List of compositions by William Walton

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This is a list of compositions by William Walton sorted by genre, date of composition, title, and scoring.

Genre Date Title Scoring Notes
Opera 1947–1954 Troilus and Cressida soloists, chorus and orchestra in 3 acts; libretto by Christopher Hassall after Geoffrey Chaucer; revised 1963 and 1976
Opera 1967 The Bear, An Extravaganza soloists and small orchestra in 1 act; libretto by Paul Dehn and the composer based on the play by Anton Chekhov
Ballet 1935 The First Shoot orchestra libretto by Osbert Sitwell; choreography by Frederick Ashton; part of a revue Follow the Sun presented by Charles B. Cochran
Ballet 1940 The Wise Virgins orchestra in 1 act based on music by Johann Sebastian Bach; choreography by Frederick Ashton
Ballet 1943 The Quest orchestra in 5 scenes; libretto by Doris Langley Moore after Edmund Spenser; choreography by Frederick Ashton
Ballet 1975–1976
1983		 Varii Capricci orchestra free transcription of 5 Bagatelles guitar; choreography by Frederick Ashton
Film score 1934 Escape Me Never (1935) directed by Paul Czinner
Film score 1936 As You Like It (1936) directed by Paul Czinner
Film score 1937 Dreaming Lips (1937) directed by Paul Czinner
Film score 1938 Stolen Life (1939) directed by Paul Czinner
Film score 1941 Major Barbara (1941) directed by Gabriel Pascal
Film score 1941 The Next of Kin (1942) directed by Thorold Dickinson
Film score 1942 The Foreman Went to France (1942) directed by Charles Frend
Film score 1942 The First of the Few (1942) directed by and starring Leslie Howard; also known as Spitfire
Film score 1942 Went the Day Well? (1942) directed by Alberto Cavalcanti
Film score 1944 Henry V (1944) directed by and starring Laurence Olivier
Film score 1947 Hamlet (1948) directed by and starring Laurence Olivier
Film score 1955 Richard III (1955) directed by and starring Laurence Olivier
Film score 1969 Battle of Britain (1969) directed by Guy Hamilton
Apart from the "Battle in the Air" sequence, the score was dropped before the film was released, and replaced with one by Ron Goodwin.
Film score 1969 Three Sisters (1970) directed by Laurence Olivier
Incidental music 1925 A Son of Heaven lost; for the play by Lytton Strachey
Incidental music 1936 The Boy David lost; for the 1936 play by J. M. Barrie
Incidental music 1942 Christopher Columbus for the radio play by Louis MacNeice starring Laurence Olivier
Incidental music 1942 Macbeth for the play by William Shakespeare
Incidental music 1959 March for "A History of the English-Speaking Peoples" composed for a projected ABC film series based on Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples
Incidental music 1962 Granada Preludes, Call Signs and End Music for Granada Television broadcasts
Incidental music 1977 Title Music for the BBC Television Shakespeare Series
Orchestral 1921 Dr. Syntax, Pedagogic Overture orchestra lost
Orchestral 1921–1926 Façade, Suite No. 1 orchestra orchestrated 1926
Orchestral 1921–1926
1938		 Façade, Suite No. 2 orchestra orchestrated 1938
Orchestral 1924–1925 Portsmouth Point, Overture orchestra also for piano 4-hands
Orchestral 1926 Siesta small orchestra revised 1962; version for piano 4-hands 1928
Orchestral 1932–1935 Symphony No. 1 in B♭ minor orchestra
Orchestral 1937 Crown Imperial, A Coronation March orchestra composed for the coronation of George VI; also for piano solo
Orchestral 1940, 1941 Music for Children, Suite orchestra orchestration of Duets for Children for piano 4-hands
music used for the 1949 ballet Devoirs des Vacances with libretto by Boris Kochno and produced at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris
Orchestral 1940 Scapino, A Comedy Overture orchestra revised 1949
Orchestral 1940 The Wise Virgins, Suite from the Ballet orchestra based on music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestral 1942 Prelude and Fugue "The Spitfire" orchestra from the film score The First of the Few
Orchestral 1943, 1961 The Quest, Suite from the Ballet orchestra arranged 1961 by Vilém Tauský
Orchestral 1944 2 Pieces from the Film Music Henry V
  1. Passacaglia: Death of Falstaff
  2. Touch Her Soft Lips and Part
 string orchestra from the film score Henry V
Orchestral 1944, 1963 Suite from Henry V orchestra arranged 1963 by Muir Mathieson from the film score Henry V
Orchestral 1945 Memorial Fanfare for Henry Wood orchestra
Orchestral 1946, 1971 Sonata string orchestra orchestration of String Quartet No. 2 in A minor
Orchestral 1947, 1967 Hamlet and Ophelia, Poem orchestra adapted 1967 by Muir Mathieson from the film score Hamlet
Orchestral 1947, 1967 Hamlet: Funeral March orchestra arranged 1967 by Muir Mathieson from the film score Hamlet
Orchestral 1953 The National Anthem orchestra also an Introduction for brass and percussion
Orchestral 1953 Orb and Sceptre, Coronation March orchestra composed for the coronation of Elizabeth II
Orchestral 1953 Variations on an Elizabethan Theme
Variation VI: Finale, Fuga à la gigue
 string orchestra based on Sellinger's Round by William Byrd
jointly composed with Benjamin Britten, Lennox Berkeley, Arthur Oldham, Humphrey Searle and Michael Tippett
Orchestral 1955 God Save the Queen orchestra arrangement
Orchestral 1955 The Star-Spangled Banner orchestra arrangement
Orchestra 1955 A Winter Journey orchestra arranged by Edward Watson from the film score Richard III
Orchestral 1955, 1963 Richard III: A Shakespeare Suite orchestra arranged 1963 by Muir Mathieson from the film score Richard III
Orchestral 1956 Johannesburg Festival Overture orchestra
Orchestral 1957 Partita for Orchestra
  1. Toccata
  2. Pastorale Siciliana
  3. Giga Burlesca
 orchestra
Orchestral 1959–1960 Symphony No. 2 orchestra commissioned by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Society
Orchestral 1962 Prelude orchestra composed as Granada Prelude, Call Signs and End Music for Granada Television broadcasts
Orchestral 1962–1963 Variations on a Theme by Hindemith orchestra theme taken from movement II of Paul Hindemith's Cello Concerto (1940)
Orchestral 1968 Capriccio burlesco orchestra
Orchestral 1969 Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten orchestra theme taken from movement III of Benjamin Britten's Piano Concerto
Orchestral 1975–1976 orchestra free transcription of 5 Bagatelles for guitar; used as ballet 1983
Orchestral 1982 orchestra
Concertante 1926–1927 Sinfonia Concertante piano and orchestra revised 1943; arranged 1928 for 2 pianos
Concertante 1928–1929 Viola Concerto viola and orchestra revised 1961; written for Lionel Tertis but premiered by Paul Hindemith
Concertante 1938–1939 Violin Concerto violin and orchestra written for Jascha Heifetz; orchestration revised 1943
Concertante 1956 Cello Concerto cello and orchestra written for Gregor Piatigorsky
Brass ensemble 1947 Fanfare for a Great Occasion brass and percussion arranged 1962 by Malcolm Sargent from the film score Hamlet
Brass ensemble 1979 Introduction to the National Anthem, A Fanfare brass (3 trumpets, 3 trombones) and snare drum
Brass ensemble 1959 A Queen's Fanfare brass (8 trumpets, 4 trombones)
Brass ensemble 1973 Anniversary Fanfare brass (9 trumpets, 7 trombones), timpani and percussion
Brass ensemble 1974 Fanfare for the National brass, timpani and percussion for the Royal National Theatre
Brass ensemble 1975 Roaring Fanfare brass (3 trumpets, 3 trombones, 2 bass trombones) and percussion
Brass ensemble 1979 Medley brass band
Brass ensemble 1979 Salute for Sir Robert Mayer on His 100th Anniversary brass (12 trumpets) and percussion
Brass ensemble 1935, 1981 The First Shoot brass band
Brass ensemble 1981 A Birthday Fanfare brass (3 trumpets, 4 horns) and percussion
brass (7 trumpets) and percussion		 composed as a 70th birthday present for Karl-Friedrich Still, Walton's neighbour in Ischia
Chamber music 1919, 1921 Piano Quartet violin, viola, cello and piano revised 1921 and 1974–1975
Chamber music 1919–1922 String Quartet No. 1 2 violins, viola and cello
Chamber music 1922–1923 Toccata in A minor violin and piano
Chamber music 1944–1947 String Quartet No. 2 in A minor 2 violins, viola and cello orchestrated 1971 as Sonata for String Orchestra
Chamber music 1948–1950 2 Pieces
  1. Canzonetta
  2. Scherzetto
 violin and piano
Chamber music 1949 Sonata violin and piano revised 1950; written for Yehudi Menuhin and Louis Kentner
Chamber music 1970 Tema (per variazioni) cello also Theme for Variations; part of Music for a Prince (14 contributors)
Chamber music 1970–1971 5 Bagatelles guitar written for Julian Bream and dedicated to Malcolm Arnold
orchestrated as Varii Capricci
Chamber music 1980 Passacaglia cello 2 versions; written for Mstislav Rostropovich
Chamber music 1982 Duettino oboe and violin
Keyboard 1916 Chorale Prelude on Wheatley organ
Keyboard 1917 Valse in C minor piano
Keyboard 1936 Theme for Improvisation organ
Keyboard 1940 Tunes for my Niece piano
Keyboard 1940 Duets for Children piano 4-hands orchestrated 1941 as Music for Children
Keyboard 1949 Galop Final piano composed as a 'finale' for the ballet Devoirs des Vacances (see Music for Children)
orchestrated by Christopher Palmer
Keyboard 1925 Portsmouth Point piano 4-hands also for orchestra
Keyboard 1926 Valse from Façade piano concert arrangement by the composer
Keyboard 1926, 1928 Siesta piano 4-hands original for orchestra; arranged 1928 by the composer
Keyboard 1931 Choral Prelude 'Herzlich thut mich verlangen' piano free arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach's organ prelude, BWV 727
Keyboard 1934 Ballet piano from the film score Escape Me Never
Keyboard 1937 Crown Imperial piano original for orchestra; arranged by the composer
Keyboard 1944 Lai and Rondet de carol piano lost
Keyboard 1963 3 Pieces
  1. March
  2. Elegy
  3. Scherzetto
 organ from the film score Richard III
Vocal 1916 Tell Me Where Is Fancy Bred? soprano, tenor, 3 violins and piano
soprano, tenor and piano		 words by William Shakespeare
Vocal 1918 4 Songs
  1. Child's Song
  2. Love Laid His Sleepless Head
  3. A Lyke-wake Song
  4. The Winds
 voice and piano words by Algernon Charles Swinburne
Vocal 1920 Tritons voice and piano words by William Drummond of Hawthornden
Vocal 1920 The Passionate Shepherd tenor and 10 instruments words by Christopher Marlowe; lost
Vocal 1921–1926 Façade: An Entertainment reciter and chamber ensemble words by Edith Sitwell
Vocal 1921–1929
1977		 Façade 2: A Further Entertainment reciter and chamber ensemble words by Edith Sitwell; revision 1977 of 8 discarded items from original Façade
Vocal 1932 3 Songs to Poems by Edith Sitwell
  1. Daphne
  2. Through Gilded Trellises
  3. Old Sir Faulk
 voice and piano words by Edith Sitwell; original 1924 version Bucolic Comedies (lost); arranged from Façade
Vocal 1936 Under the Greenwood Tree voice (or unison voices) and piano words by William Shakespeare; from the 1936 film score As You Like It
Vocal 1942 Beatriz's Song voice and string quartet (or piano) words by Louis MacNeice; from the 1942 radio play Christopher Columbus
Vocal 1960
  1. Fain Would I Change That Note
  2. O Stay, Sweet Love
  3. Lady, When I Behold the Roses
  4. My Love in Her Attire
  5. I Gave Her Cakes and I Gave Her Ale
  6. To Couple Is a Custom
 tenor and guitar
tenor, string orchestra, harp and percussion		 anonymous 16th- and 17th-century lyrics; written for Peter Pears and Julian Bream
orchestrated 1971
Vocal 1962 A Song for the Lord Mayor's Table, Song Cycle
  1. The Lord Mayor's Table
  2. Glide Gently
  3. Wapping Old Stairs
  4. Holy Thursday
  5. The Contrast
  6. Rhyme
 soprano and piano (or orchestra) premiered by Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Gerald Moore
1. words by Thomas Jordan (1612?–1685)
2. words by William Wordsworth
3. words by "Arley" (1787)
4. words by William Blake
5. words by Charles Morris (1745–1838)
6. words by anonymous
Choral 1916 The Forsaken Merman, Cantata soprano, tenor, double female chorus and orchestra words by Matthew Arnold
Choral 1916 A Litany, Motet mixed chorus a cappella words by Phineas Fletcher; 3 versions; revised 1930
Choral 1931 Belshazzar's Feast baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra Biblical words selected by Osbert Sitwell; revised 1948
Choral 1931 Make We Joy Now in This Fest, Old English Carol mixed chorus a cappella
Choral 1936 Under the Greenwood Tree unison voices (or solo voice) and piano words by William Shakespeare; from the 1936 film score As You Like It
Choral 1937 In Honour of the City of London mixed chorus and orchestra words by William Dunbar
Choral 1938 Set Me as a Seal upon Thine Heart, An Anthem mixed chorus a cappella Biblical words from the Song of Solomon
Choral 1946 Where Does the Uttered Music Go? mixed chorus a cappella words by John Masefield; written for a memorial service for Henry Wood
Choral 1949–1950 Put Off the Serpent Girdle, Part-Song female chorus a cappella words by Christopher Hassall and Paul Dehn
Choral 1952 mixed chorus, orchestra and organ composed for the coronation of Elizabeth II
Choral 1961 Gloria alto, tenor, bass, double mixed chorus and orchestra
Choral 1961 What Cheer?, A Christmas Carol mixed chorus a cappella
Choral 1964–1965 The Twelve, An Anthem for the Feast of Any Apostle mixed chorus and organ (or orchestra) words by W. H. Auden
Choral 1966 Missa Brevis double mixed chorus and organ (in "Gloria" only)
Choral 1970 All This Time, Carol mixed chorus a cappella 16th-century words
Choral 1971–1972 Jubilate Deo double mixed chorus and organ
Choral 1974 Cantico del Sole, Motet mixed chorus a cappella words by St. Francis of Assisi in translation by S. Wright
Choral 1974, 1976 Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis soprano, alto, tenor, bass, mixed chorus and organ revised 1976
Choral 1977 Antiphon mixed chorus and organ
Choral 1977 King Herod and the Cock, Carol mixed chorus a cappella

Sources[]

  • Lloyd, Stephen (2001). William Walton: Muse of Fire. Woodbridge, Suffolk: The Boydell Press. ISBN 0-85115-803-X.
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