John Hopkins
Among John Hopkins's first musical promptings were the guitars of Hank Marvin and later Keith Richards, balanced by an unlikely membership of a parish church choir, where he sang successively as a treble, a tenor and finally as a bass. John studied for both his B.Mus and M.Mus at University College Cardiff, where his teachers included David Wynne, Alun Hoddinott and Arnold Whittall. Composition studies were also pursued with Peter Maxwell Davies at the Dartington Summer Schools and privately with Nicholas Maw.
After leaving university, he worked as music organiser at the Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol, before becoming composer-in-residence for Eastern Arts. The Fires of London commissioned The Cloud of Unknowing for a concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and The Magic Mountain was chosen by Hans Werner Henze for the ISCM Festival in Denmark. The BBC commissioned White Winter, Black Spring for the Huddersfield Festival and also Faustus, for large orchestra, for the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Other pieces have been commissioned by the Kings Lynn and Aldeburgh Festivals, and his Double Concerto, for trumpet, saxophone and orchestra was written for John Wallace, John Harle and the City of London Sinfonia, conducted at its premiere by the late Richard Hickox.
From 1996, John worked for a D.Phil with Martin Butler at Sussex University, graduating in 2000. The central piece of his doctoral submission, The Floating World, for mezzo-soprano and orchestra was first performed by Olivia Ray, conducted by Peter Britton, at the West Road Concert Hall. Akhmatova Songs was written for the University of Hertfordshire's Mayfest, and also included on a CD of vocal pieces released by their UHR label in 2009. After an early association with Schirmer, his work has been published by Ricordi London since 1986.
His research remains firmly centred on composition and contemporary music, with the work of Elliott Carter continually fascinating and challenging. He is also deeply interested in the legacies of both Stravinsky and Sibelius, especially the current generation of Finns, with their links to both as well as to the French Spectral composers, Gerard Grisey and Tristan Murail.
WORKS
ORCHESTRA
Night Cycle (1975) 26'
3(picc:afl).3(ca).3(bcl).3(3=cbsn). / 4.3.3.1. / timp.3perc(cel).hp. / str.
Solstice (1978) 17'
3(picc).3(ca).3(bcl).2. / 4.3.3.0. / timp.3perc.hp. / str.
The Magic Mountain (1979) 30'
for piano and orchestra
solo piano - 3(picc;afl).3(ca).3(bcl).3(cbsn). / 4.3.3.0. / timp.2perc.hp. / str.
Faustus (1986) 40'
3(alf:2picc).3(ca).3(2bcl).ssax.asax.tsax.3(2cbsn). / 4.3.3.1. / timp.2perc.pf(cel).harp. / str.
Sinfonia (1988) 18'
1.1.1.asax.1. / 2.1.0.0. / str.
Concerto da Camera (1989) 18'
1(picc).1(ca).1.1. / 2.1.0.0. / str. (minimum 6.4.4.3.1.)
Double Concerto (1993) 25'
for trumpet, saxophone and orchestra
asax, tpt - timp.perc.pf. / str.
CHAMBER/INSTRUMENTAL
Round (1974)
fl.cl. / pf. / vla.vc.
Se la face ay pale (1977) 8'
fl(picc,afl).cl(bcl). / perc. / vln.vc.
13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird (1978)
ob. / hp.hpscd. / vln.vla.vc
The Cloud of Unknowing (1978) 23'
fl(picc,afl).cl(bcl). / perc.pf(cel) / vln.vc.
The Golden Flower (1979)
alto fl
Fuga Canonica (1981)
fl.cl. / hpscd . / vln.vc.
Liernes (1981)
fl.pf
Cantilever (1982) 20'
1(picc).1(ca).1(bcl).1. / pf. / str. (1.0.1.1.0.)
Elective Affinities (1983) 25'
ob.bsn. / pf. / vln.vc.
8 Pieces for Alto Saxophone and Piano (1987)
PIANO
4 Pieces for Piano (1974)
Beyond (1982)
Aquamarine (1982)
Sonata for Piano (1991)
VOCAL (with ensemble)
Noche Oscura (1976) 15'
soprano; fl(picc,afl).cl(bcl). / gtr. / vla.vc.
For the Far Journey (1981) 25'
soprano; fl(picc,afl).cl(bcl). / gtr. / vla.vc.
White Winter, Black Spring (1985) 30'
tenor, baritone; 1(picc,afl).1(ca).1(bcl).asax.0. / 1.1.1.0. / perc. / str. (1.1.1.1.1.)
Sonnet (1987) 17'
soprano, tenor, baritone; 1(afl).1(ca).1(bcl).1. / 1.0.0.0. / hp. / str. (1.0.1.1.0.)
In the White Hours (1990) 13'30"
soprano; cl(bcl).ssax.vla.vc
3 Chinese Lyrics (1991)
sop; fl. / vla
Cantata (1992) 25'
mezzo.baritone; 2ob.bsn. / hp. / 2vla.vc.
Vocal (with piano)
The Book of Pictures (1985)
mezzo. pf
CHORAL
Introit, Kyrie and Graduale (1980) 8'
SATB double choir
4 Latin Motets (2009) 13'30"
SATB
