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Composizioni

• Composition: Composed between February and 31 May 1956. Revised some time before publication in 1958, and again slightly thereafter.
• First Performance: Tuesday, 25 September 1956. Broadcast by the South African Broadcasting Corporation, from City Hall, Johannesburg. South African Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent conductor.
• Duration: About 7 minutes
• Tempo: Presto capriccioso  [496 m.]
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C66
• Instrumentation: 3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets in A, 3 bassoons (third doubling contrabassoon) – 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in B-flat, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 or 4 percussion (side drum, cymbals, suspended cymbal, bass drum, xylophone, tambourine, triangle, tenor drum, maracas, rumba sticks, castanets, glockenspiel) – harp – strings
• Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 630. Autograph full score in pencil, dated ‘Forio d’Ischia 31.5.56’. 67 pages. Also includes a photocopy of four pages which were cut from the score and had been removed from the manuscript. Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale Univesrity. Manuscript FRKF 627a. The originals of the photocopies described above in FRKF 630. 4 pages.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, 1958, 019 3682508. Score and parts are available on hire. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Study score]
Oxford University Press. Edited by David Lloyd-Jones. William Walton Edition, Volume 14, “Overtures”, 2002, 019 3683148.
• Arrangements: Arranged for reduced orchestra, by Vilem Tausky, 1957.
• Instrumentation: Flute (doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba (optional) – timpani, 1 or 2 percussion – harp – strings
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.
• Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
New York Philharmonic André Kostelanetz 1959 Sony Classical 58931 7’23”
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Charles Groves 1969 EMI Classics 5 67222 2 7’12”
London Philharmonic Bryden Thomson 1991 Chandos CHAN 8968 7’49”
English Northern Philharmonia Paul Daniel 1995 Naxos 8.553402 7’48”

• Program Note: The South African city of Johannesburg, whose seventieth anniversary Walton celebrated in 1956 with this spritely overture, is a radically different city today. It was a painfully divided city then, with racial oppression the law of the land. Yet a common thread links the city’s past and present. Like many California towns, it grew spectacularly during the nineteenth-century gold rush. It remains the wealthiest city on the entire continent. As a recent travel brochure states, “Johannesburg is high voltage nouveau riche territory — fast-paced, fun, a modern cosmopolitan metropolis packed with vitality and verve.”
Much of that travel bureau prose aptly describes Walton’s overture which was written in a complex rondo form (the main section recurs between subsidiary episodes, and concludes the piece.) It opens with strings and woodwinds making a nimble, carefree, flamboyant rhythm. The opening theme is breezy, even a tad jazzy, suggestive of a captivating soundtrack fitting a fast-aced film travelogue. This is a portrait of an African city in English guise, fit music for an English Commonwealth nation.
But it is to Walton’s credit that, halfway through the overture, he introduces percussion parts adding a most un-English flavor. Although he never actually visited Africa, for inspiration, he requested recordings of traditional African music from the African Music Society. The impact of these recordings can be clearly heard. The score calls for three percussionists performing upon eleven instruments, and these percussionists bring complex African rhythms (some traditionally Zulu) to the foreground, reminding listeners, then and now, of the multi-racial richness at the heart of Johannesburg.
by Norman Weinstein
[Thanks to Richard Cook of The National Symphony Orchestra of Johannesburg and Gary Cannon of the University of California at Davis for their research assistance.]
The above program note is reprinted with the author’s permission from the 1998–1999 concert guide for the Boise Philharmonic.

• Composition: August through November 1969
• First Performance: 14 January 1970. War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco. San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Josef Krips conductor.
• Duration: About 16 minutes
• Movements:
Theme. Lento —     
Improvisation I —     
Improvisation II. Vivo —     
Improvisation III. Pocchissimo meno mosso —     
Improvisation IV. Moderato —     
Improvisation V. Scherzando     
• Dedication: To the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Josef Krips, Conductor and Music Director, in memory of Adeline Smith Dorfman
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C82
• Instrumentation: 3 flutes, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (glockenspiel, xylophone, bells, cymbals, suspended cymbal, bass drum, tambourine, 3 bongos, snare drum, side drum) – harp – strings
• Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 622. Autograph full score. 58 pages.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, 1970, 019 3682443. Score and parts are available on hire. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Study score]
• Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
London Symphony Orchestra André Previn 1972 EMI Classics 7 64723 2 16’09”
London Philharmonic Bryden Thomson 1991 Chandos CHAN 8959 15’17”

• Arranged: Walton made three arrangements of God Save the Queen, the British national anthem. The first orchestral version dates from 1953, and is the only published version.  The second orchestral version dates from 1955.  The third version, for chorus and orchestra, dates from 1961. I have been unable to compare these arrangements, though it is possible that the second and third versions are identical except for the added choral parts.
• First Performance, 1953 Version: 8 June 1953. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Covent Garden Orchestra, Sir John Pritchard conductor. Gala performance in honor of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which also included the premiere of Benjamin Britten’s opera Gloriana.
• First Performance, 1955 Version: 18 October 1955. Royal Festival Hall, London. Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan conductor.
• First Performance, 1961 Choral Version: 29 March 1982. Royal Festival Hall, London. Philharmonia Orchestra and Choir, André Previn conductor. Walton’s 80th birthday concert.
• Duration: About 2 minutes
• Craggs Catalogue Number: 1953 version: C60 - 1955 version: C64 - 1961 choral version: C64a
• Instrumentation:
1953 version: 2 flutes, piccolo , 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, bass drum, tambourine, cymbals) – 2 harps – strings
1955 version: 2 flutes, piccolo, 3 oboes, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cymbal) – 2 harps – strings
1961 version: Mixed chorus (SATB) 2 flutes, piccolo, 3 oboes, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cymbal) – 2 harps – strings
• Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 626. Autograph full score of the 1953 version. 3 pages.
There is no known surviving manuscript of the 1955 or 1961 versions.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Published as “Introduction and National Anthem”. Study score, 1987, 019 3685663. Set of parts, 019 3685671. Score and parts are also available on hire.The 1955 and 1961 versions remain unpublished.
• Recordings: These arrangements have never been recorded.

• Composition: 1953. A composite work, with each movement written by a different composer. Walton contributed the finale.
• First Performance: 20 June 1953. Parish Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Aldeburgh. Aldeburgh Festival Orchestra, Benjamin Britten conductor.
• Duration: Complete work: About 16 minutes - Walton’s finale: About 3 minutes
• Movements:
Theme by William Byrd, transcribed by Imogen Holst
Variation 1 - Allegro non troppo by Arthur Oldham
Variation 2 - A Lament. Andante espressivo by Sir Michael Tippett
Variation 3 - Andante by Sir Lennox Berkeley
Variation 4 - Quick and gay by Benjamin Britten
Variation 5 - Nocturne. Adagio by Humphrey Searle
Variation 6 - Presto giocoso by Sir William Walton
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C61
• Instrumentation: String orchestra
• Manuscript: James Marshall and Marie-Louise Osborn Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Osborn Music Manuscript MS.502. Autograph manuscript of all seven sections.
• Publication: Boosey and Hawkes. 1953. Score and parts are available on hire.
• Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Guidhall String Ensemble Robert Salter director 1988 RCA Victor RD87846 15’53”
BBC Symphony Orchestra Jac van Steen 1999 NMC D062 16’21”

 

• Composition: 1923–4
• First Performance: This work was never performed.
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C14
• Instrumentation: Two piano soloists, Jazz band, Orchestra [Walton’s intended instrumentation for the jazz band and orchestra is unknown.]
• Manuscript: There is no surviving manuscript of this work.
• Publication: This work was never published.
• Recordings: This work was never recorded.

• Composition: 1938. Music arranged from Façade.
• First Performance: 30 March 1938. Carnegie Hall, New York. New York Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra, John Barbirolli conductor. [The ‘Tango-Pasodoblé’ from the First Suite was played instead of ‘Old Sir Faulk’, for reasons unknown.]
• Duration: About 10 minutes
• Movements: I. Fanfare. Vivo - II. Scotch Rhapsody. Molto vivace - III. Country Dance. Allegretto piacevole - IV. Noche espagnola. Maestoso - V. Popular Song. Grazioso - VI. Old Sir Faulk. Tempo di Fox-trot
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C12e
• Instrumentation: 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais (or alto saxophone, or, preferably, both), 2 clarinets in B-flat (both doubling clarinets in A), 2 bassoons – 2 horns in F, 2 trumpets in C, trombone – 1 or 2 percussion (side drum, cymbals, castanets, tambourine, triangle, wood block, Chinese blocks) – strings
• Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library. Manuscript FRKF 638b. Autograph full score. Only ‘Country Dance’ and ‘Noche espagnola’ are in Walton’s hand. The other movements are in an unknown copyist’s hand. 63 pages.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, 1938 and 1968, 019 3681536. Score and parts are available on hire. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Study score]
• Arangements: Arranged for piano duet, by Constant Lambert. Publication: Oxford University Press. Score, 1939, discontinued.
• Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir William Walton 1936/8 EMI Classics 7 63381 2
Pearl GEM 0171		 9’34”
London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir William Walton 1968 BBC Legends 4098-2 * 4’19”
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Louis Frémaux 1976 EMI Classics 7 64201 2 10’53”
London Philharmonic Jan Latham-Koenig 1991 Chandos CHAN 9148 10’30”
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Andrew Litton 1996 Decca 470 200-2 10’44”

* Only ‘Popular Song’ and ‘Old Sir Faulk’ were released.

• Composition: 1926. Music arranged from Façade. First Performance: 3 December 1926. Lyceum Theatre Orchestra, William Walton conductor. Lyceum Theatre, London. Season of Russian Ballet, as orchestral interlude to Lord Berners’ ballet The Triumph of Neptune.
Duration: About 11 minutes
• Movements: I. Polka - II. Valse - III. Swiss Jodelling Song. Lento - IV. Tango-Pasodoblé. Lento - V. Tarantella-Sevillana
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C12c
• Instrumentation: 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets in A (both doubling clarinets in B-flat), 2 bassoons – 4 horns in F (third and fourth ad lib.), 2 trumpets in C, trombone, tuba – timpani, 2 or 3 percussion (triangle, side drum, glockenspiel, castanets, xylophone, cymbals, bass drum, tambourine) – strings
• Manuscript: Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin. Music Collection, among the papers of Edith Sitwell. Autograph manuscript score.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, 1936 and 1968, 019 368148X. Score and parts are available on hire. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Study score]
• Arrangements: Arranged for piano duet, by Constant Lambert. Publication: Oxford University Press. Score, 1927, discontinued.
• Adaptations:
The music of this suite formed the basis of the following ballets.

    Façade: Ballet in One Act. Choreography by Günter Hess.
        First Performance: 22 September 1929. Chamber Ballet Dancing Theatre, Hagen, Westphalia, Germany. W. G. von Keller producer.
    Façade: Ballet in One Act. Choreography by Sir Frederick Ashton.
        First Performance: 26 April 1931. Cambridge Theatre, London. The Camargo Society. Cambridge Theatre Orchestra, Constant Lambert conductor. John Armstrong decor.
        The First Suite made up the bulk of the music for this ballet, but also included were ‘Scotch Rhapsody’ and ‘Popular Song’. It is possible that Constant Lambert made the orchestrations for this ballet production, as Angus Morrison has suggested. However, it is also possible that Walton himself made the orchestrations and only later incorporated them into the Second Suite for Orchestra.
    Familien-Album. Choreography by John Cranko.
        First Performance: 16 March 1961. Württemberg States Theatre, Stuttgart. The States Theatre Ballet. Stuttgart Philharmonic Orchestra, Josef Dünnwald conductor. Richard Beerscenery and costumes.
• Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir William Walton 1936 EMI Classics 7 63381 2
Pearl GEM 0171		 10’17”
New York Philharmonic André Kostelanetz 1957 Sony Classical 58931 10’26”
London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir William Walton 1968 BBC Legends 4098-2 * 4’22”
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Louis Frémaux 1976 EMI Classics 7 64201 2 11’21”
London Philharmonic Jan Latham-Koenig 1991 Chandos CHAN 9148 11’49”
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Andrew Litton 1996 Decca 470 200-2 11’09”

* Only ‘Tango-Pasodoblé’ and ‘Tarantella-Sevillana’ were released.

 

 

• Composition: 1920–1
• First Performance: Unknown. Probably never performed.
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C10
• Instrumentation: In his catalogue of the composer’s works, Stewart Craggs theorizes, based on the partial manuscript described below, that the instrumentation may have been the following: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets in C, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, percussion (side drum, bass drum, cymbal) – 2 harps – celesta – piano – strings
• Manuscript: Archives of Oxford University Press. One untitled page of orchestral manuscript from this period, which most likely originated from Dr. Syntax.
• Publication: This work has never been published.
• Adaptations: Together with the manuscript mentioned above, there survives a title page which reads “Dr. Syntax – a ballet in one act by Sacheverell Sitwell and P. Wyndham Lewis, with music by W. T. Walton and scenario by P. Wyndham Lewis”. It is unlikely that the projected ballet was ever performed.
• Recordings: This work has never been recorded.

• Composition: 1937. Substantial cuts were authorized in a 1963 revised version.
• First Public Performance: 12 May 1937. Westminster Abbey, London. The Coronation Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult conductor. Played during the entry of Queen Mary, before the beginning of the Coronation Service of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
• Duration: Original Version: About 9 minutes - Revised Version: About 7 minutes
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C32
• Instrumentation: 3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (bass drum, side drum, tenor drum, cymbals, triangle, glockenspiel, tubular bell, large gung) – harp – organ (optional) – strings
• Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 595.
FRKF 595a – Autograph short score. 11 pages.
FRKF 595b – Autograph full score. 45 pages.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Full score, 1937 (discontinued). Score and parts of original version are available on hire. Oxford University Press. Study score, 1967, 019 3681250. Score and parts are available on hire.
• Arrangements:
Arranged for solo piano, by the composer. Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano score, 1937 (discontinued).
Arranged for small orchestra and piano, by Hyam Greenbaum. Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano/conductor score, 1937, 019 3681285 (discontinued).
Arranged for military band, by W. J. Duthoit. Publication: Boosey and Hawkes. Condensed score, 1937, M060096211. Score and parts, 1937, M060055867 [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Condensed score, arr. Duthoit] - [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Score and parts, arr. Duthoit]
Arranged for solo organ, by Herbert Murrill. Publication: Oxford University Press, 1937, 019 3758717. Also included in A Walton Organ Album, 1996, 019 3758709.
[Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Organ score, arr. Murrill] - [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: A Walton Organ Album]
Arranged for chorus and orchestra, by Arthur Sandford. Text by Doris Arnold: ‘That we may never fail’. - First Performance: 25 April 1948. Adelphi Theatre, London. Peter Dawson, Kentucky Minstrels, Augmented BBC Variety Orchestra, Trumpeters of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, Charles Smart organ, Leslie Woodgate conductor. This version was never published.
Arranged for piano duet, by Herbert Murrill. Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano score, 1949, 019 3684829 (discontinued).
Arranged for reduced orchestra, by Vilem Tausky.  Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba (optional) – timpani, 2 percussion – harp – strings. Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, together with score of version for full orchestra, 1967, 019 3681250. Score and parts are available on hire.
Arranged for amateur orchestra, by David Stone. Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone – timpani, 3 percussion (bass drum, side drum, tenor drum, cymbal, glockenspiel, triangle, large gong, tubular bell in C) (all percussion optional) – piano duet (optional, if wind players are available) – strings. Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano/conductor score, 1969, 019 3684810 (discontinued). Score and parts are available on hire.
Arranged for organ and brass, by Arthur Wills. This version is unpublished, but was recorded in 1982 (see below).
Arranged for brass, organ and percussion, by Christopher Palmer.
First Performance: 20 October 1989. Westminster Abbey, London. London Brass Ensemble, Jane Lister harp, Andrew Lumsden organ, Martin Neary conductor. The Laurence Olivier Memorial Service.
Instrumentation: 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion – harp (ad lib.) – organ
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.
Arranged for brass band, by Wright, ca.1995. Publication: Boosey & Hawkes
Arranged for young concert band, by Jay Bocook. Publication: Hal Leonard. Unidentified materials (most likely score and parts), HL 04001733. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Unidentified materials, arr. Bocook]
• Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
BBC Symphony Orchestra Sir Adrian Boult 1937 VAI Audio 1067-2 8’11”
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Charles Groves 1969 EMI Classics 5 67222 2 6’31”
Hallé Orchestra
Trumpeters & Band of The Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall		 Sir John Barbirolli 1969 BBC Legends BBCL 4100-2 7’00”
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Louis Frémaux 1976 EMI Classics 7 64201 2 8’59”
The Cambridge Co-operative Band, Arthur Wills organ [arr. Wills] David Read 1982 Hyperion CDH55003 6’20”
The Philharmonia Sir David Willcocks 1991 Chandos CHAN 8998 6’35”
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Andrew Litton 1995 Decca 448 134-2 6’57”
Black Dyke Mills Band  [arr. Wright] James Watson 1995 ASV WHL 2093 6’13”
Robert Gower organ [arr. Murrill] n/a 1996 Priory PRCD 591 6’54”
London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Roger Norrington 2000 Decca 466241  
English Northern Philharmonia Paul Daniel 2001 Naxos 8.555869 6’45”
The Band of the Scots Guards  [arr. Duthoit] Major R. J. Owen 2002 SRC 107 9’31”

Composition: 1955–6. Revised the ending at Piatigorsky’s request, in 1975. This version remains unperformed, and the original version is generally considered to be preferable.
First Performance: 25 January 1957. Symphony Hall, Boston. Gregor Piatigorsky cello, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Charles Munch conductor.
Duration: About 29 minutes
Movements:

I. Moderato  
II. Allegro appassionato  
III. Theme. Lento —  
  Variation 1. Con moto —  
  Variation 2. Risoluto tempo giusto — Brioso —  
  Variation 3. Allegro molto —  
  Variation 4. Rapsodicamente —  
  Variation 5 —  
  Variation 6. Adagio  

Dedication: To Gregor Piatigorsky
Craggs Catalogue Number: C65
Instrumentation: Cello solo, 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets (second doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons (second doubling contrabassoon) – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (vibraphone, xylophone, suspended cymbal, bass drum) – celesta – harp – strings
Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 627. Autograph manuscript short score of the second and third movements. Also two pages of full orchestral score. 47 pages.
Private collection of Mrs. Daniel B. Dorfman, daughter of Gregor Piatigorsky. Autograph manuscript of the following: full score, short score of the first movement, sketches, correction sheet, solo part, and score of the revised 1975 ending. Full score is dated ‘Forio d’Ischia, Feb.-Oct. 1956’.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Full score, 1957, 019 368120X. Piano/cello score, with cello part, piano reduction by Roy Douglas, 1957, 019 3681218. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Piano/cello score]
Arrangements: Arranged for cello and piano, by Roy Douglas.Publication: Oxford University Press, 1957, 019 3681218. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Piano/cello score]
Recordings:

Soloist Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Gregor Piatigorsky Boston Symphony Orchestra Charles Munch 1957 BMG 92575 2 29’23”
Pierre Fournier Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Sir William Walton 1959 BBC Legends 4098-2 24’03”
Paul Tortelier London Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Adrian Boult 1967 Suisa INCD 7281 25’44”
Paul Tortelier Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Paavo Berglund 1973 EMI Classics 5 73371 2 26’50”
Ralph Kirshbaum Scottish National Orchestra Sir Alexander Gibson 1979 Chandos CHAN 6547 32’50”
Yo-Yo Ma London Symphony Orchestra André Previn 1985 CBS Masterworks 39541 30’01”
Raphael Wallfisch London Philharmonic Bryden Thomson 1991 Chandos CHAN 8959 30’05”
Lynn Harrell City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Sir Simon Rattle 1991 EMI Classics 7 54572 2 29’43”
Janos Starker Philharmonia Orchestra Leonard Slatkin 1992 RCA Victor 09026-61695-2 27’09”
Robert Cohen Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Andrew Litton 1993 London 443 450-2 28’36”
Julian Lloyd Webber Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields Sir Neville Marriner 1996 Philips 454 442-2 29’44”
Tim Hugh English Northern Philharmonia Paul Daniel 1997 Naxos 8..554325 30’31”
Mark Kosower Oregon Symphony James DePreist 2005 Delos DE 3342 32’45”
Daniel Müller-Schott Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra André Previn 2005 Orfeo C621 061A 29’57”

• Composition:1938–9. Completed by 2 June 1939, though revisions continued until 15 October. Orchestration revised 1943.
• First Performances: 7 December 1939. Severance Hall, Cleveland. Jascha Heifetz violin, Cleveland Orchestra, Artur Rodzinski conductor.
• Revised version: 17 January 1944. Civic Hall, Wolverhampton. Henry Holst violin, Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent conductor.
• Duration: About 30 minutes
• Movements: I.Andante tranquillo - II.Presto capriccioso alla napolitana - III.Vivace
• Dedication: To Jascha Heifetz
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C37
• Instrumentation: Violin solo, 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets in B-flat, 3 trombones – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, cymbals, tambourine, xylophone) – harp – strings Orchestral Instrumentation of Original Version: 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (second doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets in A, 2 bassoons – 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in B-flat, 3 trombones – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, bass drum, cymbals, tambourine, xylophone, castanets, glockenspiel, gong) – harp – strings
• Manuscript: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. Music Division. Autograph manuscript of a reduction for violin and piano. First movement is dated ‘New York 15/5/39’, before the orchestration was complete. Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 597. Autograph full score, of the revised version. 142 pages.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, 1945, corrected 1969, 019 3684705. Reduction for violin and piano, arranged by Franz Reizenstein, 019 3684713. Score and parts are available on hire. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Study score]
• Arrangements: Arranged for violin and piano, by Franz Reizenstein. Violin part edited by Jascha Heifetz. Publication: Oxford University Press, 1941, 019 3684713.
• Recordings:

Soloist Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Jascha Heifetz Cincinnati Symphony Orchestar Sir Eugene Goossens 1942 Avid AMSC 604 27’36”
Zino Francescatti Philadelphia Orchestra Eugene Ormandy 1959 Sony Classical 58931 28’48”
Sir Yehudi Menuhin London Symphony Orchestra Sir William Walton 1969 EMI Classics 65005 31’40”
Ida Haendel Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Paavo Berglund 1977 EMI Classics 64202
EMI Classics 73371		 31’24”
Nigel Kennedy Royal Philharmonic Orchestra André Previn 1987 EMI Classics 49628 25’51”
Lydia Mordkovitch London Philharmonic Jan Latham-Koenig 1991 Chandos CHAN 9073 34’22”
Aaron Rosand Florida Philharmonic Orchestra James Judd 1991 Harmonia Mundi 907070 28’55”
Tasmin Little Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Andrew Litton 1994 London 444 114-2 31’42”
Dong-Suk Kang English Northern Philharmonia Paul Daniel 1997 Naxos 8.554325 29’17”

• Program Note: See Ian Lace’s article on this work and the Viola Concerto.

 

Composition: 1968
First Performance: 7 December 1968. Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center, New York. New York Philharmonic Orchestra, André Kostelanetz conductor.
Duration: About 7 minutes
Dedication: To André Kostelanetz
Craggs Catalogue Number: C80
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets in B-flat, clarinet in E-flat, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in C, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (small side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cymbal, tambourine, xylophone, castanets, whip, block, bongos) – harp – strings
Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 598. Autograph full score. 43 pages. With six additional pages of full score, of earlier versions of certain sections.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, 1969, 019 368117X. Score and parts are available on hire. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Study score]
Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra Sir Charles Groves 1969 EMI Classics 5 67222 2 7’17”
unknown André Kostelanetz 1969 Sony Classical 58931 6’53”
London Symphony Orchestra Sir William Walton 1970 Lyrita SRCD.224 7’25”
London Philharmonic Bryden Thomson 1991 Chandos CHAN 8968 7’29”
Florida Philharmonic Orchestra James Judd 1991 Harmonia Mundi 907070 7’16”

• Arrangement: Arranged by the composer from the music for the film Escape Me Never, composed 1934.
• First Performance: Unknown
• Duration: About 3 minutes
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C54a
• Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (side drum, tambourine, cymbal, tam-tam) – harp – strings
• Manuscript: See manuscript information for the film score to Escape Me Never.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.
• Arrangements: Arranged for piano solo, by the composer. Publication: Oxford University Press, 1935. Discontinued.
• Recordings: This music has only been recorded as part of Christopher Palmer’s Escape Me Never Suite.

• Composition: 1928–9, revised 1961
• First Performances: 3 October 1929. Queen’s Hall, London. Paul Hindemith viola, Henry Wood Symphony Orchestra, Sir William Walton conductor
Revised Version: 18 January 1962. Royal Festival Hall, London. John Coulling viola, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Malcolm Sargent conductor.
• Duration: About 25 minutes
• Movements: I. Andante comodo - II. Vivo, con molto preciso - III. Allegro moderato
• Dedication: to Christabel McLaren, Lady Aberconway
• Craggs Catalogue Number: C22
• Instrumentation: Viola solo 2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), oboe, cor anglais, 2 clarinets (second doubling bass clarinet), 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones – timpani – harp – strings Orchestral Instrumentation of Original Version: 2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani – strings • Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 586.
FRKF 586a – Autograph full score of the original version. 100 pages.
FRKF 586b – Autograph full score of the revised version, partly in Walton’s hand, partly in that of a copyist. 118 pages. Royal College of Music, London. Special Collections. MS 4234.
• Publication: Oxford University Press. Full score, 1930. Miniature score, 1930. Discontinued.
Oxford University Press. Full score, 1964, 019 3684616. Discontinued.
Oxford University Press. Edited by Christopher Wellington. William Walton Edition, Volume 12, 2002, 019 3681307, includes both original and revised versions. Also includes both the original viola part and Frederick Riddle’s revisions, authorized by the composer. Piano/viola score and viola part, piano reduction by Geoffrey Pratley (with some corrections by Christopher Wellington), 1993, 019 3681315. Score and parts are available on hire.
[Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Piano/viola score]
[Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: William Walton Edition, Volume 12]
• Arrangements: Arranged for viola and piano, by Geoffrey Pratley. Viola part edited by Lionel Tertis.Publication: Oxford University Press, 1930 and 1964, 019 3684624 (discontinued).
Arranged for viola and piano, by Christopher Wellington.Publication: Oxford University Press, 2002, 019 3681315. [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Piano/viola score]
• Adaptations: The music for the Viola Concerto formed the basis of the following ballet:

  • O.W. Choreography by Joe Layton. Also incorporated the score of The Quest.
    • First performance: 22 February 1972. Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London. Royal Ballet. Frederick Riddle viola, Royal Ballet Touring Orchestra, David Taylor conductor. Design and costumes by Joe Conklin.

• Recordings:

Soloist Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
Frederick Riddle London Symphony Orchestra Sir William Walton 1937 Pearl GEM 0171 22’52”
William Primrose Philharmonia Orchestra Sir William Walton 1946 Avid Classic AMSC 604 22’44”
Sir Yehudi Menuhin New Philharmonia Orchestra Sir William Walton 1968 EMI Classics 5 65005 2 25’44”
Nigel Kennedy Royal Philharmonic Orchestra André Previn 1987 EMI Classics 7 49628 2 25’51”
Nobuko Imai London Philharmonic Jan Latham-Koenig 1992 Chandos CHAN 9106 26’21”
Yuri Bashmet London Symphony Orchestra André Previn 1994 BMG 74321 92575 2 25’46”
Lars Anders Tomter English Northern Philharmonia Paul Daniel 1995 Naxos 8.553402 25’58”
Maxim Vengerov London Symphony Orchestra Mstislav Rostropovich 2002 EMI Classics 5 57510 2 30’28”

• Program Note: See Ian Lace’s article on this work and the Violin Concerto.

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