William Walton - Symphony No.1 - final episode - 1969 - Civilisation

William Walton Symphony no.1 in B flat minor - leading into "Heroic Materialism," the final episode of BBC's 1969 production, Kenneth Clark's "Civilisation". A little reminiscent of the beginning of "West Side Story" also.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• William
• Walton
• Symphony
• no.
• flat
• minor
• Heroic
• Materialism
• final
• episode
• BBC
• 1969
• Kenneth
• Clark
• Civilisation
• New
• York
• West
• side
• story

[ludwigvan17]

William Walton rocks. That melody is angelic.

[bikiniatoll]

Yes, I found it instantly compelling myself! Angelic perhaps, yet perturbed.

As to rock, now you mention it, I can imagine some good prog rock act making a fair go of it

[waverly2468]

I remember the commentary that begins after this title--Clark says look the gleaming city--it's a monument to man whereas the cathedrals were a monument to God. But look closer, and you can see the dirt and grime and chaos of the city and you know that all is not well. This reminds me of the documentary "The Ascent of Money" that you can see on the pbs website.

[bikiniatoll]

Pretty much spot on.

The Ascent of Money, it does seem, is an attempt to recapture this style of doco -- the namecheck of the Ascent of Man is conscious, Ferguson happily admits -- but ends up being rather more pop. Plus, Niall's approach to history as a tool for prediction is not in keeping with this model, working against the sense of modest yet timeless authority. Not a bad effort though, and quite informative, even with the neo-classical bent.

[andreaandrewmilne]

Dear bikinatol,

Good post. You write funny sidebar comments. BTW, where did you get that taste for kitsch Russ Meyer films ;-)

[bikiniatoll]

I like rich mix, let's just say. It's more that film specifically than Russ Meyer as auteur of angry boob cinema.

[ybravura]

@andreaandrewmilne Very eloquent !

[edgluhrs]

I just listened to the whole symphony for the first time yesterday. Wow. Do you know who are the conductor and orchestra in this recording?

[ludwigvan17]

LOL Yeah. Like when ELP did "Pictures at an Exhibition."

[ludwigvan17]

Oh yeah. Well, the development sections are definitely perturbed but that main theme too beautiful for words. It's almost like he's struggling between this extreme nervous disposition and this godlike swagger.