| One of the most distinguished English composers of the 20th Century, William Walton had his introduction to music from his father, whose vocation was teaching music. He began studies at the Christ Church Cathedral Choir School in 1912, and, in 1918, Christ Church College. (Walton never received a degree.) Among his teachers, albeit briefly, were Ferrucio Busoni and conductor Ernest Ansermet. |
| Walton lived for a time with the Sitwell’s in London. Each of the children of the family was a budding poet and Walton’s setting of some witty texts by Edith Sitwell, Façade, for speaker and orchestra drew immediate attention to Walton’s eccentric score and created quite a stir in London. But this humorous and clever music was but one facet of this prodigiously gifted composer who during the late 1920’s and early ‘30’s was considered the best England had to offer. Nicolas Slonimsky called him, “the inheritor of the grand Romantic tradition.” |
| Ultimately, Walton proved himself at home and adept with writing everything from coronation marches for the investiture of kings (Crown Imperial for George VI) and queens (Orb & Sceptre for Elizabeth II), to writing highly effective film scores, most notably for Lawrence Olivier’s cinematic adaptations of three Shakespearean plays. For the operatic stage he wrote Troilus and Cressida. He wrote music for the ballet, The Quest; and adapted his aforementioned Façade as a quite successful ballet as well. As a morale builder during the Second World War he celebrated the work of the Royal Air Force in defending the homeland with such success with his Spitfire (Prelude & Fugue) for Orchestra. Walton’s sole Violin Concerto was premiered by Jascha Heifitz…his Viola Concerto by Paul Hindemith. He also wrote a set of Variations on a Theme by Hindemith. |
| For a comprehensive look at Walton’s life, visit the official Walton website, www. williamwalton.net . |
