Author Description

This volume contains newly edited versions of four important later orchestral works by Walton: Capriccio Burlesco, Improvisations on an Impromptu of Benjamin Britten, Prologo e Fantasia, and Varii Capricci. The first three works were written for American orchestras: Capriccio Burlesco was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra for its 125th anniversary year in 1968; the Improvisations, based on a theme from Britten's Piano Concerto No. 1, was written in 1969 and dedicated to the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra; Prologo e Fantasia was written in 1981-2 for the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington DC. The last work, Varii Capricci, was a free transcription for orchestra by Walton of his Five Bagatelles for Guitar and written for the opening of the Royal Festival Hall in 1976.