Inspired by a composer that was in the vanguard of British music in the 20th century, Benjamin Britten once wrote that hearing William Walton’s music was a “great turning point in his musical life.” We’ll trace the arc of Walton’s life and his associations with some of the greatest artists of his time.
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Monday
Walton: Spitfire Prelude (excerpt)
Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields/Marriner
Chandos 8870
1:22
Purchase
Walton: A Litany
St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir/Scott
Hyperion 67087
3:55
Purchase
String Quartet No. 1, I (Moderato)
Gabrieli Quartet
Chan 8944
8:31
Purchase
Walton: Portsmouth Point
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomson
Chan 8968
6:01
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Walton: Façade
Hornpipe
En Famille
Mariner Man
Long Steel Grass
Through Gilded Trellises
Tango – Pasodoble
London Mozart Players/Glover; Scales & West, nar.
ASV 679
10:50
Purchase
Walton: Viola Concerto In A Minor, I & II
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Previn; Kennedy, vla.
EMI 49628
13:05
Purchase
Walton: Escape Me Never Suite:
I. Prelude And Venetian Idyll
Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields/Marriner
Chan 8870
3:42
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Walton: The First Shoot, I
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomson
Chan 8968
1:38
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Tuesday
Walton: Viola Concerto In A Minor, I (excerpt), III
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Previn; Kennedy, vla.
EMI 49628
:46, 12:40
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Walton: Belshazzar’s Feast (excerpts)
Thus spake Isaiah
If I forget thee
Babylon was a great city
In Babylon Belshazzar the King
Praise ye the god of gold
Thus in Babylon, the mighty city
The trumpeters and pipers
Then sing aloud to God our strength
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra & Chorus/Litton; Terfel, bs. bar.
Lon 448134
21:22, 6:17, 5:04
Purchase
Cash: Belshazzar
Johnny Cash & the Carter Sisters
The Best of Johnny Cash TV show
Columbia
2:37
Purchase
Walton: Façade
Lullaby for Jumbo
Black Mrs. Behemoth
London Mozart Players/Glover; Scales & West, nar.
ASV 679
3:27
Purchase
Wednesday
Walton: Symphony #1, III (excerpt), I & II, IV
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra/Previn
Telarc 80125
2:28, 20:26, 12:53
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Walton: Crown Imperial
Philharmonia Orchestra/Willcocks
Chandos 8998
6:40
Purchase
Walton: Concerto in b minor for Violin and Orchestra, I
Philharmonia Orchestra/Walton; Heifetz, v.
RCA 61754
10:00
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Walton: Polka fr. Façade
London Mozart Players/Glover; Scales & West, nar.
ASV 679
1:14
Purchase
Thursday
Walton: Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in b minor, I (excerpt), II & III
Philharmonia Orchestra/Walton; Heifetz, v.
RCA 61754
:52, 17:21
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Walton: Prelude and Fugue from Spitfire
Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields/Marriner
Chandos 8870
8:34
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Walton: Film Music from Henry V
Prelude: The Globe
Touch her soft lips and part
Agincourt Song
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Davis
EMI 47944
10:32
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Walton: Film Music from Henry V
Passacaglia/The Death Of Falstaff
New Zealand Symphony Orchestra/Walton
Bridge 9133
2:56
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Walton: Act II Interlude fr. Troilus and Cressida
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Davis
EMI 47944
4:41
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Walton: “From Isle To Isle Chill Waters” fr. Act II of Troilus and Cressida
Philharmonia Orchestra/Walton; Schwarzkopf, sop.; Pears, ten.
EMI 64199
2:26
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Walton: Popular Song fr. Façade
London Mozart Players/Glover; Scales & West, nar.
ASV 679
2:05
Purchase
Friday
Walton: Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, I
Boston Symphony Orchestra/Munch; Piatigorsky, vc.
RCA 61498
8:13
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Walton: Partita for Orchestra
I. Toccata
II. Pastorale Siciliana
III. Giga Burlesca
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomson
Chan 8959
17:28
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Walton: Lento & Vivo fr. Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomson
Chan 8959
7:53
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Walton: Symphony No. 2, III
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomson
Chan 8772
9:23
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Walton: Sonata for violin and piano: II (excerpt) & Variation I
Marianne Thorsen, v.; Ian Brown, p.
Hyperion 67340
2:33
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Walton: Music For Children, III
London Philharmonic Orchestra/Thomson
Chan 8968
1:26
Purchase
Walton: Façade
Scotch Rhapsody
Foxtrot, “Old Sir Faulk”
Sir Beelzebub
London Mozart Players/Glover; Scales & West, nar.
ASV 679
Purchase
