William Walton's Spitfire Prelude and Fugue

[Darwinsman]

Been to see the Halle, just got back. It was great.

[Darwinsman]

I was in the RAF, not during the war, I hasten to add, but I remember it being played by 5th regional Band.

My wife and I are going tomorrow to a concert by the Halle Orchestra. this is on the program.

[dommboi69]

love the bit in the fugue with the high-pitched violin solo.

[patrickburnsmusic]

William Walton was one of the best writers of the 20th century and is sadly and unfortunately neglected when talking about the greats, oftentimes. His work was and will remain magnificent in every way. He's been a huge influence on me as a composer and overall musician and I greatly admire him.

[TheRobertTaggart]

Best of British Bosch Bashing !

[rr7firefly1]

To all the Brits who seem to have prominence in this conversation I say "Bravo!"

Sir William Walton captures the very best in your national character.

[takharov1]

RIP RJ.MItchell and all those wonderful young men who sacrificed themselves to save this nation. Not forgetting the contributions of the lookouts, radar ops and WAAFs and all the auxiliary crews.

[fiendero]

My sister used this at her wedding (makes a change from Mendelssohn!)...hearing it full blast on a big church organ...amazing!

[rederic2004]

@fiendero

I would love to have heard that, even though I'm not a huge WW fan!

[AndrewMcCheyne]

@fiendero Your sister has excellent taste and there couldn't be a better sound for a wedding. Well done. My wife and I had the Dambuster theme at the end of our wedding.

[curlyman217]

in time, this better be regarded as one of the single best pieces ever written!

[irkibby]

I heard the prelude played on the organ at Walsall Town Hall a few years ago. how utterly glorious a sound

[colliecandle]

Been much nicer [and more accurate] if this had been named for the Hurricanes too! Without them, the battle of Britain would Im sure, have been lost.and of course the men who flew them.especially the Polish who were fantastic aviators

[swallin19]

@colliecandle It was written for the film about the Spitfire "The first of the few" about R J Mitchell , the designer of the plane, and was dedicated to him and the work he did to bring about the building of what was a very important fighter.plane, without which the RAF simply would never have succeeded against the German planes. The Hawker was never in the same league, as it could not be up-dated so much, but made a magnificent contribution.

[0B0Eriec]

those were times when true heroism still was a virtue honored by friend and foe.

Nowadays, people judge you by the amount of breezers you can drink in one night.

Sigh.

If only I was born in another decade....

[MoBinger]

He didn´t get the point!

[Cuppus94]

We played this at county orchestra last week, it was well good!

[Jcub90]

@Cuppus94 if youre from yorkshire then i played it with you and simon wright was conducting

[Cuppus94]

@Jcub90 Yeah it was! What instrument do you play? I'm a cellist! Xoxo

[Jcub90]

@Cuppus94 im a violinist one of the new guys

[Bondek1996]

the very start of this, the opening moments of the Prelude never fail to send a shiver down the spine. This is such a superb piece of music.

[wenglishsal]

Oops I said that Sir William Walton wrote Pomp and Circumstance... of course he didn't it was the wonderful Sir Edward Elgar... BUT in my defence both men are true greats... *sighs*

[wenglishsal]

Oh I say... this totally reminds me of watching a lovely Noel Coward film or just sitting in the garden with Classic FM on... wonderful, emotive, patriotic and sterling music... William Walton at his superb best along with my other favourites of his 'Pomp and Circumstance' and 'Crown Imperial'

[jrcadet4]

I can't hear this music without being moved to tears, remembering late friends and mentors who flew in that war. They probably saved my life several times,by passing on what they'd learned at immense risk---some of them in fact flying Spitfires, w/ the RAF Eagle Squadrons and the US 8th Air Force. Sir William Walton captured their spirit and courage for all time in this piece, at least for me.

[poshiejoshie1345]

Fantastic!!!

[root6170]

Sound is great on this one. The first I listened to was mono.

[TheBantlingboy]

I saw this piece played by an orchestra at a proms in the park event whilst a Spitfire danced in the sky overhead - I was only 31 at the time and I had a tear in my eye - stirring stuff !!!!

[GBrutus7]

Brilliant...

[wat870]

oh so British!!

[beevers48]

Couldnt be from anywhere could it? Sheer un-adulterated class.

[NormanFraser]

This is the best version of this I've heard. Anyone know which version it is?

[wafflyadam4757]

The piece came up in my A Level music exam and I was scared to listen to it before I knew my results. Can listen to this brilliant composition as much as I want now!

[HahnPotterishFowlnut]

This is very well played!

[wenglishsal]

Sir William Walton one of his best, this piece of music is evocative, fantastic and definably British to the core...

Crown Imperial is also up there, amongst my favorites of all time...

What a composer, music and patriotic man... Well done sir, so say I... :0)x

[takharov]

Couldn't agree more. So uplifting and also melancholic in remembrance of those often so very young pilots who never made it back to base.

His score for 'Henry V' also is worth mentioning in this regard.

[kawaiikawaiix]

I love this, playing a version of it with my band at the moment, it is a brilliant piece of music.

[hiddenmarcovich]

wow..... i dont have any word to describe how beautiful is this ..

[andromidia1]

one of the best

[psychogopher]

Makes you proud to be british!

[psychogopher]

Beautiful!

[kbrowneyes]

There is nothing MORE "annoying" or "insufferable" than someone criticising the grammar & tiny mistakes of others--yes,others as well as myself,I see on other videos--on a casual site such as this when surely the object is to view & comment on the video? How very small-minded can you be?especially as I was in praise of this lovely music & all it stands for! You are welcome to call me--"illiterate"--that is your opinion,whereas mine,of you,is--rude,arrogant,ignorant­. Pompous,in fact!!

[peplicus]

It´s grandeur reminds me of Walton´s 1st Symphony, and, as always, the fugal forms (the Spitfire - that´s a plane I think), are so characteristic of him. Walton belongs to those who listen and cherish him; he´s so much more than a "British composer". He composes for mankind.

[benteague1]

Yeah, the Spitfire was a prominent fighter craft in WWII :)

[peplicus]

I´m not British, but Brazilian from Rio. Walton´s music (especially his symphonys) have always touched my soul deeply. I think he´s underated, and is perhaps one of the most lyrical, tender, affectionate composers of the 20th Century. His music is so elaborate, that only something as elaborate as the heart can understand it and cry with it.

[Lordricky4]

Ah they don't write 'em like that anymore...

[kbrowneyes]

Well---today is St. George's Day"---how very apt that a friend should send me this today of all days,remembering how "Great" Britain truly once was----are we losing our way in this 21st Century?--I fervently hope not and that there will be a way back to former Glory and Greatness as the men and women before us who "saved" this land for us deserve so much better. The "Spitfire" in her day proved to be a veritable courageous--"Bird of Paradise" --along with her other winged warriors!

K xxx

[cabelodefogouk]

There is nothing more "annoying" and indicative of the "illiterate" than "misplaced" quotation marks. Insufferable...

[jamesy1966]

This Piece of music is simply stunning. If you close your eyes you can see a single spitfire with that unmistakeable eliptical wing flying through the sky. Thankyou so much for posting this twilightflame91

[lobobreed]

I wouldn't be alive if not for the Spitfire and the brave lads of the RAF. Western Civilization owes you more than we could ever repay.

[steampunkstan]

@lobobreed Don't forget the Hurricane!

[seanfromtheblock]

we played this in ESSO

[whizkid7562]

Twilightflame....you needn't fear, I for one am grateful that you allowed many listeners to appreciate this piece by Walton. One of Britains many geniuses

that gave humanity beautiful music.  Thank you so much!

[whizkid7562]

W. Walton, Britain's musical genius penned this most exciting piece! A tribute to the Spitfire pilots who fought against overwhelming odds and won the Battle of Britain!

[mirovomike]

the orchestra is London Symphony

[mirovomike]

This was written for the film "The First Of The Few". My father flew in the Battle of Britain in both Hurricanes and Spitfires,two of my uncles died in it,I am proud of ALL who flew and ALL who served!!!

[blindpugh12]

Just before he retired in the early 1980's, I found out my head of department at work was one of 'The Few'. When called up he was 19 and at veterinary college; Ron few hurricanes and later Mosquitos.

[llkszt]

Great piece. Which orchestra is playing it? Must be a first-class "band"...

[mirovomike]

london symphony

[Lordricky4]

LSO for short :)

[D989501L]

Agreat piece of music and have listened to it quite a few times, if you see the film this is in it reminds you of what it was all about.