Music for Children

for orchestra

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

General Information:

Composition:  1940–1, arranged by the composer from the Duets for Children (1940). Nine of the numbers originally existed in versions for piano solo, entitled Tunes for My Niece.

First Performance:  Sunday, 16 February 1941. Queen's Hall, London. London Philharmonic Orchestra, Basil Cameron conductor.

Duration:  About 14 minutes

C. Number:  C39a

Instrumentation:

2 flutes (both doubling piccolos), 2 oboes (both doubling cor anglais), 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion (side drum, cymbals, glockenspiel, tambourine, xylophone) – harp – strings

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 624c. Autograph full score. 37 pages.

Publication:

Oxford University Press, 1941. Score and parts are available on hire.

Arrangements:

• Music for Children, arranged for piano solo by Roy Douglas (1949/50).
  See above for publication information.
  
  
• Trumpet Tune, for trumpet and piano, arranged by Ann Driver (1954).
  This version has never been published or recorded.

Six Pieces for Brass Ensemble, Sets 1 and 2, arranged by Nöel de Jongh.
Set 1 Contents: 'Puppet's Dance', 'Hopscotch', 'Trumpet Tune'
Set 2 Contents: 'The Three-Legged Race', 'The Silent Lake', 'Pony Trap'
Instrumentation, Set 1: 2 trumpets, 2 trombones
Instrumentation, Set 2: 3 trumpets (1 optional), 3 trombones, horn (optional)
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score, 1964, discontinued.

Miniatures for Wind Band, Sets 1 and 2, arranged by Bram Wiggins.
Set 1 Contents: 'The Music Lesson', 'The Three-Legged Race', 'The Silent Lake', 'Pony Trap', 'Song at Dusk'
Set 2 Contents: 'Ghosts', 'Hopscotch', 'Puppet's Dance', 'Swing Boats', 'Trumpet Tune'
Instrumentation: Piccolo (optional), 2 flutes, 1 or 2 oboes, 3 clarinets, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, 2 alto saxophones, bassoon – 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, 2 euphonium (second doubling tenor saxophones), tuba – timpani, percussion – doublebass.
Publication: Oxford University Press. 1974. Set 1: score 019 3682672, set of parts 019 3682958. Set 2: score 019 3685078, set of parts 019 3685353.

Children's Suite, for oboe and piano, arranged by Christopher Palmer.
Comprising: 'The Music Lesson', 'The Three-Legged Race', 'Ghosts', 'Hopscotch', 'Swing Boats', 'Song at Dusk', 'Puppet's Dance', 'Trumpet Tune'
Publication: Oxford University Press. Included in Willam Walton: An Oboe Album, 1992, 019 3594102.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: An Oboe Album]

Arranged for brass band, by Paul Hindmarsh, ca.1995.
Comprising: 'The Music Lesson', 'The Three-Legged Race', 'The Silent Lake', 'Pony Trap', 'Swing Boats', 'Song at Dusk', 'Trumpet Tune'

Two Pieces for Manuals, for organ, arranged by Robert Gower.
Comprising: 'Allegro', 'Alla marcia'
Publication: Oxford University Press. Included in A Walton Organ Album, 1996, 019 3758709
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: A Walton Organ Album]

Adaptations:

Galop final, composed by Walton in 1949, and incorporating themes from Music for Children, intended to form the conclusion to the ballet Devoirs de vacances.
Arrangement: Orchestrated by Christopher Palmer, using the same orchestra as Music for Children.
Manuscript: Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 624d. Autograph short score. 7 pages.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.

Music for Children has formed the basis of the following ballet:

• Devoirs de vacances. John Taras choreographer, Boris Kochno book.
  • First Performance: Tuesday, 8 November 1949. Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, Paris. Ballet des Champs-Élysées. Leslie Caron, Hélène Constantine, Irene Shorik, Hélène Sadowska, Youly Algaroff principals. Cecil Beaton scenery, costumes.

Recordings:

For additional recordings of this music, see the following versions:

• Duets for Children, for piano duet (1940)

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Orchestral Music