Johnson: A Pocket Full of Tunes

David Hackbridge-Johnson releases "A Pocketful of Tunes," a collection of fascinating works for solo violin and viola, written for and performed by the internationally acclaimed violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved. All the works are inspired by, written for, and recorded on magnificent historical instruments, bringing the past to life. There are joyful dances and elegant suites that recall the dance movements of the Baroque and Rococo periods, as well as works that respond to modern life—a prime example of David Hackbridge-Johnson's broad spectrum of techniques. Hackbridge-Johnson began attending Peter Sheppard Skærved's London Church Concerts in 2019, and the two soon became friends due to their shared passion for literature, history, and railways. The album features three works for solo viola, all recorded on the oldest known English viola, the extraordinary Rayman of 1641: the sonic commentary on disused railway lines "Three Disused Stations," the dance-based "Seven Versets," and "Three Preludes." All these works showcase the instrument's wonderfully dark, woody tone. "Six Preludes for Charles II" were inspired by a London violin, the Charles II "1664," after Sheppard Skærved played it in the medieval church of St. Margaret Lothbury. On this recording, the preludes are played on a 1629 Girolamo Amati violin, as are all the other works for violin on the album. Some works were created in less than 24 hours, including "Alleyway, Pastoral, River Falls." "A Pocket Full of Tunes" was inspired by a French dance master's piccolo violin and is played here on an "original size" Amati.

David Hackbridge-Johnson is a multi-instrumentalist, conductor, soloist, and author, as well as a composer. His approximately 600 compositions include eighteen symphonies, over a dozen tone poems and concertos, and hundreds of songs and chamber music pieces. His recent commissions include operas, such as "Blaze of Glory!", written for the 75th anniversary of the Welsh National Opera.