Walton’s music for Richard II

[semloh]

Not a missing 'I' from the Subject, but a question about Sir William Walton's incidental music for the BBC Shakespeare TV production of Richard II, from 1979 featuring Gielgud and Jacobi. I have an old tape which includes a "Suite", performed by the Ulster Orchestra cond. Barry Wordsworth, on BBC R3 back around 1980, and have been trying without success to find the Suite has ever been recorded, and to find out if it was constructed by Walton himself. Can anyone advise me, please?

[TerraEpon]

The old Walton site doesn't mention this at all...

http://web.archive.org/web/20110525205522fw_/http://www.williamwalton.net/works/incidental.html (nor in Film Scores either)
Nor does Wikipedia.

Now of course there's music from the film Richard III but I guess this isn't what you mean since that's from the 50s.

[eschiss1]

Rotten Tomatoes (I know, I know) has "Walton continued to exercise his talent in the seventies and the eighties, taking on a mix of projects like "Richard II" (PBS, 1978-79)"... also, an ebay search reveals a (possibly mislabeled, though?) recording called "WALTON - SCENES FROM HENRY VIII - RICHARD II & HENRY V". Not sure what to make of that, will look into it...

[tpaloj]

I have an old tape which includes a "Suite", performed by the Ulster Orchestra cond. Barry Wordsworth, on BBC R3 back around 1980, and have been trying without success to find the Suite has ever been recorded

Can you clarify what you mean by this? This sentence reads to me that you have a tape (ie. a recording) of this suite, and at the same time are wondering if the suite has been recorded?

It's interesting that some sources seem to say that Walton only wrote the title music for the Richard II 1978 tv production, such as wikipedia and this: http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/526894/credits.html

[semloh]

Oh, yes, that is confusing! My recording is one I made from a BBC Radio 3 concert or studio performance; I was wondering if there has ever been a commercial recording.

[tpaloj]

Oh, yes, that is confusing! My recording is one I made from a BBC Radio 3 concert or studio performance; I was wondering if there has ever been a commercial recording.

Ah yes, that clears things up, thank you! I see. It's been tough to try finding any trace of such a recording. I hope someone else can chime in with some better info.

[TerraEpon]

It's interesting that some sources seem to say that Walton only wrote the title music for the Richard II 1978 tv production, such as wikipedia and this: http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/526894/credits.html

That is probably this
http://web.archive.org/web/20110709191638fw_/http://www.williamwalton.net/works/incidental/bbc_shakespeare.html

[semloh]

Well, that has taken me aback! Difficult to construct a suite out of a piece lasting under one minute. I now see that IMDB (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077806/fullcredits ) credits Walton only with the "title music".

So... it seems there has been an error somewhere along the line. As you may realize, I can't actually play the tape, in order to check, without a great deal of messing about, as my equipment is too old and the tapes likewise - both 40 years! But the mystery appears to be solved.

Thank you, everyone for your help. I am sorry it didn't reveal a 'missing' Walton suite!

[eschiss1]

Historical and modern film music , it occurred to me when rewatching an extremely well-known film scored by one of my very least favorite very famous film composers, is a wider topic worth discussing in general-and-specific, imho (well, insofar as it intersects with this forum, of course).
And I regret it too