Short bio William Walton
Birthday:
1902 in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England
Died:
1983 in Ischia, Italy
Genre:
Classical,Avant-Garde
Period:
20th Century, Modern
Full biography William Walton
Sir William Turner Walton (1902-1983) was an English composer and one of the most important British composers of the 20th century. His career spanned six decades , during which he composed music in several classical genres , including ballets, operas, and film scores. Although he wasn't the most prolific writer, he did compose dozens of works in various forms , including symphonies, oratorios, and chamber music.
Walton's early work made him one of England's most important composers between the wars. He gained national recognition for his Viola Concerto, and his Symphony No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, which was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra in 1935, helped to establish his reputation as a composer of international standing. Additionally, Walton was known for his film scores, including the music for Laurence Olivier's film adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry V and the Battle of Britain.
Throughout his life, Walton had many important collaborations. He first encountered the Sitwell siblings, with whom he was to have an important musical and literary partnership, at Oxford University. His collaboration with the Sitwells resulted in several works, including the Façade suite for speaker and small ensemble and the ballet The Wise Virgins.
Overall, William Walton played a significant role in the development of British classical music, and his contributions to the genre remain highly regarded. His music is characterized by its lyricism and grandeur, and his work continues to be performed and recorded today.
Compositions featuring William Walton
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A Wartime Sketchbook, for orchestra (arranged by C.Palmer from film scores) | 25:11 min | Orchestral | 1990 |
| 2 | Henry V, a Musical Scenario after Shakespeare, for narrators & orchestra (arr. by C. Palmer) | 57:15 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1988 |
| 3 | A Shavian Sequence, suite for orchestra (from film score "Major Barbara"; arr. by C.Palmer) | 10:33 min | Orchestral | 1987 |
| 4 | Fanfare and March, for brass (from music for "Macbeth"; arr. by C.Palmer) | 5:57 min | Chamber Music | 1987 |
| 5 | Troilus and Cressida, suite from the opera for orchestra (arranged by Palmer) | 32:44 min | Orchestral | 1987 |
| 6 | As You Like It, poem for soprano & orchestra (after the film score, arr. by C. Palmer) | 12:32 min | Vocal Music | 1984 |
| 7 | Varii capricci, ballet (orchestration of the 5 Bagatelles for Guitar) | 14:45 min | Ballet | 1983 |
| 8 | Prologo e Fantasia, for orchestra | 6:39 min | Orchestral | 1981 |
| 9 | Passacaglia, for cello solo | 5:51 min | Chamber Music | 1979 |
| 10 | Antiphon, for chorus & organ | 3:12 min | Choral | 1977 |
| 11 | Façade 2, for reciter & ensemble | 4:29 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1977 |
| 12 | Prelude for orchestra (from "Granada" TV music) | 6:12 min | Orchestral | 1977 |
| 13 | Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis (Chichester Service), for chorus & organ | 6:21 min | Choral | 1974 |
| 14 | Anniversary Fanfare, for brass | 0:46 min | Chamber Music | 1973 |
| 15 | Cantico del sole, for chorus | 6:04 min | Choral | 1973 |
| 16 | Bagatelles (5) for guitar | 14:23 min | Chamber Music | 1971 |
| 17 | Jubilate Deo, for double chorus & organ | 3:41 min | Choral | 1971 |
| 18 | Sonata for Strings (transcription by Walton and M.Arnold of String Quartet in A minor) | 26:45 min | Orchestral | 1971 |
| 19 | Theme (for Variations), for cello | 1:28 min | Chamber Music | 1970 |
| 20 | The Battle of Britain, film score | Film Score | 1969 | |
| 21 | Three Sisters, film score | 8:15 min | Film Score | 1969 |
| 22 | Capriccio Burlesco, for orchestra | 7:18 min | Orchestral | 1968 |
| 23 | Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten, for orchestra | 15:19 min | Orchestral | 1968 |
| 24 | Hamlet and Ophelia, poem for orchestra (from film score "Hamlet"; arr. by M.Mathieson) | Orchestral | 1967 | |
| 25 | Missa Brevis, for double chorus & organ | 8:29 min | Choral | 1965 |
| 26 | The Bear, extravaganza | 51:42 min | Opera | 1965 |
| 27 | The Twelve, anthem for chorus & organ | 11:45 min | Choral | 1964 |
| 28 | Prelude for orchestra (from film score "Richard III"; arr. by M.Mathieson) | 7:44 min | Orchestral | 1963 |
| 29 | A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table, song cycle for soprano & piano or orchestra | 9:23 min | Vocal Music | 1962 |
| 30 | Variations on A Theme by Hindemith, for orchestra | 23:41 min | Orchestral | 1962 |
| 31 | Gloria, for alto, tenor, bass, double chorus & orchestra | 18:32 min | Choral | 1960 |
| 32 | A Queen's Fanfare, for brass | 0:46 min | Chamber Music | 1959 |
| 33 | Anon in Love, song cycle for tenor & guitar or orchestra | 4:44 min | Vocal Music | 1959 |
| 34 | March: A History of the English-speaking Peoples', incidental music for television | 4:54 min | Orchestral | 1959 |
| 35 | Partita, for orchestra | 14:17 min | Orchestral | 1957 |
| 36 | Symphony No. 2 | 28:22 min | Symphony | 1957 |
| 37 | Cello Concerto | 29:09 min | Concerto | 1956 |
| 38 | Johannesburg Festival Overture, for orchestra | 7:37 min | Orchestral | 1956 |
| 39 | Pieces (3) for organ (from the film score "Richard III") | 4:56 min | Keyboard | 1955 |
| 40 | Richard III, film score | Film Score | 1955 | |
| 41 | Variations on an Elizabethan Theme "Sellinger's Round", for strings | 3:14 min | Orchestral | 1953 |
| 42 | Coronation Te Deum, for soloists, chorus, organ & orchestra | 9:35 min | Choral | 1952 |
| 43 | Orb and Scepter, coronation march for orchestra | 7:19 min | Orchestral | 1952 |
| 44 | Pieces (2) for violin & piano | 5:58 min | Chamber Music | 1948 |
| 45 | Hamlet, film score | Film Score | 1947 | |
| 46 | Sonata for Violin & Piano | 25:54 min | Chamber Music | 1947 |
| 47 | Troilus and Cressida, opera in 3 acts | 100:26 min | Opera | 1947 |
| 48 | Henry V, choral suite (arr. by M.Sargent) and orchestral suite (arr. by C.Matthieson) | 9:11 min | Orchestral | 1945 |
| 49 | String Quartet No. 2 in A minor | 27:48 min | Chamber Music | 1945 |
| 50 | Where does the uttered music go?, for chorus | 5:56 min | Choral | 1945 |
| 51 | Pieces (2) for strings (from Henry V) | 5:08 min | Orchestral | 1944 |
| 52 | Henry V, film score | 21:41 min | Film Score | 1943 |
| 53 | The Quest, ballet in five scenes | 41:14 min | Ballet | 1943 |
| 54 | Beatriz's Song, for voice and guitar or strings (from radio music for "Christopher Columbus") | 2:46 min | Vocal Music | 1942 |
| 55 | Christopher Columbus, music for radio for speakers, soloists, chorus, guitar & orchestra (also choral suite arr. by Palmer) | 58:33 min | Orchestral | 1942 |
| 56 | Macbeth, incidental music | Orchestral | 1942 | |
| 57 | Spitfire Prelude & Fugue, for orchestra (from film score "The First of the Few") | 7:13 min | Orchestral | 1942 |
| 58 | The First of the Few, film score | Film Score | 1942 | |
| 59 | Duets for Children, for piano, 4 hands | 12:22 min | Keyboard | 1940 |
| 60 | Major Barbara, film score | 8:38 min | Film Score | 1940 |
| 61 | Music for Children, for orchestra | 14:34 min | Orchestral | 1940 |
| 62 | Scapino, comedy overture for orchestra | 8:38 min | Orchestral | 1940 |
| 63 | The Wise Virgins, ballet (arranged music of J. S. Bach) | 25:13 min | Ballet | 1940 |
| 64 | The Wise Virgins, suite from the ballet | 19:20 min | Ballet | 1940 |
| 65 | Violin Concerto | 30:19 min | Concerto | 1939 |
| 66 | Façade, Suite No. 2, for orchestra | 4:04 min | Orchestral | 1938 |
| 67 | Set me as a seal upon thine heart, for chorus | 3:26 min | Choral | 1938 |
| 68 | Crown Imperial, coronation march for orchestra | 7:32 min | Orchestral | 1937 |
| 69 | In Honour of the City of London, for double chorus & orchestra | 16:45 min | Choral | 1937 |
| 70 | As You Like It, film score | Film Score | 1936 | |
| 71 | The Boy David, incidental music (mostly lost) | 4:25 min | Orchestral | 1936 |
| 72 | Under the Greenwood Tree, for voice & piano (from film score "As You Like It") | 1:56 min | Vocal Music | 1936 |
| 73 | The First Shoot, ballet | 9:26 min | Ballet | 1935 |
| 74 | Escape Me Never, film score | Film Score | 1934 | |
| 75 | Daphne, for reciter & piano (from "Façade") | 2:57 min | Vocal Music | 1932 |
| 76 | Old Sir Faulk, for voice & piano (from "Façade") | 2:06 min | Vocal Music | 1932 |
| 77 | All This Time, carol arrangement for chorus (Christmas Carols No. 4) | 1:48 min | Choral | 1931 |
| 78 | Belshazzar's Feast, for baritone, double chorus & orchestra | 16:37 min | Choral | 1931 |
| 79 | Christmas Carols (4) for chorus | 4:23 min | Choral | 1931 |
| 80 | Herzlich tut mich verlangen, transcription for piano (after Bach, BWV 727) | 2:02 min | Keyboard | 1931 |
| 81 | King Herod and the Cock, carol arrangement for chorus (Christmas Carols No. 3) | 2:04 min | Choral | 1931 |
| 82 | Make we joy now in this Fest, carol arrangement for chorus (Christmas Carols No. 1) | 3:43 min | Choral | 1931 |
| 83 | Songs (3) after Edith Sitwell for voice & piano | 12:29 min | Vocal Music | 1931 |
| 84 | Symphony No. 1 in B flat minor | 44:26 min | Symphony | 1931 |
| 85 | What Cheer?, carol arrangement for chorus (Christmas Carols No. 2) | 1:19 min | Choral | 1931 |
| 86 | Valse from "Façade", for piano | 4:30 min | Keyboard | 1928 |
| 87 | Viola Concerto | 26:03 min | Concerto | 1928 |
| 88 | Façade, Suite No. 1, for orchestra | 5:19 min | Orchestral | 1926 |
| 89 | Siesta, for small orchestra | 5:20 min | Orchestral | 1926 |
| 90 | Sinfonia concertante, for orchestra with piano obbligato | 18:18 min | Orchestral | 1926 |
| 91 | Portsmouth Point, overture for orchestra | 5:45 min | Orchestral | 1924 |
| 92 | Façade, for reciter & ensemble | 16:56 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1922 |
| 93 | Small Talk, for reciter & piano (from "Façade") | 1:38 min | Vocal Music | 1922 |
| 94 | The Last Galop, for reciter & piano (from "Façade") | 1:43 min | Vocal Music | 1922 |
| 95 | The White Owl, for reciter & piano (from "Façade") | 1:08 min | Vocal Music | 1922 |
| 96 | Through gilded trellises, for voice & piano (from "Façade") | 4:00 min | Vocal Music | 1922 |
| 97 | Toccata for violin & piano in A minor | 14:32 min | Chamber Music | 1922 |
| 98 | String Quartet No. 1 | 35:23 min | Chamber Music | 1919 |
| 99 | Tritons, for voice & piano | 1:49 min | Vocal Music | 1919 |
| 100 | Piano Quartet in D minor | 29:11 min | Chamber Music | 1918 |
| 101 | The Winds, for voice & piano | 1:42 min | Vocal Music | 1918 |
| 102 | A Litany, for chorus ("Drop, Drop Slow Tears") | 3:18 min | Choral | 1916 |
| 103 | Tell me where is fancy bred?, for soprano, tenor, violin & piano | Vocal Music | 1916 | |
| 104 | Escape Me Never, suite from the film score for orchestra (arr. by C. Palmer) | 11:23 min | Orchestral | - |
| 105 | Façade, Suite No. 3, for orchestra (arranged by Christopher Palmer) | 1:04 min | Orchestral | - |
| 106 | Hamlet: A Shakespeare Scenario, for speaker & orchestra (arr. by C. Palmer) | 43:43 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 107 | Popular Song, song for voice & piano (from "Façade") | 2:25 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 108 | Richard III: A Shakespeare Scenario, for orchestra (after the film score, arr. by C. Palmer) | 43:58 min | Orchestral | - |
| 109 | Richard III: A Shakespeare Suite, for orchestra (after the film score, arr. by M. Mathieson) | 14:02 min | Orchestral | - |
| 110 | Songs (2) for tenor & piano | 2:32 min | Vocal Music | - |
| 111 | The Battle of Britain, suite from the film score for orchestra (arr. by C.Matthews) | 6:42 min | Orchestral | - |
| 112 | The Quest, suite from the ballet for orchestra (arr. by V. Tausky) | 14:26 min | Orchestral | - |
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