Walton: In Honour of the City of London

 

This recording is divided into two William Walton programs. The first contains brass and orchestra, featuring marches and fanfares from the Philharmonia Orchestra. The second is choral, mostly a cappella, although John Scott joins in on pipe organ as well.

The main feast, though, is the 17-minute In Honour of the City of London. This is a choral/orchestral cantata which extols the virtues of London using Medieval texts. 20th-Century British composer George Dyson did something similar to the same words, but I think Walton is more successful overall. Plus its music is a coming together of all the forces performing on this program together.

Those looking for an easy in to the music of William Walton, this could certainly be that program. The music is certainly diverse considering the two performing forces features across this recording. Of course, The Bach Choir under Sir David Willcocks is bound to be excellent, for their history is well storied.

A review from 2021

This Chandos recording of William Walton’s Fanfares, Marches, and choral music finds the composer ensorcelled within the full regalia of Britania. The instrumental music is all related to coronations and the pomp and circumstance of royalty, while the cantata In Honour of the City of London is a glorious paean to the heart of ‘Merrie Olde England’. The a cappella choral music is also pretty jolly and festive, so if you are looking for the most approachable of Walton, steeped in occasion, this recording will suit just fine.

The major work of the disc is the 17-minute choral cantata In Honour of the City of London which extolls with majesty the virtues of its capitol, using medieval texts shared by George Dyson’s similar cantata, found on Somm. Walton’s has a lot of splash and vigour comparatively; much of his complex rhythms from Belshazzar’s Feast are apparent throughout, and it is nice bit of British flag-waving.

The rest of the choral music is pretty fun too. The 4 Christmas Carols are akin to a cappella madrigals with the stand-alone piece, Where Does the Uttered Music Go?, coming the closest to Britten-esque substance. The two liturgical work Antiphon and Jubilate Deo have been orchestrated by Christopher Palmer, and the addition of orchestra really brightens up the music, injecting some impact and glitz.

Walton’s famous marches Crown Imperial and Orb & Sceptre are traditional fare, and are accompanied by royal fanfares, premiered on this recording. The additional March for The History of the English-Speaking Peoples follows in the majesty of the English march, and it is all rousing, tuneful music making.

The Philharmonia under Sir David Willcocks sounds out with strong atmosphere, and it is all a jolly time. Willcocks’ beloved The Bach Choir is on hand, and they really add a strong presence to the cantata, although I would have liked them a little further in front of the orchestra to better understand the texts. Their traversal of the smaller choral works are sung sympathetically and musically, and Chandos has provided the song texts with the physical media.

If I had a druther regarding this recording, it is that much of the program is fairly light and rides the line of inconsequential. That said, it is all excellently played, and it is easy on the ears, not always the case with Walton’s more serious music. Chandos’ sound from the 90’s is amply full-bodied, the chorus is particularly well caught, and their whole Walton series is very good.

This recording is a nice place to get all of the bits and bobs of William Walton’s smaller works, both for orchestra and chorus, and it fills out aspects of his oeuvre nicely.

 

 

 
Works
In Honour of the City of London (16.54)
Queen's Fanfare (0.43)
Anniversary Fanfare (0.46)
Crown Imperial (6.35)
Orb and Sceptre (7.04)
March for the History of the English-speaking Peoples (4.40)
Four Christmas Carols (8.10)
Where does the Uttered Music Go? (5.54)
Antiphon (2.54)
Jubilate Deo (3.13)

Ensembles
The Bach Choir
Philharmonia Orchestra
Sir David Willcocks, conductor

Label: Chandos
Year: 1991
Total Timing: 57.17

 

 

There is only one meaty work on this program. The rest are short fanfares and marches or smaller choral pieces.

Luckily, everything is performed here with a deft hand from Sir David and his choral and orchestral forces.

 

 

 

 

Find more Walton recordings HERE!