Crown Imperial

Coronation March

for orchestra

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

General Information:

Composition:
1937. Substantial cuts were authorized in a 1963 revised version.

First Public Performance:
12 May 1937. Westminster Abbey, London. The Coronation Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult conductor. Played during the entry of Queen Mary, before the beginning of the Coronation Service of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.

Duration:
Original Version: About 9 minutes
Revised Version: About 7 minutes

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C32

Instrumentation:

3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (bass drum, side drum, tenor drum, cymbals, triangle, glockenspiel, tubular bell, large gung) – harp – organ (optional) – strings

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 595.
FRKF 595a - Autograph short score. 11 pages.
FRKF 595b - Autograph full score. 45 pages.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Full score, 1937 (discontinued). Score and parts of original version are available on hire.

Oxford University Press. Study score, 1967, 019 3681250. Score and parts are available on hire.

Arrangements:

Arranged for solo piano, by the composer.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano score, 1937 (discontinued).

Arranged for small orchestra and piano, by Hyam Greenbaum.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano/conductor score, 1937, 019 3681285 (discontinued).

Arranged for military band, by W. J. Duthoit.
Publication: Boosey and Hawkes. Condensed score, 1937, M060096211. Score and parts, 1937, M060055867
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Condensed score, arr. Duthoit]
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Score and parts, arr. Duthoit]

Arranged for solo organ, by Herbert Murrill.
Publication: Oxford University Press, 1937, 019 3758717. Also included in A Walton Organ Album, 1996, 019 3758709.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Organ score, arr. Murrill]
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: A Walton Organ Album]

Arranged for chorus and orchestra, by Arthur Sandford. Text by Doris Arnold: 'That we may never fail'.
First Performance: 25 April 1948. Adelphi Theatre, London. Peter Dawson, Kentucky Minstrels, Augmented BBC Variety Orchestra, Trumpeters of the Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall, Charles Smart organ, Leslie Woodgate conductor.
This version was never published.

Arranged for piano duet, by Herbert Murrill.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano score, 1949, 019 3684829 (discontinued).

Arranged for reduced orchestra, by Vilem Tausky.
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba (optional) – timpani, 2 percussion – harp – strings
Publication: Oxford University Press. Study score, together with score of version for full orchestra, 1967, 019 3681250. Score and parts are available on hire.

Arranged for amateur orchestra, by David Stone.
Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 tenor trombones, bass trombone – timpani, 3 percussion (bass drum, side drum, tenor drum, cymbal, glockenspiel, triangle, large gong, tubular bell in C) (all percussion optional) – piano duet (optional, if wind players are available) – strings
Publication: Oxford University Press. Piano/conductor score, 1969, 019 3684810 (discontinued). Score and parts are available on hire.

Arranged for organ and brass, by Arthur Wills.
This version is unpublished, but was recorded in 1982 (see below).

Arranged for brass, organ and percussion, by Christopher Palmer.
First Performance: 20 October 1989. Westminster Abbey, London. London Brass Ensemble, Jane Lister harp, Andrew Lumsden organ, Martin Neary conductor. The Laurence Olivier Memorial Service.
Instrumentation: 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion – harp (ad lib.) – organ
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.

Arranged for brass band, by Wright, ca.1995.
Publication: Boosey & Hawkes

Arranged for young concert band, by Jay Bocook.
Publication: Hal Leonard. Unidentified materials (most likely score and parts), HL 04001733.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Unidentified materials, arr. Bocook]

Recordings:

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Orchestral Music