God Save the Queen

arranged for orchestra

also arranged for mixed chorus and orchestra

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

General Information:

Arranged:
Walton made three arrangements of God Save the Queen, the British national anthem.  The first orchestral version dates from 1953, and is the only published version.  The second orchestral version dates from 1955.  The third version, for chorus and orchestra, dates from 1961.  I have been unable to compare these arrangements, though it is possible that the second and third versions are identical except for the added choral parts.

First Performance, 1953 Version:
8 June 1953. Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London. Covent Garden Orchestra, Sir John Pritchard conductor. Gala performance in honor of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which also included the premiere of Benjamin Britten's opera Gloriana.

First Performance, 1955 Version:
18 October 1955. Royal Festival Hall, London. Philharmonia Orchestra, Herbert von Karajan conductor.

First Performance, 1961 Choral Version:
29 March 1982. Royal Festival Hall, London. Philharmonia Orchestra and Choir, Andrι Previn conductor. Walton's 80th birthday concert.

Duration:
About 2 minutes

Craggs Catalogue Number:
1953 version: C60
1955 version: C64
1961 choral version: C64a

Instrumentation:

1953 version:

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

1955 version:

2 flutes, piccolo, 3 oboes, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cymbal) – 2 harps – strings

1961 version:

Mixed chorus (SATB)

2 flutes, piccolo, 3 oboes, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, tenor drum, bass drum, cymbal) – 2 harps – strings

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 626. Autograph full score of the 1953 version. 3 pages.

There is no known surviving manuscript of the 1955 or 1961 versions.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Published as "Introduction and National Anthem". Study score, 1987, 019 3685663. Set of parts, 019 3685671. Score and parts are also available on hire.

The 1955 and 1961 versions remain unpublished.

Recordings:

These arrangements have never been recorded.

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Orchestral Music – Choral Music