Prelude and Fugue: The Spitfire

for orchestra

from the film The First of the Few

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

General Information:

Composition:
1942. Extracted from the music for the film The First of the Few.

First Performance:
2 January 1943. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool. Liverpool Philharmonic Crchestra, Sir William Walton conductor.

Duration:
About 8 minutes

Craggs Catalogue Number:
C45a

Instrumentation:

2 flutes (second doubling piccolo), 1 or 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 1 or 2 bassoons – 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, percussion (side drum, cymbals, bell) – harp – strings

A note in the score reads: "Optional 2nd oboe and 2nd bassoon parts have been added by Vilem Tausky, with the composer's authorization."

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 607. Autograph full score. 32 pages.

Publication:

Oxford University Press. Study score, 1961, 019 3683504. Score and parts are available on hire.

Arrangements:

Prelude, arranged for organ solo, by Dennis Morrell.
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score, 1966, 019 3744725 (discontinued). Also included in A Walton Organ Album, 1996, 019 3758709.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: A Walton Organ Album]

Prelude, arranged for military band, by Rodney B. Bashford.
Publication: Boosey and Hawkes. Score, 1966, QMB 273, and parts.
            [Purchase online from SheetMusicPlus.com: Unidentified materials, arr. Bashford]

Fugue, arranged for military band, by J. L. Wallace.
Publication: Boosey and Hawkes. Score, 1970, QMB 288, and parts. Discontinued.

Arranged for brass ensemble, by Elgar Howarth, 1977.
Instrumentation: Piccolo trumpet, 2 cornets, 2 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 2 percussion
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.

Arranged for brass band, by Crees.
Instrumentation: 3 piccolo trumpets, 3 trumpets, flugelhorn, 4 horns, 3 trombones, 2 euphonium, 2 tuba – tmipani, percussion
Publication: Oxford University Press. Score and parts are available on hire.

Recordings:

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Orchestral Music