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I am delighted to introduce to you the website of William Walton Trust. As international appreciation continues to grow for one of the great men of British music we hope that this site will prove interesting and informative both to those who are looking for general information and to those seeking specialist help.

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The William Walton Trust and the Fondazione William Walton e La Mortella have the following general objectives:

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Visit the site of the spectacular subtropical and mediterranean garden developed since 1956 by the late Susana Walton.

Giardini la Mortella

Varii capricci, for orchestra (1975–7)

• General Information:
I.   Allegro assai     
II.  Lento sognando     
III. Alla Cubana     
IV. Lento     
V.  Presto con slancio     
Composition: 1975–6, based on the Five Bagatelles for Guitar. The last movement was rewritten in 1977.
First Performance: 4 May 1976. Royal Festival Hall, London. London Symphony Orchestra, André Previn conductor.
Duration: About 14 minutes
Craggs Catalogue Number:  C86a
Instrumentation: 3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (xylophone, cymbals, bass drum, side drum, tambourine, glockenspiel, claves, bongos, gong) – celesta – harp – strings
Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 613.
FRKF 613a – Autograph full score of original version. 43 pages.
FRKF 613b – Autograph full score of the revised last movement. 11 pages.
FRKF 613c – Autograph score of a coda written for Sir Frederick Ashton’s ballet (see below). 1 leaf.  This sheet contains the last music Walton wrote before his death.
Publication: Oxford University Press, 1978. Score and parts are available on hire. Materials available for purchase:

Varii capricci 1978 Study score ISBN 019 3684535 Buy from SheetMusicPlus.com

Arrangements: Five Bagatelles for Guitar and Orchestra, arranged by Patrick Russ (1992)
This arrangement incorporates elements of Varii capricci together with the original Five Bagatelles for Guitar.
Adaptations: The music for Varii capricci formed the basis of the following ballet:
Varii capricci. Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton. First Performance: 19 April 1983. Metropolitan Opera House, New York. Ashley Lawrence conductor. David Hockney scenery. Ossie Clark costumes. John B. Read lighting. Cast included Antoinette Sibley, La Capricciosa; Anthony Dowell, Lo Straniero.

Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
London Philharmonic Orchestra Bryden Thomson 1990 Chandos CHAN 8862 14’49”

For additional recordings of this music, see the following arrangement: Five Bagatelles for Guitar and Orchestra, arranged by Patrick Russ (1992)