William Walton - Violin Sonata

So I discovered a new composer I like this week - William Walton.

I am taking a module at Uni called "British Chamber Music Since The First World War" and for my seminar presentation I decided to do this work.

Shamefully, given that I don't like much 20th century music, I had not heard of Walton before this course and until I listened to this piece, I was frightfully worried about giving this seminar. But honestly, doing my presentation was a blast after I listened to the work.

This piece is seldom performed or recorded partly due to the fact that it is one of his smaller works and came after he'd "peaked" but there has been an orchestra arrangement made which is very good too.

You can find the work on iTunes performed by the duo it was written for.

Also if you like interesting reads and want to know more about Walton, check out a book by Susan Walton, called William Walton Behind the Facade. This was written by his wife after his death and only the fact that it contained no spec. info on the work I was studying, I wouldn't have put it down. Walton certainly was an interesting character.

One last thing if your a violinist or a pianist, perform this!!! It deserves to be played!!

i know of his violin and viola concertos and never got around to purchasing a recording...guess i'll have to check this out too

If you liked those works you will like this work - Walton uses the melodic theme he used in those works again in this one.

Walton's first symphony is astoundingly brilliant. Listen to that next, if you can (actually, you almost certainly already have, considering you've done a presentation and read his biography!). I'd also suggest the 'populist' stuff, like The Spitfire Prelude and Fugue, Orb and Sceptre (written for Queen Elizabeth II's coronation), and Crown Imperial (written for her father's coronation), for anyone who's not heard Walton before.

I should really listen to more Walton, but am busy trying (and failing embarrassingly) to familiarise myself with Mozart.

Just listen to The Marriage of Figaro and cry out of its sheer beauty.

I love Walton!
I love his concerto.
It loves me too and my viola.... it got me into college.