Jump to content

Bill Hopkins (composer): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Removing from Category:20th-century British composers has subcat using Cat-a-lot
 
(33 intermediate revisions by 15 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|British composer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox classical composer
{{Infobox classical composer
| name = Bill Hopkins
| name = Bill Hopkins
Line 12: Line 15:


==Biography==
==Biography==

Hopkins was born in [[Prestbury, Cheshire]], and educated at [[Hillcrest Grammar School]] and [[Rossall School]], [[Lancashire]]; his mother's disability meant she was unable to look after him, and he was raised by aunts. Studies with [[Luigi Nono (composer)|Luigi Nono]] at [[Dartington Hall|Dartington Summer School]] consolidated his interest in serialism; subsequently he studied at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]] with [[Edmund Rubbra]] and [[Egon Wellesz]].
Hopkins was born in [[Prestbury, Cheshire]], and educated at [[Hillcrest Grammar School]] and [[Rossall School]], [[Lancashire]]; his mother's disability meant she was unable to look after him, and he was raised by aunts. Studies with [[Luigi Nono (composer)|Luigi Nono]] at [[Dartington Hall|Dartington Summer School]] consolidated his interest in serialism; subsequently he studied at [[University of Oxford|Oxford University]] with [[Edmund Rubbra]] and [[Egon Wellesz]].


In 1964 he went to Paris, ostensibly to study with [[Olivier Messiaen]] but with the prime objective of meeting and studying with [[Jean Barraqué]]. Returning to England, he supported himself as a music critic in London and then, after moving first to [[Tintagel]], Cornwall and subsequently to [[Peel, Isle of Man]], by translation and writing music criticism. He married Clare Gilbert in 1972. Subsequently, he taught at [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham University]] and [[Newcastle University|University of Newcastle upon Tyne]] before succumbing to a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]], in Chopwell, near Newcastle, at the age of 37. His few pupils included the British composers [[Paul Keenan (composer)|Paul Keenan]] and [[Patrick Ozzard-Low]].
In 1964 he went to Paris in order to study with [[Olivier Messiaen]], and with an ambition to meet [[Jean Barraqué]].<ref>'Portrait of a Sonata', Tempo 186 (1993), 13</ref> Returning to England, he supported himself as a music critic in London and then, after moving first to [[Tintagel]], Cornwall and subsequently to [[Peel, Isle of Man]], by translation and writing music criticism. He married Clare Gilbert in 1972. Subsequently, he taught at [[University of Birmingham|Birmingham University]] and [[Newcastle University|University of Newcastle upon Tyne]] before succumbing to a [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]], in [[Chopwell]], near Newcastle, at the age of 37.


His few pupils included the British composers [[Paul Keenan (composer)|Paul Keenan]] and [[Patrick Ozzard-Low]].
He was upset at an under-rehearsed first performance of ''En Attendant'' in 1977 and this possibly discouraged him from composition for a while. He was working on an opera project, tentatively called ''Nes'' and later ''Play on Music'', but little if any of this was completed.

==Career==
Hopkins' music is published by Universal Edition, Schott, and Ricordi. It has been performed by [[Irvine Arditti]], [[David Atherton]], [[Alexander Balanescu]], [[Richard Bernas]], [[Nicolas Hodges]], [[Geoffrey Douglas Madge]], [[Jane Manning]], [[Holly Mathieson]], [[Donatienne Michel-Dansac]], [[Christopher Rowland]], [[Sarah Maria Sun]], [[Ilan Volkov]] and Alison Wells, as well as [[ensemble recherche]], [[London Sinfonietta]], [[BBC Symphony Orchestra]], Music Projects/London, [[Christchurch Symphony Orchestra]] and the [[WDR Symphony Orchestra]].


==Works==
==Works==

This listing is of Hopkins' completed and acknowledged works. For further information about other works, see Paul Griffiths' provisional catalogue.<ref>Griffiths, Paul, "Bill Hopkins: A Provisional Catalogue of Compositions and Writings", Musical Times cxxii (1981), 600</ref>
This listing is of Hopkins' completed and acknowledged works. For further information about other works, see Paul Griffiths' provisional catalogue.<ref>Griffiths, Paul, "Bill Hopkins: A Provisional Catalogue of Compositions and Writings", Musical Times cxxii (1981), 600</ref>


Line 26: Line 30:
* ''Two [[Pomes Penyeach|Pomes]]'' (James Joyce). Soprano, bass clarinet, trumpet, harp, viola. 1964, first performed 1968 (publ. Universal Edition, UE14204)
* ''Two [[Pomes Penyeach|Pomes]]'' (James Joyce). Soprano, bass clarinet, trumpet, harp, viola. 1964, first performed 1968 (publ. Universal Edition, UE14204)
* ''Musique de l'indifférence'', Ballet after Samuel Beckett. Orchestra, 1964–65, first performed 2019 (publ. Ricordi) [https://www.nkoda.com/work/Musique-de-l-indifference Nkoda]
* ''Musique de l'indifférence'', Ballet after Samuel Beckett. Orchestra, 1964–65, first performed 2019 (publ. Ricordi) [https://www.nkoda.com/work/Musique-de-l-indifference Nkoda]
* ''Sensation'' ([[Arthur Rimbaud|Rimbaud]], [[Samuel Beckett|Beckett]]). Soprano, tenor sax, trumpet, harp, violin. 1965, first performed 1965. (publ. Schott)
* ''Sensation'' ([[Arthur Rimbaud|Rimbaud]], [[Samuel Beckett|Beckett]]). Soprano, tenor sax, trumpet, harp, viola. 1965, first performed 1965. (publ. Schott)
*''Etudes en série''. Solo piano. 1965–72, first complete performance 1997. (publ. Schott)
*''Etudes en série''. Solo piano. 1965–72, first complete performance 1997. (publ. Schott)
*''Pendant''. Solo violin. 1969, rev 1973, first performed 1975. (publ. Universal Edition, UE17943)
*''Pendant''. Solo violin. 1969, rev 1973, first performed 1975. (publ. Universal Edition, UE17943)
Line 33: Line 37:
*''En attendant''. Flute, oboe, cello, harpsichord. 1976–77, first performed 1977. (publ. Schott)
*''En attendant''. Flute, oboe, cello, harpsichord. 1976–77, first performed 1977. (publ. Schott)


The Bill Hopkins Collection at the Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel, holds Hopkins' manuscripts.<ref>https://www.paul-sacher-stiftung.ch/de/sammlungen/f-j/bill-hopkins.html</ref>
The Bill Hopkins Collection at the Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel, holds Hopkins' manuscripts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paul-sacher-stiftung.ch/de/sammlungen/f-j/bill-hopkins.html|title = Paul Sacher Stiftung - Bill Hopkins|website=Paul-sacher-stiftung.ch}}</ref>


==Recordings==
==Recordings==
⚫
His complete piano works have been recorded by [[Nicolas Hodges]], (col legno, 2000). ''En Attendant'', ''Two Pomes'', ''Pendant'' and ''Sensation'' have been recorded by Music Projects/London and [[Richard Bernas]], ([[NMC Recordings|NMC]], 1992).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/recording/hopkins-gilbert |title=Hopkins & Gilbert &#124; NMC Recordings |access-date=2020-08-14 |archive-date=2020-08-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814221136/https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/recording/hopkins-gilbert |url-status=dead }}</ref>

⚫
His complete piano works have been recorded by [[Nicolas Hodges]], (col legno, 2000). ''En Attendant'', ''Two Pomes'', ''Pendant'' and ''Sensation'' have been recorded by Music Projects/London and [[Richard Bernas]], ([[NMC Recordings|NMC]], 1992).<ref>https://www.nmcrec.co.uk/recording/hopkins-gilbert</ref>


A new complete recording of his acknowledged works is in preparation.
A new complete recording of his acknowledged works is in preparation.


==Writings==
==Writings==
{{Main|Bill Hopkins bibliography}}

*"The young composer at Oxford", Composer 13 (1964), 12
*"Le soleil des eaux", Tempo 68 (1964), 35
*"Luigi Nono", M+M xiv/8 (1965-6), 32, 61
*"The Brevity of Webern", M+M xiv/12 (1965-6), 20
*"Barraqué's Chant après Chant" [review of premiere], MT cvii (1966) 701
*"Jean Barraqué", MT cvii (1966) 952
*"Shostakovich's Ninth String Quartet", Tempo 75 (1966) 23
*"Robert Layton's "Sibelius"", Tempo 75 (1966)
*"Stravinsky's Chords", Tempo 76 (1966) 6, Tempo 77 (1966) 2
*"Donald Mitchell's "The Language of Modern Music"", Tempo 77
*"Schumann in Miniature", M+M xv/1 (1966-7), 28
*Bax LP review, MT cviii (1967), 714
*"Alan Walker's "An Anatomy of Musical Criticism"", Tempo 80
*"Stockhausen, form, and sound" [review of scores], MT cix (January 1968), 60-62
*"Debussy and Boulez", MT cix (1968), 710
*"Anthony Gilbert", MT cix (1968), 907
*"Schoenberg's "Fundamentals of Musical Composition"", Tempo 84
*"The Contemporary Problem", Tempo 85
*"Open form: open question" [review of Konrad Boehmer Zur Theorie der offenen Form in der neuen Musik, and Darmstaedter Beitraege zur neuen Musik X: "Form"], MT cx (1969), 380-83
*"Charles Daniel (ed.) "Musiques Nouvelles"", Tempo 90 [substantial]
*Letter to the Editor (Reply to Keller), Tempo 90
*"Frank Dawes's "Debussy Piano Music"", Tempo 91 (1969)
*Honegger/Messiaen LP review, MT cxi (1970), 285
*Boulez Pli selon Pli LP review, MT cxi (1970), 509
*Ravel/Poulenc/Francaix LP review, MT cxi (1970), 811
*Schmitt/Chausson/Duparc LP review, MT cxi (1970), 905-6
*Fauré LP review, MT cxi (1970), 1006-7
*Record Guide, Tempo 92 (1970), 37
*Record Guide, Tempo 93 (1970), 31
*Record Guide, Tempo 94 (1970), 31
*"Schoenberg and the "Logic" of Atonality", Tempo 94 (1970) 15
*Record Guide, Tempo 95 (1970-1), 37
*Record Guide, Tempo 96 (1971), 20
*Boulez Pelleas LP review, MT cxii (1971), 39-40
*Milhaud/Chabrier/Fauré/Ravel LP review, MT cxii (1971), 147
*Helffer Boulez 2/Berg (DG) LP review, MT cxii (1971), 560-1
*Debussy Chamber works (DG) LP review, MT cxii (1971), 673
*Fauré Chamber box (Erato) LP review, MT cxii (1971), 763-4 [longer]
*Boulez Debussy Nocturnes LP review, MT cxii (1971), 866
*Varese LP review, MT cxii (1971), 975-6
*"Barraqué's Piano Sonata", Listener (27 Jan 1972), 121
*Fauré LP review, MT cxiii (1972), 673
*Messiaen LP review, MT cxiii (1972), 781
*"Colin Scott-Sutherland's "Arnold Bax"", Tempo 106 (September 1973)
*Fauré LP review, MT cxv (1974), 44-5
*Satie LP review, MT cxv (1974), 575
*Recordings [review of Roger Woodward's Barraqué LP], Tempo 110 (September 1974) 48-50
*"Michael Nyman's Experimental Music: Cage and Beyond", Tempo 112 (March 1975)
*"Birtwistle Triumph of Time etc.", Tempo 115 (September 1975)
*Fauré LP review, MT cxvi (1975), 798
*"Joan Peyser's Boulez: Composer, Conductor, Enigma", Tempo 123 (September 1977)
*"Luigi Nono: the individuation of power and light", MT cxix (1978) 406
*"Oesterreichische Komponisten des XX. Jahrhunderts - volumes on Schreker, Schmidt, Webern and Zemlinsky", Tempo 127 (September 1978)
*"Barraqué and the Serial Idea", PRMA cv (1978-9) 13
*"Zemlinsky Lyric Symphony etc.", Tempo 129 (March 1979)
*"Nono ...sofferte onde serene ... etc.", Tempo 130 (June 1979)
*Paul Griffiths Boulez book review, MT cxx (1979), 827
*"Hans Keller's 1975", Tempo 132 (December 1979)
*"The Piano Music", in The Music of Alexander Goehr, ed. Bayan Northcott (London, 1980), 17
*"Boulez", The New Grove, (London, 1980)
*"Gilbert", The New Grove, (London, 1980)
*"Rands", The New Grove, (London, 1980)
*"Orchestration" (paras 4-5), The New Grove, (London, 1980)
*"Ravel", The New Grove, (London, 1980)
*"Dukas", The New Grove, (London, 1980)
*"Stockhausen", The New Grove, (London, 1980)


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
*Anon, "Musique Contemporaine à l'American Center", Le Monde, 4 December 1965. [Review of premiere of ''Sensation'']
*Anon, "Musique Contemporaine à l'American Center", Le Monde, 4 December 1965. [Review of premiere of ''Sensation'']
*Boivin, Jean, ''La Classe de Messiaen'', (Paris, Christian Bourgois, 1995), pp.424-5
*Boivin, Jean, ''La Classe de Messiaen'', (Paris, Christian Bourgois, 1995), pp.&nbsp;424–5
*Delaere, Mark, “Serialism in Western Europe”, in Martin Iddon (ed.)''The Cambridge Companion to Serialism, (''Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024.) pp.205-224, esp. pp. 220-221. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108592116
*Gilbert, Anthony, Programme note for New mcnaghten Concerts (Sensation/Two Pomes/Pendant) (1985)
*Gilbert, Anthony, ‘Bill Hopkins’, sleeve note for NMC D014 (1993)
*Griffiths, Paul, "Bill Hopkins: A Provisional Catalogue of Compositions and Writings", ''Musical Times'' cxxii (1981), 600
*Griffiths, Paul, "Bill Hopkins: A Provisional Catalogue of Compositions and Writings", ''Musical Times'' cxxii (1981), 600
*Griffiths, Paul, Letter to the Editor, Tempo no.187 (1993)
⚫
*Griffiths, Paul, "Hopkins, Bill", in [[Stanley Sadie|Sadie, Stanley]] (ed.) ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians'', Second Edition (2001), Vol. 11, pp. 698-9
*Griffiths, Paul, Modern Music and After (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), 233-5
⚫
*Hodges, Nicolas, "The Music of Bill Hopkins: A Preliminary Approach", ''Tempo No.186'', September 1993
⚫
*Griffiths, Paul, "Hopkins, Bill", in [[Stanley Sadie|Sadie, Stanley]] (ed.) ''The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians'', Second Edition (2001), Vol. 11, pp.&nbsp;698–9
⚫
*Hodges, Nicolas, "The Music of Bill Hopkins: A Preliminary Approach", ''Tempo'' No. 186, September 1993
*Hodges, Nicolas, ‘Bill Hopkins’s Orchestration of Debussy’s “Lindaraja”’, ''Tempo'' No. 201 (1997), pp.28-31
*Metzger, Heinz-Klaus, ‘Unvollendete Komponisten’, 18. Musik-Biennale Berlin [programme book], pp.&nbsp;10–14 (esp. p.&nbsp;14)
*Müller, David Florian, [https://www.wolke-verlag.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/hopkins_mueller-oa.pdf ‘Bill Hopkins' Sous-structures - Varietas und Zusammenhang im seriellen Kontext’], Wolke Verlag Hofheim 2023
*Nyffeler, Max, ‘Zu spät gekommen, zu früh gegangen: Bill Hopkins – eine entdeckung’, ''Neue Zeitschrift für Musik'', Heft 1/2001 (January/February)
*Schiffer, Brigitte, 'London - Der Nachwuchs beschreitet traditionelle Wege', ''Melos'' 1975/III, pp.&nbsp;214–216 (Hopkins' Pendant reviewed on p.&nbsp;214)


==Notes==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 131: Line 78:
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1943 births]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:1981 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century classical composers]]
[[Category:20th-century British classical composers]]
[[Category:Twelve-tone and serial composers]]
[[Category:Twelve-tone and serial composers]]
[[Category:British classical composers]]
[[Category:British classical composers]]
Line 141: Line 88:
[[Category:People from Prestbury, Cheshire]]
[[Category:People from Prestbury, Cheshire]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:Academics of the University of Birmingham]]
[[Category:20th-century British composers]]
[[Category:20th-century British male musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century British male musicians]]

Latest revision as of 23:54, 5 November 2024

Bill Hopkins
Born
George William Hopkins

1943
Died1981
Era20th Century

Bill Hopkins (5 June 1943 – 10 March 1981) was a British composer. He also published music criticism, mostly under the name G. W. Hopkins.

Biography

[edit]

Hopkins was born in Prestbury, Cheshire, and educated at Hillcrest Grammar School and Rossall School, Lancashire; his mother's disability meant she was unable to look after him, and he was raised by aunts. Studies with Luigi Nono at Dartington Summer School consolidated his interest in serialism; subsequently he studied at Oxford University with Edmund Rubbra and Egon Wellesz.

In 1964 he went to Paris in order to study with Olivier Messiaen, and with an ambition to meet Jean Barraqué.[1] Returning to England, he supported himself as a music critic in London and then, after moving first to Tintagel, Cornwall and subsequently to Peel, Isle of Man, by translation and writing music criticism. He married Clare Gilbert in 1972. Subsequently, he taught at Birmingham University and University of Newcastle upon Tyne before succumbing to a heart attack, in Chopwell, near Newcastle, at the age of 37.

His few pupils included the British composers Paul Keenan and Patrick Ozzard-Low.

Career

[edit]

Hopkins' music is published by Universal Edition, Schott, and Ricordi. It has been performed by Irvine Arditti, David Atherton, Alexander Balanescu, Richard Bernas, Nicolas Hodges, Geoffrey Douglas Madge, Jane Manning, Holly Mathieson, Donatienne Michel-Dansac, Christopher Rowland, Sarah Maria Sun, Ilan Volkov and Alison Wells, as well as ensemble recherche, London Sinfonietta, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Music Projects/London, Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the WDR Symphony Orchestra.

Works

[edit]

This listing is of Hopkins' completed and acknowledged works. For further information about other works, see Paul Griffiths' provisional catalogue.[2]

  • Sous-structures. Solo piano. 1964, first performed 1965 (publ. Universal Edition, UE17700)
  • Two Pomes (James Joyce). Soprano, bass clarinet, trumpet, harp, viola. 1964, first performed 1968 (publ. Universal Edition, UE14204)
  • Musique de l'indifférence, Ballet after Samuel Beckett. Orchestra, 1964–65, first performed 2019 (publ. Ricordi) Nkoda
  • Sensation (Rimbaud, Beckett). Soprano, tenor sax, trumpet, harp, viola. 1965, first performed 1965. (publ. Schott)
  • Etudes en série. Solo piano. 1965–72, first complete performance 1997. (publ. Schott)
  • Pendant. Solo violin. 1969, rev 1973, first performed 1975. (publ. Universal Edition, UE17943)
  • Nouvelle etude hors série. Solo organ. 1974, first performed 1993. (publ. Universal Edition, UE17303)
  • Lindaraja by Claude Debussy, orchestrated by Hopkins. Orchestra. 1975, first performed 2019. (publ. Universal Edition, UE18459)
  • En attendant. Flute, oboe, cello, harpsichord. 1976–77, first performed 1977. (publ. Schott)

The Bill Hopkins Collection at the Paul Sacher Foundation, Basel, holds Hopkins' manuscripts.[3]

Recordings

[edit]

His complete piano works have been recorded by Nicolas Hodges, (col legno, 2000). En Attendant, Two Pomes, Pendant and Sensation have been recorded by Music Projects/London and Richard Bernas, (NMC, 1992).[4]

A new complete recording of his acknowledged works is in preparation.

Writings

[edit]
Main article: Bill Hopkins bibliography

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Anon, "Musique Contemporaine à l'American Center", Le Monde, 4 December 1965. [Review of premiere of Sensation]
  • Boivin, Jean, La Classe de Messiaen, (Paris, Christian Bourgois, 1995), pp. 424–5
  • Delaere, Mark, “Serialism in Western Europe”, in Martin Iddon (ed.)The Cambridge Companion to Serialism, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2024.) pp.205-224, esp. pp. 220-221. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108592116
  • Gilbert, Anthony, Programme note for New mcnaghten Concerts (Sensation/Two Pomes/Pendant) (1985)
  • Gilbert, Anthony, ‘Bill Hopkins’, sleeve note for NMC D014 (1993)
  • Griffiths, Paul, "Bill Hopkins: A Provisional Catalogue of Compositions and Writings", Musical Times cxxii (1981), 600
  • Griffiths, Paul, Letter to the Editor, Tempo no.187 (1993)
  • Griffiths, Paul, Modern Music and After (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995), 233-5
  • Griffiths, Paul, "Hopkins, Bill", in Sadie, Stanley (ed.) The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians, Second Edition (2001), Vol. 11, pp. 698–9
  • Hodges, Nicolas, "The Music of Bill Hopkins: A Preliminary Approach", Tempo No. 186, September 1993
  • Hodges, Nicolas, ‘Bill Hopkins’s Orchestration of Debussy’s “Lindaraja”’, Tempo No. 201 (1997), pp.28-31
  • Metzger, Heinz-Klaus, ‘Unvollendete Komponisten’, 18. Musik-Biennale Berlin [programme book], pp. 10–14 (esp. p. 14)
  • Müller, David Florian, ‘Bill Hopkins' Sous-structures - Varietas und Zusammenhang im seriellen Kontext’, Wolke Verlag Hofheim 2023
  • Nyffeler, Max, ‘Zu spät gekommen, zu früh gegangen: Bill Hopkins – eine entdeckung’, Neue Zeitschrift für Musik, Heft 1/2001 (January/February)
  • Schiffer, Brigitte, 'London - Der Nachwuchs beschreitet traditionelle Wege', Melos 1975/III, pp. 214–216 (Hopkins' Pendant reviewed on p. 214)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 'Portrait of a Sonata', Tempo 186 (1993), 13
  2. ^ Griffiths, Paul, "Bill Hopkins: A Provisional Catalogue of Compositions and Writings", Musical Times cxxii (1981), 600
  3. ^ "Paul Sacher Stiftung - Bill Hopkins". Paul-sacher-stiftung.ch.
  4. ^ "Hopkins & Gilbert | NMC Recordings". Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Bill_Hopkins_(composer)&oldid=1255647374"