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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

Composer of the Week - Brand

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: William Walton (1902-1983)

Composer of the Week: William Walton (1902-1983): Episode 3: Music for the Masses

William Walton (1902-1983)

Episode 3

Episode 3: Music for the Masses

Music for the Masses

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, William Walton (1902-1983), Music for the Masses

Donald Macleod explains how Walton served the nation during World War II.

Donald Macleod focuses on how, at the age 40, William Walton was conscripted and ended up serving the nation with his music during World War Two.

Donald Macleod explores Walton's war years.

As wartime loomed, in the summer of 1939, Walton composed what was to be his last work of significance until after the war. He described his first Violin Concerto as a declaration of love for his partner. Then, at the age 40, William Walton was conscripted. After a period of driving ambulances, rather badly it seems, he was exempted from military service so he could write music for propaganda films for the Ministry of Information.

One of his most popular works, the Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, was composed for the film, The First of the Few, about the story of Spitfire designer, RJ Mitchell. The film's popularity saw Walton being asked to provide music for a screen version of Shakespeare's Henry V starring Laurence Olivier, one of the most successful films in the history of British cinema. Olivier said, "The music has more guts, more attack and more venom than one would have thought was hidden in Walton's personality." The collaboration saw Walton and Olivier become life-long friends.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of English composer William Walton

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of English composer William Walton. His work encompassed various different musical genres, from opera to film scores

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Composer of the Week

William Walton (1902-1983)

Episode 3: Music for the Masses

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