Varii capricci

for orchestra

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

General Information:

I.   Allegro assai
II.   Lento sognando
III.   Alla Cubana
     IV.   Lento
V.   Presto con slancio

Composition:  1975–6, based on the Five Bagatelles for Guitar. The last movement was rewritten in 1977.

First Performance:  4 May 1976. Royal Festival Hall, London. London Symphony Orchestra, Andrι Previn conductor.

Duration:  About 14 minutes

C. Number:  C86a

Instrumentation:

3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, cor anglais, 3 clarinets, 3 bassoons – 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba – timpani, 3 percussion (xylophone, cymbals, bass drum, side drum, tambourine, glockenspiel, claves, bongos, gong) – celesta – harp – strings

Manuscript:

Frederick R. Koch Collection. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Manuscript FRKF 613.
FRKF 613a - Autograph full score of original version. 43 pages.
FRKF 613b - Autograph full score of the revised last movement. 11 pages.
FRKF 613c - Autograph score of a coda written for Sir Frederick Ashton's ballet (see below). 1 leaf.  This sheet contains the last music Walton wrote before his death.

Publication:

Oxford University Press, 1978. Score and parts are available on hire. Materials available for purchase:

Varii capricci 1978 Study score ISBN 019 3684535 Buy from SheetMusicPlus.com

Arrangements:

Adaptations:

The music for Varii capricci formed the basis of the following ballet:

Recordings:

Orchestra Conductor Year Compact Disc Timing
London Philharmonic Orchestra Bryden Thomson 1990 Chandos CHAN 8862 14'49"

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

WilliamWalton.net – Catalogue of Works – Orchestral Music