Portions of Eternity
Portions of Eternity is a new song cycle.
Rintrah Roars (for voice, harp and piano), an extract from William Blake’s ‘The Marriage of Heaven and Hell’, was written in 2016 and first performed by April Fredrick and the Riot Ensemble. I have now rewritten that song (without harp) and added two more – ‘The Bard’ and ‘Thel’ – calling the cycle Portions of Eternity.The title is taken from Blake’s words: ‘The roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the raging of the stormy sea and the destructive sword are portions of eternity too great for the eye of man.’
Blake’s astonishing texts have often been a source of musical ideas for me: Urizen (viola with piano or string orchestra) was written in 1983 and was followed by This World (for choir and 2 trumpets) in 1994 and Fuzon (string quartet) in 2012.
Fuzon in Bath
The Piatti Quartet played ‘Fuzon’ at the Old Theatre Royal, Bath on Saturday 10th December in a concert which also included Haydn, Frank Bridge and Schubert.
2016 PERFORMANCES and NEWS
A new William Blake inspired piece, Rintrah Roars for soprano (April Fredrick), harp and piano was premiered on October 29th at a wildly diverse concert by the Riot Ensemble, including works by Lee Westwood, Laurence Osborn, Yukiko Watanabe and many members of New Music Brighton.
On 26th October, Tri (three movements for six violas) was played (superbly and enthusiastically!) at the London Guildhall School of Music viola day. It has also been performed in Spain and Wales (the Royal Welsh College of Music).
My Clarinet Sonata was premiered (after nearly 50 years!) by Steve Dummer (clarinet) and Yoko Ono (piano) at the Chapel Royal, Brighton on 18th October
Fuzon was performed on 31st July as part of the Brighton Philharmonic chamber music series by the string quartet Roland Roberts and Ani Batikian (violins), Morgan Goff (viola) and Peter Adams (‘cello).
‘This was certainly the most challenging, and probably the most satisfying work in the programme for the players’ – Lark Reviews
The first performance of the new Touch and Go (3rd movement of ‘In Touch’ for clarinet, ‘cello and piano) was premiered by the terrific Talkestra group in Brighton on 2nd July.
Looking Back was played in London at a Schubert Society of Great Britain concert on 4th May by Siân Philipps and Per Rundberg in a programme also featuring the Enescu 3rd sonata.
Stranger, Lover, Dancer was played by Alice Neary at the Presteigne Festival on 28th August in a programme including works by Bach, Dutilleux and Robert Saxton.
Americana (three pieces for five flutes) had its first performance on 18th March in ‘Music and Wine at St Luke’s’, Brighton, performed by Sussex Flutes.
Stranger, Lover, Dancer for solo ‘cello was performed by Jessie Ann Richardson at the Brickwall Music Society in Sussex on 19th February.
2015 PERFORMANCES and NEWS
‘Tattiesque’ was played by the wonderful Trittico at ‘Music in the Village’ St. Mary’s Church, London E17 on 26th November together with music by Poulenc, Malcolm Arnold, Madeleine Dring, Rhian Samuel, Rob Keeley, Sadie Harrison and Arvo Pärt.
‘Fuzon’ for string quartet can now be heard in a powerful live recording by the Piatti Quartet on YouTube at https://youtu.be/jFElZOSC6oU
‘Stranger, Lover, Dancer’ for solo ‘cello has just been published. See Comus Edition.
Just completed ‘Americana’ for five flutes – three short pieces: ‘Late Nights’, ‘Big Skies’ and ‘Heading South’ – lasting about 7 minutes.
‘Coronach’ for treble recorder and harpsichord was written for recorder virtuoso John Turner, He gave the first performance at Bury on 26 September in a concert also featuring countertenor James Bowman.
The first performance of ‘Stranger, Lover, Dancer’ for solo ‘cello was at the Cheltenham Festival on 2nd July played by Jessie Ann Richardson. See the Cheltenham Festival page.
Thomas Gould’s CD Bach to Parker (which includes ‘Bopbop’) has been greeted with great reviews! Richard Morrison in ‘The Times’ describes it as ‘Scythingly scintillating playing from a young virtuoso with a magpie mind’.
I have just rewritten ‘Another Orpheus’ for string orchestra (a dramatic piece based on Shelley’s ‘Hellas’ – 1 movt. c. 8 mins). Parts and score are now available from me.
2014 PERFORMANCES and NEWS
JUST PUBLISHED! ‘Tri’ for 6 violas in three movements is now available from Comus Edition. Click to see sample pages and to order score and parts.
JUST FINISHED! ‘Stranger, Lover, Dancer’ for solo ‘cello. Three short movements, c. 6 minutes overall.
Trittico played ‘Tatiesque’ for flute, oboe and piano at the 1901 Arts Club, in London on Wednesday 17th September and they will be playing it again at Seaton Festival on 19th February 2015 and at St. John’s Smith Square on 12th March 2015 in the lunchtime concert.
‘Disturbed Nights’ in the original version for solo oboe, and the recent version for oboe and string trio, has just been published by Elysian Edition. Elysian is a new publishing venture by oboist Christopher O’Neal (professor of oboe at Trinity Laban Conservatoire), specializing in music for double reed instruments.
Beth McNinch, Artistic Director of the chamber ensemble Musici Ireland and principal viola of the Wexford Festival Opera Orchestra, performed ‘Urizen’ in a recital for ‘Music for Wexford’ this year on 23rd July at St. Iberius Church, Wexford, Ireland together with music by Nino Rota and Liam Bates.
The Piatti Quartet performed ‘Fuzon’ on Saturday 7th June at St Saviour’s church, St Alban’s, before heading off on Eurostar to France for their concert, the next day, also including ‘Fuzon’, in the ‘Rencontres Musicales ProQuartet en Seine-et-Marne’!
I have just made a new arrangement of ‘Shadows’ (originally for viola, double-bass and piano) for viola, ‘cello and piano. Parts for this version are available direct from John Hawkins.
‘Looking Back’ is a new short, lyrical piece for violin and piano written for Siân Philipps. It looks backward both musically and emotionally to Orpheus who yearns and cannot resist the fatal backward look. Euridice is abruptly returned to the underworld. ‘Looking Back’ has just been beautifully produced (as always!) by Comus Edition. Piano score and part are available for £8.70.
The viola duo Folie à Deux (Nick Revel and Nora Krohn) played ‘Gestures’ on March 21 in their recital at Turtle Bay Music School New York.
The Piatti Quartet played ‘Fuzon’ in London at King’s Place on 16th February.
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.