Composers
Patrick Hawes
© Anthony Simpson
Born: 1958
Brief Biography: The popularity of Patrick Hawes’s music derives from a rich, tonal style influenced by his love of the English Romantic tradition as well as the Renaissance and Baroque. His special affection for vocal music has resulted in several collaborations with his brother, the poet Andrew Hawes, including the children’s opera A King’s Ransom and the choral work The Land, both written while Composer-in-Residence at Charterhouse School in Surrey. His song cycle The Call was premiered in Lincoln Cathedral in 1999 with the English Chamber Orchestra and soprano Janet Coxwell. In 2002 he wrote his first film score The Incredible Mrs Ritchie, directed by Paul Johansson. For a complete biography, click here.
Key Works: - The Call
(1999; soprano, orchestra) - The Blue Bird Variations
(2002; soloists, choir, orchestra) - Pavane from ‘The Incredible Mrs Ritchie
(2002; guitar, chamber orchestra) - The Lazarus Requiem
(2004; soloists, choir, orchestra) - Quanta Qualia (2004; choir)
- Lullaby (2005; violin, piano)
- Highgrove Suite (2010; harp, strings)
| Career Highlights: - 1990 taught music and English at Pangbourne School, UK
- 1990-7 Composer-in-Residence at Charterhouse School, UK
- 2001 wrote theme tune for Rugby World Cup on ITV channel in UK
- 2004 debut album Blue in Blue highest new entry by a new composer on Classic FM’s Hall of Fame
- 2005 Lullaby premiered at the Wigmore Hall; Blue in Blue nominated for a Classical Brit Award
- 2005 Quanta Qualia released on Hayley Westenra’s album Odyssey
- 2010 commissioned to write Highgrove Suite for the 60th birthday of HRH The Prince of Wales
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Full Biography:
Inrecent years, Patrick Hawes hasemerged as one of the country’s most popular and inspirational composers. Born in Lincolnshire, he read music as anorgan scholar at Durham University, and soon went on to make an impact in theworld of choral music with his cantata TheWedding at Cana. It was with therelease of his debut album Blue in Blue,however, that Patrick first gained widespread public recognition. Made CD of the week on Classic FM in 2004, itwas nominated for a Classical Brit award and was voted by Classic FM listenersas the fastest ever and highest new entry into the station’s Hall of Fame. From2006 to 2007 Patrick was Composer in Residence at Classic FM. This position involved writing twelve piecesfor piano, each piece being premiered over a twelve-month period. The pieces were directly inspired by his moveto the Norfolk coast and by the wonderful skies and landscapes of thecounty. The resulting album Towards the Light was an instant hitwith the public and, for a second time, Classic FM listeners voted it thehighest new entry in the 2007 Hall of Fame. A national tour followed and Patrick enthralled audiences with hisperformances at the piano. April2009 saw the release of Patrick’s album Songof Songs which consists of six choral pieces for strings and voices alongwith other works for choir and organ. The recording features the EnglishChamber Orchestra, Patrick’s own choir Conventus and the stunning soprano ElinManahan Thomas. Patrick joined forceswith Elin once again and also the brilliant cellist Julian Lloyd Webber for hissubsequent album Fair Albion: Visions ofEngland. Both of these releases weremade CD of the Week on Classic FM within a six-month period. Patrickwas commissioned by HRH The Prince of Wales to write the Highgrove Suite in 2009. This began as a one-movement work for harp and strings and was premieredat Covent Garden on the Prince’s sixtieth birthday by the royal harpist ClaireJones and the Philharmonia orchestra. Three new pieces for the same forces completed the suite, each oneinspired by an aspect of HRH’s garden at Highgrove. In2011, Patrick was commissioned to write a piece for the Lancaster Festival Ohioin the United States, for which he produced the phenomenal Te Deum. The Americanaudience was enthralled during the premiere in July last year, at which Patrickwas fortunate enough to be present. Patrick’s LazarusRequiem was premiered at the Cadogan Hall, London in 2008. This work has just been recorded by the RoyalScottish National Orchestra and the Exeter Philharmonic & CathedralChoirs. The cathedral premiere also tookplace in Exeter on 17th March this year.
External Websites
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