One of four movements prompted by baroque suites. Written first for keyboard I have recomposed them for string trio.

Sarabande for string trio

Two pieces for two violins by John Hawkins

Canon and Toccata for two violins

A short (2.5 mins) dramatic and surprisingly lyrical piece for tuba written in 2022. Sonus is published by Warwick Music

SONUS for Tuba and piano

Quintet for 2 Trumpets in B flat; Horn in F; Trombone; Tuba
First performed by the Albion Brass Ensemble in London, 1995

This is a tricky, quirky 9-minute quintet based on the story of the artist Ingres' wife who, on their daily walks, would hide anything ugly from him whereas the 20th-century artist Wyndham Lewis suggested that such things might be welcomed!

Now published by Skellton Edition

A Walk with Ingres' Wife

Rewritten in 2022 for string orchestra from the slow movement of my 1976 string quartet.
Alternates calm and great intensity of feeling in just 5 minutes.

Threnody for String orchestra

‘Adding Up’ is a suite of four short pieces for flute, clarinet and piano. This recording is of the first performance which was given by the Leto Ensemble (Klio Blonz, Shelley Levy and Jane Beament) in November 2022.
Each piece (slow, fast, slow, fast) is based on a different interval and its inversion (1+ 8; 2+7, 3+6 and 4+5).

Adding Up John Hawkins

Chidiock Tichborne was only 24 years old when he was brutally executed for his role in a  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 new  piece for brass quintet is suitably dramatic and tragic.

Chidiock's End

Played by Ros Hansen-Laurent (viola) and Stephen Carroll-Turner (piano) this is the most recent of recordings of the piece by several duos. The recording was made by Colin Attwell of Claudio Records at the Unitarian Church in Brighton on 9 November 2023.
Sheet music is available from Comus Edition.
'Urizen' is the dark shadow of reason in William Blake's writings.

Urizen

The third movement of my clarinet sonata from Sibelius software.

Hawkins_Clarinet_Sonata_3rd_movt

Shelley’s drama ‘Hellas’ was written with a view to raising money for the Greek War of Independence (during which Byron famously perished) but ends with a surprisingly anti-war position: ’The world is weary of the past, Oh, might it die or rest at last!’. From the poem I took the line 'Another Orpheus sings again, and loves and weeps and dies'. The piece is in one movement which reflects some of the drama in the poem. It lasts about nine minutes and includes a prominent part for solo viola.

This recording is from synthesizer.

Another Orpheus

This 6 minute piece for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano was commissioned by the Presteigne Festival and played at the festival and later on tour but not recorded. So this is not a live performance but an output from software.
A palinode is a poem in which the poet retracts a view or sentiment expressed in a former poem or, more simply, a retraction of a statement. In this piece it refers to the contrasting ways in which ideas are given.

Palinode

Three short, medium difficulty clarinet duos in B flat or A. Good for teaching or performing.
Prelude, Tango and Ragtime.
Sheet music available from www.JohnHawkinsMusic.co.uk

Trivia for two clarinets

A 5-minute piece for Violin, cello and guitar (also available for viola, cello and guitar). First performed on 10th March 2020. It is variations on what is not a folk song! This sound file is from Sibelius software.

Fauxsong for guitar, violin and 'cello

This is the last of four short pieces of almost-but-not-quite pastiche baroque (Allemande, Courante, Sarabande and Gigue) – tricky but fun to play.

Gigue

A toccata for orchestra of just 4'40". The title comes from a fitful, fast, many-times-repeated thread which appears in contrasting guises throughout this very dramatic piece. Double wind, brass, timpani, 1 harp, percussion and strings.

Time After Time For Orchestra

A two-and-a-half minute virtuoso piece that shows the bassoon in all its registers and moods from pastoral to angry in an argument for one.

Contretemps

Studied composition with Malcolm Williamson and Elisabeth Lutyens. Many broadcasts worldwide. Best known from CDs 'Voices from the Sea' (Meridian Records), 'Simplicius' (Claudio Records) and for 'Urizen' for viola and piano.

John Hawkins

Popular tracks