GUITAR
I first picked up the guitar at the age of 13 and, after being encouraged by my mother, I began studying classical guitar. As my musical skills developed, so did my passion for composition.
In December 2019, I released my debut classical album, Preludes, featuring ten original preludes composed from 2011 to 2019, plus an encore track. Following this, I began creating a new series titled Duets for Flute and Guitar, comprising ten pieces composed from late 2019 to early 2022.
As a composer I was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach, Villa-Lobos’s guitar works and the Spanish Isaac Albéniz and Francisco Tárrega. In an interview with the blog MEET THE ARTIST I talk more about my music.
DUETS FOR FLUTE AND GUITAR by Mark Hodgkin & Jessica Hodgkin
“…each of the ten settings on Duets for Flute & Guitar impresses as a wholly original and personal creation. With their clearly defined structures and melodic motives, they register as expressive songs as much as formal classical pieces and are no less satisfying for doing so, and Mark’s playing is unerring throughout.” – Textura (Aug 2024)
“The first recording of ten works for flute and guitar by composer Mark Hodgkin – tonal, imaginative music with a great harmonic and expressive richness.” – Classical Music Daily (Aug 2024)
PRELUDES by Mark Hodgkin
“They (the Preludes) are miniatures that really match well with some of the great solo guitar repertoire, for instance Tarrega: really, they’re that good.” – Haskins, American Record Guide (March/April 2021)
“Hodgkin clearly is a master guitarist limited only by his imagination, which is extensive. There is solid musicianship here, and also the desire—fully achieved, I will add—to create beauty, relaxation, and intellectual stimulation.” – Raymond Tuttle, Fanfare Magazine (Jan/Feb 2021)
LONDON BRIDGE by Hodgkin & Giffoni
After their debut album No Lombo do Jegue, Mark Hodgkin and Daniel Giffoni began developing ideas for a follow-up. However, after Mark relocated from his native São Paulo to London, the duo only managed to reunite for a couple recording sessions. London Bridge, released as a Single in 2024, features recordings from those sessions in 2012 and 2015.
NO LOMBO DO JEGUE by Hodgkin & Giffoni
Hodgkin & Giffoni, formed by Mark Hodgkin and Daniel Giffoni, released their debut album in 2010. Their concept was to improvise guitar melodies across diverse themes. As their improvisations evolved, they shaped a structured musical dialogue, creating compositions that draw inspiration from different cultures and ethnicities.
While refining their direction, the duo remained dedicated to improvisation, seeing its crucial role in their creativity. This ensured their music maintained spontaneity and vitality, letting each performance unfold naturally.