Battle of Britain

music for the film

General Information – Instrumentation – Manuscript – Publication – Arrangements – Recordings

General Information:

Composition:
1969. Only the 'Battle in the Air' sequence was actually used in the film. Partly orchestrated by Sir Malcolm Arnold.

Film First Shown:
Monday, 15 September 1969. Dominion Cinema, London.

Film Personnel:
Director: Guy Hamilton
Producers: Harry Saltzman, S. Benjamin Fisz
Screenplay: James Kennaway, Wilfred Greatorex
Cast: Sir Laurence Olivier, Michael Caine, Trevor Howard, Kenneth More, Christopher Plummer, Michael Redgrave, Sir Ralph Richardson, Susannah York
Musicians: Sir Malcolm Arnold conductor
Studio: Pinewood Studios

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C28

Instrumentation:

2 flutes, piccolo, 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (side drum, small side drum, bass drum, tenor drum, cymbals, glockenspiel, tambourine, gong) – harp – strings

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 585. Autograph full score, partly in the hand of Sir Malcolm Arnold. Some pages are in photocopy. Missing 'Battle in the Air' sequence. 151 pages.

The private collection of United Artists. 'Battle in the Air' sequence.

Publication:

This music has only been published in the arrangements listed below.

Arrangements:

Suite for Orchestra, arranged by Colin Matthews, 1985. This version has been arranged for military band, and partially for brass band.

A Wartime Sketchbook, arranged by Christopher Palmer, 1990.

Recordings:

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Film Music