Henry V

music for the film

General Information – Instrumentation – Manuscript – Publication – Recordings

General Information:

Composed:
1943–4

Film First Shown:
Wednesday, 22 November 1944. The Carlton, London.

Film Personnel:
Producer/Director: Sir Laurence Olivier
Screenplay: Adapted from the play by William Shakespeare
Cast: Sir Laurence Olivier, Renιe Asherson, Leslie Banks, Felix Aylmer, Robert Newton, George Robey, Russell Thorndike, Leo Genn
Musicians: London Symphony Orchestra, Muir Mathieson conductor.
Studio: Denham Studios

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C50

Instrumentation:

        The maximum instrumentation of the surviving portions of the manuscript is as follows:
3 flutes, 3 oboes, 3 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones – timpani, 2 percussion – harp, harpsichord – strings

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 582. Autograph full score in pencil, of seven sections only.  35 pages. The surviving sections are as follows, with movement and measure numbers taken from Christopher Palmer's Henry V: A Shakespeare Scenario. The descriptions are from David Lloyd-Jones's edition of the Palmer scenario (See WWE v.23, p.xi).
    1. Movement 6, 'Agincourt': mm.1–30. [The French prepare for battle]
    2. Movement 6, 'Agincourt': mm.32–53. [Henry gallops onto the field]
    3. Movement 6, 'Agincourt': mm.97–130. [Charge and Battle]
    4. Movement 7, 'Interlude: At the French Court': mm.35–59. [The Duke of Burgundy's speech]
    5. Movement 8, 'Epilogue': mm.39–51. [Chorus: Epilogue]
    6. Movement 8, 'Epilogue': mm.52–70. [Choir-boys: 'La, la, la', etc.]
    7. Movement 8, 'Epilogue': mm.81–91. [End titles]

Arrangements:

Two Pieces for Strings were extracted from the film score, for separate publication in 1947. These two pieces were later arranged for organ (by Iain Farrington, ca. 2001), for piano duet (by John Rutter, 1972).

Suite for Chorus and Orchestra, arranged by Sir Malcolm Sargent, 1945.

Suite for Orchestra, arranged by Muir Mathieson, 1963.

Suite for Wind Band, arranged by Don Phillips, 1976. Based on the Mathieson suite.

A Shakespeare Scenario, for speaker, mixed chorus, children's chorus, and orchestra, arranged by Christopher Palmer, 1988. Edward Watson based his scenario for chamber ensemble, and suite for brass band, on the Palmer scenario.

Two Pieces for Oboe and Piano, arranged by Christopher Palmer.
Comprising: 'The Globe Playhouse', 'Touch her soft lips and parts'
Publication: Oxford University Press. Included in William Walton: An Oboe Album, 1992, 019 3594102.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: An Oboe Album]

'Touch her soft lips and part', for flute and piano, arranged by Christopher Palmer.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Included in William Walton: A Flute Album, 1992, 019 3594080.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: A Flute Album]

Suite for Organ, arranged by Robert Gower, 1996.

Recordings:

        Note: Much more of the music has also been recorded in the arrangements listed above.

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Film Music