William Alwyn

Short bio William Alwyn

Birthday: 1905 in Northampton, England

Died: 1985 in Southwold, Suffolk, England

Active: 1920s - 1970s

Genre: Classical,Avant-Garde

Period: 20th Century, Modern

Full biography William Alwyn

William Alwyn CBE (1905-1985) was an English composer, conductor, and music teacher who wrote over 70 film scores from 1941 to 1962. In addition to composing for films, Alwyn was also a prolific writer of classical music, having composed over 200 works throughout his life. He was born in Northampton, England, and studied at the Royal Academy of Music in London. After graduating, he began teaching at the Academy and remained a professor of composition there for many years.

Alwyn's dedication to the art of writing film music was recognized in 1951 when he was made a fellow of The British Film Academy , the only composer until then to receive such an honor. He also received many other awards throughout his lifetime, including several Ivor Novello Awards for his film scores.

In addition to his work in music, Alwyn was also a poet and a translator of French poetry. He published a journal in 1955-6, in which he shared his thoughts on his fellow composers and the state of classical music at the time. Alwyn was known for his innovative approach to composition, and often incorporated elements of folk music and other genres into his works.

Alwyn's legacy continues to influence composers and musicians to this day. His great-grandson, Joe Alwyn, is a well-known actor, while the William Alwyn Society continues to promote and celebrate the composer's life and work.

Compositions featuring William Alwyn

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	String Quartet No. 3	23:00 min	Chamber Music	1984
2	Chaconne for Tom, for treble recorder & piano	3:19 min	Chamber Music	1982
3	Concerto for flute & 8 winds	18:43 min	Concerto	1980
4	Seascapes, for voice, recorder & piano	10:08 min	Vocal Music	1980
5	Invocations, song cycle for voice & piano	20:28 min	Vocal Music	1977
6	Miss Julie Suite, for orchestra	17:27 min	Orchestral	1976
7	String Quartet No. 2 ("Spring Waters")	20:58 min	Chamber Music	1975
8	Miss Julie, opera	116:07 min	Opera	1973
9	Nocturnes (6), for voice & piano	13:09 min	Vocal Music	1973
10	Symphony No. 5 ("Hydriotaphia")	15:31 min	Symphony	1973
11	Naiades, fantasy-sonata for flute & harp	12:54 min	Chamber Music	1971
12	Mirages, song cycle for voice & piano	25:19 min	Vocal Music	1970
13	Sinfonietta for strings	24:54 min	Orchestral	1970
14	Concerto Grosso No. 3	14:47 min	Concerto	1964
15	The Running Man, suite from the film score (arr. by Philip Lane)	10:25 min	Orchestral	1963
16	Sonata for clarinet & piano	11:48 min	Chamber Music	1962
17	String Trio	15:43 min	Chamber Music	1962
18	In Search of the Castaways, film score		Film Score	1961
19	Movements (3) for piano	15:33 min	Keyboard	1961
20	Derby Day Overture for orchestra	6:25 min	Orchestral	1960
21	Piano Concerto No. 2	31:04 min	Concerto	1960
22	The Swiss Family Robinson, suite from the film score (arr. by Philip Lane)	9:14 min	Orchestral	1960
23	Preludes (12) for piano	24:16 min	Keyboard	1959
24	Symphony No. 4	36:15 min	Symphony	1959
25	A Night to Remember, film score		Film Score	1958
26	Elizabethan Dances, for orchestra	18:15 min	Orchestral	1957
27	Fortune Is a Woman, film score		Film Score	1957
28	Fantasy-Waltzes for piano, No 6 in C major	3:16 min	Keyboard	1956
29	The Moor of Venice, dramatic overture	9:16 min	Orchestral	1956
30	Crépuscule, for harp	3:24 min	Chamber Music	1955
31	Fantasy-Waltzes (11) for piano	34:32 min	Keyboard	1955
32	Geordie (a.k.a. Wee Geordie), suite from the film score (arr. by Philip Lane)	17:13 min	Orchestral	1955
33	Symphony No. 3	32:43 min	Symphony	1955
34	The Ship That Died of Shame, film score		Film Score	1955
35	Autumn Legend, for English horn & orchestra	11:44 min	Concerto	1954
36	Libera me, for soprano, chorus & orchestra (from film Svengali)	2:50 min	Vocal Music	1954
37	The Million Pound Note (a.k.a. Man with a Million), film score		Film Score	1954
38	Lyra Angelica, for harp & strings	24:30 min	Concerto	1953
39	String Quartet No. 1 in D minor	23:10 min	Chamber Music	1953
40	Symphony No. 2	28:50 min	Symphony	1953
41	Bicycle Ride, for piano	1:23 min	Keyboard	1952
42	Cinderella, for piano	2:46 min	Keyboard	1952
43	Magic Island, symphonic prelude for orchestra	10:37 min	Orchestral	1952
44	Saturday Island, film score		Film Score	1952
45	The Card, film score		Film Score	1952
46	The Crimson Pirate, film score		Film Score	1952
47	Water Lillies, for piano	2:00 min	Keyboard	1952
48	Concerto Grosso No. 2 in G major	14:16 min	Concerto	1951
49	Festival March for orchestra	8:01 min	Orchestral	1951
50	The Magic Box, suite from the film score (arr. by Philip Lane)	14:54 min	Orchestral	1951
51	Trio for flute, cello & piano	13:45 min	Chamber Music	1951
52	Conversations, for clarinet, violin & piano (original title: Music for Three Players)	17:02 min	Chamber Music	1950
53	State Secret, film score		Film Score	1950
54	The Cure for Love, film score		Film Score	1950
55	Symphony No. 1	39:38 min	Symphony	1949
56	The History of Mr. Polly, suite	20:40 min	Orchestral	1949
57	The Rocking Horse Winner, film score		Film Score	1949
58	Fallen Idol, Suite	20:47 min	Orchestral	1948
59	Fanfare for a Joyful Occasion for brass & percussion	3:43 min	Orchestral	1948
60	Sonata for flute & piano	8:14 min	Chamber Music	1948
61	The Winslow Boy, film score		Film Score	1948
62	Winter Poems (3), for string quartet	9:16 min	Chamber Music	1948
63	Miranda, film score		Film Score	1947
64	Slum Song, for voice & piano	4:12 min	Vocal Music	1947
65	Take My Life, film score		Film Score	1947
66	Manchester Suite from "A City Speaks," for orchestra	14:46 min	Orchestral	1946
67	Overture in the Form of a Serenade, for voice, chorus & orchestra ("Men of Gloucester")	6:01 min	Choral	1946
68	Suite of Scottish Dances	7:41 min	Orchestral	1946
69	Prelude and Fugue formed on an Indian Scale, for piano	3:50 min	Keyboard	1945
70	Sonata alla toccata, for piano	10:33 min	Keyboard	1945
71	The Rake's Progress		Film Score	1945
72	The True Glory, documentary film score		Film Score	1945
73	Concerto for oboe, harp & strings	19:42 min	Concerto	1944
74	Sonatina for viola & piano No. 2 ("Short Suite No. 2")	8:47 min	Chamber Music	1944
75	Suite for oboe & harp	5:34 min	Chamber Music	1944
76	The Way Ahead, film score		Film Score	1944
77	Concerto Grosso No. 1 in B flat major	11:33 min	Concerto	1943
78	Desert Victory, film score		Film Score	1943
79	Green Girdle, film score		Film Score	1941
80	Penn of Pennsylvania, suite from the film score (arr. by Philip Lane)	11:01 min	Orchestral	1941
81	Sonatina for viola & piano ("Short Suite")	8:15 min	Chamber Music	1941
82	Divertimento for flute	13:50 min	Chamber Music	1940
83	Overture to a Masque for orchestra	9:34 min	Orchestral	1940
84	Piece for piano	2:58 min	Keyboard	1940
85	Songs (3) to Words by Trevor Blakemore, for voice & piano	6:39 min	Vocal Music	1940
86	Ballade, for viola & piano	10:01 min	Chamber Music	1939
87	Night Thoughts, for piano	4:21 min	Keyboard	1939
88	Pastoral Fantasia, for viola & strings	13:44 min	Concerto	1939
89	Rhapsody for piano quartet	9:15 min	Chamber Music	1939
90	Sonata Impromptu, for violin & viola ("Sonata quasi fantasia")	15:58 min	Chamber Music	1939
91	Harvest Home, for piano	5:48 min	Keyboard	1938
92	Novelette, for string quartet	2:27 min	Chamber Music	1938
93	French Suite: Airs from Nouveau Recueil de Chansons Choisies, for flute, violin, viola & harp	11:37 min	Chamber Music	1937
94	Violin Concerto	38:33 min	Concerto	1937
95	Irish Tunes (7), suite for orchestra	8:54 min	Orchestral	1936
96	String Quartet No. 13	19:04 min	Chamber Music	1936
97	Tragic Interlude for 2 horns, timpani & strings	8:47 min	Orchestral	1936
98	Cricketty Mill, for piano	4:18 min	Keyboard	1935
99	Fantasia, string quartet No. 12	12:57 min	Chamber Music	1935
100	Green Hills, for piano	3:05 min	Keyboard	1935
101	Sonata for oboe & piano	16:58 min	Chamber Music	1934
102	Sonatina for violin & piano	10:44 min	Chamber Music	1933
103	String Quartet No. 11 in B minor	18:55 min	Chamber Music	1933
104	The Innumerable Dance, an English overture for orchestra	10:34 min	Orchestral	1933
105	Aphrodite in Aulis, an eclogue for small orchestra (after George Moore)	5:10 min	Orchestral	1932
106	Hunter's Moon, for piano	4:18 min	Keyboard	1932
107	Serenade, for orchestra	10:57 min	Orchestral	1932
108	String Quartet No. 10 ("En Voyage")	18:47 min	Chamber Music	1932
109	Funeral Rites for the Death of an Artist, for piano	4:45 min	Keyboard	1931
110	Lament of the Tall Tree, song for voice, violin & piano	1:15 min	Vocal Music	1931
111	String Quartet No. 8 in D minor	12:40 min	Chamber Music	1931
112	String Quartet No. 9	13:11 min	Chamber Music	1931
113	The Weather Vane, for piano	4:09 min	Keyboard	1931
114	Wood Magic, song for voice, violin & piano	3:22 min	Vocal Music	1931
115	Contes Barbares (Homage to Paul Gauguin), for piano	16:16 min	Keyboard	1930
116	Piano Concerto No. 1	15:00 min	Concerto	1930
117	Ad Infinitum, a satire for orchestra	7:08 min	Orchestral	1929
118	String Quartet No. 7 in A major	20:42 min	Chamber Music	1929
119	Preludes (5), for orchestra	6:07 min	Orchestral	1927
120	String Quartet No. 6 in E minor	20:00 min	Chamber Music	1927
121	Blackdown, a tone poem from the Surrey Hills, for orchestra	5:15 min	Orchestral	1926
122	Fancy Free, for piano	5:16 min	Keyboard	1926
123	Irish Pieces (2), for piano	3:26 min	Keyboard	1926
124	Derrybeg Fair, for orchestra (from the opera "The Fairy Fiddler")	4:02 min	Orchestral	1925
125	Haze of Noon, for piano	2:46 min	Keyboard	1925
126	Prelude for orchestra (for opera "The Fairy Fiddler")	9:50 min	Orchestral	1925
127	Prelude, for orchestra	2:16 min	Orchestral	1925
128	April Morn, for piano	3:31 min	Keyboard	1924
129	Peter Pan Suite, for orchestra	5:37 min	Orchestral	1923
130	Desert Victory, suite	8:53 min	Orchestral	-
131	Leave-Taking, song cycle for voice & piano	25:43 min	Vocal Music	-
132	Odd Man Out, Suite	26:31 min	Orchestral	-
133	On Approval, suite from the film score	6:14 min	Orchestral	-
134	Shake Hands with the Devil, suite from the film score	14:09 min	Orchestral	-
135	The Black Tent, suite from the film score	15:25 min	Orchestral	-
136	The Master of Ballantrae, suite from the film score	5:59 min	Orchestral	-
137	They Flew Alone, suite from the film score	7:01 min	Orchestral	-

Albums featuring William Alwyn

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Berthomieu \| Takemitsu \| Andrès \| Alwyn \| Cras \| Bozza \| Debussy \| Zabel, Antonia Schreiber, Alja Velkaverh – Pan + Apoll: Water Music For Flute And Harp(CD, Album)	2020	Hänssler Classic
2	Alwyn, Anna Patalong, Rosie Aldridge, Samuel Sakker, Benedict Nelson, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Sakari Oramo – Miss Julie(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album)	2020	Chandos
3	William Walton, William Alwyn, Kenneth Leighton, Lennox Berkeley, Alan Rawsthorne, Gordon Jacob, Clare Howick, Simon Callaghan – British Violin Sonatas(CD, Album)	2020	Somm Recordings
4	William Alwyn - Villiers Quartet – String Quartets No 6, 7, 8, 9(CD, Album)	2020	Lyrita Recorded Edition
5	William Alwyn, Doreen Carwithen, Tippett Quartet – Music For String Quartet(CD, Album)	2019	Somm Recordings
6	Alwyn, Tippett Quartet – String Quartets Nos. 10 to 13(CD, )	2017	Somm Recordings
7	Fogg, Ireland, Scott, Austin, Cooke, Alwyn, Burrows – Sea-Croon(CD, Album)	2017	EM Records (10)
8	William Alwyn, BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba – The Film Music Of William Alwyn - Volume 4(CD, Album)	2017	Chandos
9	William Alwyn, Mark Bebbington – Piano Music By William Alwyn(CD, Album)	2013	Somm
10	Emily Beynon, Jonathan Dove, William Alwyn, Francis Poulenc, Lennox Berkeley – British Flute Concertos(CD, )	2012	Chandos
11	William Alwyn, Royal Northern College Of Music Wind Orchestra, Mark Heron (3), Clark Rundell – Film Music	2012	Naxos
12	Alwyn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones – Concerti Grossi 2 And 3 /Seven Irish Tunes / Dramatic Overture / The Moor Of Venice(CD, )	2011	Naxos
13	Alwyn - Lorraine McAslan, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones – Violin Concerto • Miss Julie Suite • Fanfare For A Joyful Occasion(CD, Album)	2011	Naxos
14	Hermitage String Trio, Plane, Gould, Francis, Bradley, Wakeford, Rahman, Alwyn – Chamber Music(CD, )	2010	Naxos
15	Alwyn, Elin Manahan Thomas, Jeremy Huw Williams, John Turner (5), Iain Burnside – The English Song Series • 17 (Alwyn)(CD, )	2008	Naxos
16	William Alwyn — Ashley Wass – Piano Music • 2(CD, Album)	2008	Naxos
17	William Alwyn, Maggini Quartet – String Quartets Nos. 1-3 — Novelette(CD, Album)	2008	Naxos
18	Alwyn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones – Orchestral Music - Concerto Grosso No. 1 / Pastoral Fantasia / Five Preludes / Autumn Legend(CD, )	2008	Naxos
19	Alwyn - Madeleine Mitchell, Roger Chase, Andrew Ball, Jeremy Huw Williams, Iain Burnside, Bridge String Quartet, John Turner (5) – Chamber Music And Songs(CD, Album)	2007	Naxos
20	William Alwyn — Ashley Wass – Piano Music • 1(CD, Album)	2007	Naxos
21	William Alwyn, The Nash Ensemble – Concerto For Flute, Etc.(CD, Stereo)	2006	Dutton Epoch
22	William Alwyn, Jonathan Small (2), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones – Elizabethan Dances • Oboe Concerto(CD, Album)	2006	Naxos
23	William Alwyn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones – Symphony No. 4 / Sinfonietta(CD, Album)	2006	Naxos
24	William Alwyn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones – Symphonies Nos. 2 And 5(CD, Album)	2005	Naxos
25	William Alwyn : BBC Philharmonic / Rumon Gamba – The Film Music Of William Alwyn - Volume 3(CD, Album)	2005	Chandos
26	Alwyn, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, David Lloyd-Jones – Symphonies Nos. 1 And 3(CD, Album)	2005	Naxos
27	William Alwyn, Peter Donohoe, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, James Judd – Piano Concertos Nos. 1 And 2	2005	Naxos
28	Alwyn, Howard Shelley, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Alwyn Piano Concertos Nos 1 & 2 - Overture to a Masque - Elizabethan Dances(CD, Album, Compilation)	2001	Chandos
29	William Alwyn, BBC Philharmonic, Rumon Gamba, Susan Bullock – The Film Music Of William Alwyn - Volume 2(CD, Album)	2001	Chandos
30	William Alwyn, Julian Milford – Sonata Alla Toccata / Movements For Piano / Night Thoughts / Green Hills / Fantasy-Waltzes(CD, Stereo)	2000	Chandos
31	Vaughan Williams • Alwyn • Jenkins • Simpson • Rubbra • Elgar / The Williams Fairey Band, James Gourlay • Bryan Hurdley – Brass From The Masters, Vol. 1(CD, Album)	1997	Chandos Brass
32	Alwyn, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Complete Symphonies / Sinfonietta For Strings	1995	CHANDOS
33	William Alwyn - The Haffner Wind Ensemble Of London – Chamber Works Volume Two(CD, Album, Stereo)	1994	Chandos
34	Alwyn - Howard Shelley, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Symphony No. 5 'Hydriotaphia' / Sinfonietta For Strings / Piano Concerto No. 2(CD, )	1993	Chandos
35	String Quartets Nos. 1 & 2(CD, Album)	1993	Chandos
36	William Alwyn, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Film Music (Suites: Premier Recordings) Odd Man Out / Fallen Idol / History Of Mr. Polly	1993	Chandos
37	William Alwyn, Lydia Mordkovitch, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Symphony No. 3 / Violin Concerto(CD, )	1993	Chandos
38	William Alwyn, Howard Shelley, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Symphony No. 1 / Piano Concerto No. 1(CD, )	1993	Chandos
39	William Alwyn - The Haffner Wind Ensemble Of London – Chamber Works Volume One(CD, Album)	1993	Chandos
40	Alwyn conducts Alwyn, London Philharmonic Orchestra – Symphonies 1 & 4(CD, Compilation, Remastered)	1992	Lyrita Recorded Edition
41	Alwyn Conducts Alwyn, London Philharmonic Orchestra – Overture Derby Day / The Magic Island / Four Elizabethan Dances / Sinfonietta For Strings / Festival March(CD, )	1992	Lyrita Recorded Edition
42	William Alwyn – City Of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox – Lyra Angelica / Autumn Legend / Pastoral Fantasia / Tragic Interlude	1992	Chandos
43	Alwyn - Nicholas Daniel, City Of London Sinfonia, Richard Hickox – Oboe Concerto / Three Concerti Grossi(CD, )	1992	Chandos
44	William Alwyn - London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Symphony No.2 / The Magic Island etc(CD, Album)	1992	Chandos
45	Alwyn, Debussy, Persichetti, Nielsen, Anthony Payne (2), Tournier, Jolivet, Judith Hall, Elinor Bennett – Images & Impressions: Music For Flute & Harp(CD, Album)	1990	Nimbus Records
46	William Alwyn, John Ogdon – Fantasy-Waltzes / 12 Preludes	1985	Chandos
47	William Alwyn - Quartet Of London, David Willison – String Quartet No. 3 / String Trio / Rhapsody For Piano Quartet	1985	Chandos
48	Song Cycles	1984	Chandos
49	William Alwyn - Jill Gomez · Benjamin Luxon · Della Jones · John Mitchinson, Philharmonia Orchestra · Vilem Tausky – Miss Julie (Opera In Two Acts)(2×LP, Stereo, Box Set, )	1983	Lyrita Recorded Edition
50	William Alwyn, Quartet Of London – String Quartets	1982	Chandos
51	William Alwyn, Francis Chagrin, Malcolm Arnold, Alan Rawsthorne, Geoffrey Bush, Walter Leigh – Overtures	1979	Lyrita Recorded Edition
52	William Alwyn, Osian Ellis, The London Philharmonic Orchestra – Lyra Angelica, Concerto Grosso No. 2, Autumn Legend	1979	Lyrita Recorded Edition
53	William Alwyn, London Philharmonic Orchestra – Symphony No. 1	1977	Lyrita Recorded Edition
54	William Alwyn, The London Philharmonic Orchestra – Symphonies 4 & 5	1975	Lyrita Recorded Edition
55	William Alwyn / London Philharmonic Orchestra – Symphony No.2 / Sinfonietta For Strings	1975	Lyrita Recorded Edition
56	The Gabrieli String Quartet - William Alwyn - Joaquín Turina – String Quartet In D Minor / String Trio / La Oración Del Torero(LP, Stereo)	1972	Unicorn Records (3)
57	William Alwyn, London Philharmonic Orchestra – Symphony № 3 / Symphonic Prelude The Magic Island	1972	Lyrita Recorded Edition
58	Mirages / Divertimento / Naiades	1972	Lyrita Recorded Edition
59	Maconchy / Bush / Berkeley / Alwyn – Proud Thames / Music For Orchestra / Symphony No.1 / Four Elizabethan Dances	1972	Lyrita Recorded Edition
60	William Alwyn / Muir Mathieson, The Sinfonia Of London – Shake Hands With The Devil	1959	United Artists Records
61	Film Music - "A Night To Remember"(12", 78 RPM)	1958	The Rank Organisation
62	Alwyn conducts Alwyn – Symphonies 2, 3 & 5(CD, )	-	Lyrita Recorded Edition
63	William Alwyn - London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Hickox – Symphony No.4, Elizabethan Dances, Festival March(CD, Album)	-	Chandos
64	William Alwyn / Sheila Randell – Fantasy Waltzes ~ Sonata Alla Toccata(LP, Mono)	-	Lyrita Recorded Edition

Videos featuring William Alwyn

William Alwyn: Piano Concerto #1, 1930 (The Themes of My Fallout: New Vegas Raw Footage Series)

Enjoy this piano concerto by the English post-romantic composer and conductor William Alwyn (1905 - 1985). This was his first of two piano concerti, which he wrote in 1930. It's a single-movement concerto, but with four distinct sections. For those of

Geoffrey Bush - Music (1967) for Orchestra (Handley) (vinyl: Ortofon Xpression MC)

Vernon Handley conducts The London Philharmonic Orchestra

Lyrita SRCS 57 (p) 1972

See my blog: Music And Vinyl

https://musicandvinyl.blogspot.com/2019/09/geoffrey-bush-music-for-orchestra.html?view=flipcard

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Alwyn Symphony No.1

William Alwyn

shake hands with the devil , full lenght movie

In 1921 Dublin, the IRA battles the "Black & Tans," special British forces given to harsh measures. Irish-American medical student Kerry O'Shea hopes to stay aloof, but saving a wounded friend gets him outlawed, and inexorably drawn into the rebel organiz