango in Brighton (CoMA ensemble)
Laments and Scherzos (Orchestra)
Simplicius Simplicissimus (Clarinet and String Orchestra)
Take Two (Guitar duo)
Time and Again (Orchestra)
Looking forward/ Looking Back
On Monday 19th November, Siân Philipps’ recital for violin and piano at Blackheath Concert Halls included my ‘Looking Back‘ which I wrote for her and which she premiered two years ago in London. The concert also included music by Mendelssohn and Grace Williams.
Triad
‘Tri’ is for six violas which is unusual but these three pieces exploit the wonderful rich sound which the combination produces. The many performances of ‘Tri’ include those given by students at the Royal Academy, London, the Royal Welsh School of Music and Drama and The Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The Guildhall is again including ‘Tri’ as part of its viola day on 16th November.
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.