• Composition: Original composed as a ballet in 1925–6. Reworked into a concert piece in 1927. Revised extensively, removing orchestral counterpoint and simplifying the solo piano part, in 1943. Many prefer the original version, and both versions are performed today.
• First Performance, Original Version: 5 January 1928. Queen’s Hall, London. York Bowen piano, Orchestra of the Royal Philharmonic Society. Ernest Anserment conductor.
• First Performance, Revised Version: 9 February 1944. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. Cyril Smith piano. Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent conductor.
• Duration: About 18 minutes
• Movements: I. Maestoso - II. Andante comodo - III. Allegro vivo sempre scherzando
• Dedication: In the original version, Walton dedicated each movement to one of the Sitwell family: first movement ‘To Osbert’, second movement ‘To Edith’, third movement ‘to Sachie’. These dedications were removed in the 1943 revision.
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C21
• Instrumentation: Original Version: Piano solo 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (tambourine, cymbals, side drum, bass drum, glockenspiel, xylophone – strings
Revised Version: Piano solo 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinet, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (tambourine, cymbals, side drum, bass drum, glockenspiel, xylophone) – strings
• Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 587.
FRKF 587a – Autograph full score of the original version. 80 pages.
FRKF 587b – Copyist’s manuscript of the piano part, with one page in Walton’s hand. 30 pages.
FRKF 587c – Autograph full score of the revised version. 69 pages.
• Publication:
Oxford University Press. Full score, 1928. Two-pianos score, arranged by the composer, 1928. Discontinued.
Oxford University Press. Study score, 1953, 019 3684063. Two-pianos score, arranged by Roy Douglas, 1947, 019 3684071.
[Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Study score] - [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Two-pianos score]
Oxford University Press. William Walton Edition, Volume 13, 019 3683113, includes both original and revised versions. Score and parts are available on hire.
• Arrangements:
Arranged for two pianos, by the composer. Original version. Publication: Oxford University Press. Score, 1928 (discontinued).
Arranged for two pianos, by Roy Douglas. Revised version. Publication: Oxford University Press. Score, 1947, 019 3684071. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Two-pianos score]
• Recordings:
| Soloist | Orchestra | Conductor | Version | Year | Compact Disc | Timing |
| Phyllis Sellick | City of Birmingham Orchestra | Sir William Walton | Revised | 1945 | Avid AMSC 604 | 17’40” |
| Peter Katin | London Symphony Orchestra | Sir William Walton | Revised | 1970 | Lyrita SRCD.224 | 19’58” |
| Kathryn Stott | Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | Vernon Handley | Original | 1989 | BMG 92575 2 | 18’35” |
| Eric Parkin | London Philharmonic | Jan Latham-Koenig | Original | 1992 | Chandos CHAN 9148 | 17’52” |
| Peter Donohoe | English Northern Philharmonia | Paul Daniel | Original | 1996 | Naxos 8.553869 | 17’30” |