William Walton.net

<body background="images/gravel.jpg"> <center> <table border="10"> <tr> <td><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><img src="images/walton.jpg" width="150" height="195"></font></td> </tr> </table> </center><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><br> </font> <hr size="2" noshade color="black"> <p align="center"><b><font face="Times New Roman" size="5">Sir William Turner Walton, O.M.</font></b></p> <hr size="2" noshade color="black"> <p align="left">It is with sadness we learn of the death of Lady Walton on 21 March 2010, at age 83.  <a target="_self" href="lady_walton.html">Please see the full obituary.</a></p> <hr size="2" noshade color="black"> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Welcome to the Internet's premier resource dedicated to the life and works of William Walton (1902<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">–</span>1983). In the late 1920s and '30s, Walton was considered the most important English composer of his generation, with a unique style built on Romantic passion, Classical structure, sweeping melody, dissonant yet tonal harmony, jazz-infused rhythmic vitality, and brilliant orchestration. Walton's compositions from these decades—most notably the chamber entertainment <i><a href="works/vocal/facade.html">Façade</a></i>, the <a href="works/orchestral/viola_concerto.html">Viola Concerto</a>, the cantata <i><a href="works/choral/belshazzars_feast.html">Belshazzar's Feast</a></i>, the <a href="works/orchestral/symphony_1.html">Symphony No. 1</a>, and the <a href="works/orchestral/violin_concerto.html">Violin Concerto</a>—have never left the standard repertory. Walton's works composed after World War II—including the <a href="works/chamber/string_quartet_2.html">String Quartet in A minor</a>, the tragic opera <i><a href="works/opera/troilus_and_cressida.html">Troilus and Cressida</a></i>, the <a href="works/orchestral/cello_concerto.html">Cello Concerto</a>, the <a href="works/orchestral/symphony_2.html">Symphony No. 2</a>, and the orchestral <a href="works/orchestral/hindemith_variations.html">Variations on a Theme by Hindemith</a>—were not as well received at the time, but in recent decades many have taken their rightful place as masterworks of the mid-twentieth century. Walton is also considered among the greatest of English film composers, including a noteworthy score to <i><a href="works/film/henry_v.html">Henry V</a></i>. An eminently congenial man, Walton lived the last half of his life on the tranquil Mediterranean island of Ischia. This website is intended as a monument to one of the twentieth century's great composers.</font></p> <p>  <hr size="2" noshade color="black"> <ul> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="biography/biography.html">Biography</a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> – </span>Walton's life.</font> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="articles/articles.html">Articles</a> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">– </span>Including material exclusive to this website.</font></li> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="works/works.html">Compositions</a> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">– </span>Complete online catalogue of his works.</font></li> </ul> <ul> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="manuscripts/manuscripts.html">Manuscripts</a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> – </span>Locations of the surviving Walton autograph manuscripts.</font></li> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="publishers/publishers.html">Publishers</a> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">– Where to purchase or hire scores for study or performance.</span></font></li> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="recordings.html">Recordings</a> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">– </span>Reviews and recommendations.</font></li> </ul> <ul> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="sources.html">Sources</a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> – </span>Printed material for further information.</font></li> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="contact.html">Contact Information</a> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">– </span>Contact the webmaster.</font></li> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><a href="links.html">Links</a> <span style="mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">– </span>Websites dedicated to Walton-related topics.</font></li> </ul> <ul> <li><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">About the Webmaster, <a href="http://www.garydcannon.net/" target="_top">Gary D. Cannon</a></font></li> </ul> <p>  <hr size="2" noshade color="black"> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Unless otherwise indicated, all material on these pages is © 1997–2010 <a href="http://www.garydcannon.net/" target="_top">Gary D. Cannon</a>, and may be reprinted free of charge with reference to WilliamWalton.net and appropriate acknowledgment to the author.</font> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">The Walton photo on this title page is © Classical Net, and is posted here in accordance with the copyright information on their pages at <a href="http://www.classical.net/" target="_top">www.classical.net</a>.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Because your web browser does not support frames, you are visiting the no-frames version of this website. Some pages might therefore be difficult to find, though all material is accessible in this version. For optimal Internet browsing, it is recommended that you obtain a more recent web browser.</font> </body>