Chidiock’s End
Chidiock Tichborne was only 24 years old when he was brutally executed by being hanged, drawn, and quartered for his role in the Babington Plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I in 1586. His ‘Elegy’, (‘My Prime of Youth is but a Frost of Cares’) written on the eve of his execution was sent to his wife and remains his most famous poem. This short piece for brass instruments is suitably dramatic and tragic.
Hear it on Soundcloud
Mimes for one
Yulia Drukh is a truly astonishing clarinettist with many international awards to her name so I’m thrilled that her new CD (available internationally from 9th June) includes my ‘Mimes’ for solo clarinet. Unusually, all the music on the CD is for solo clarinet and features works from the 20th and 21st centuries including a virtuoso version of ’Asturias’ by Isaac Albeniz.
Escape
My new short piano piece ‘Escape’ is one of three new works commissioned by pianist Nancy Cooley for her concert in support of the charity Freedom From Torture on 5 February.
The recital was a sold-out success raising £3500 for the charity!
Revisited
I have just rewritten the slow movement of my first string quartet for string orchestra as ‘Threnody’. An intense piece that alternates calm and lamentation.
Hear it on Soundcloud
Adding Up
On 18 November the Leto Ensemble (flute, clarinet and piano) gave the first performance of my Adding Up – four movements each of which uses a different interval + its inversion (1+8, 2+7, 3+6 and 4+5). ‘Adding Up’ was originally written only for flute and clarinet but the trio version, without changing the flute and clarinet parts, adds a piano part of equal importance. Either version may be performed!
Hear it on Soundcloud.
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.