大象传媒

William Walton composed music for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and King George VI, pieces of pomp and circumstance which we鈥檒l likely here again during this weekend鈥檚 coronation of King Charles III. But Walton grew up far from Buckingham Palace and the world of the Windsors, in the northern working-class town of Oldham, seemingly destined to work at the cotton mill. Even when he escaped to Oxford and then London, making high-society friends such as the Sitwells, his early music was intense and avant-garde - not at all suitable for a royal affair. So how did Walton become the royal composer of choice? This week, we鈥檒l find out.

In today鈥檚 programme, we hear first how Walton made it out of Oldham, when his father happened upon a newspaper ad announcing a 鈥渢rial of voices鈥� - and how young Walton very nearly missed his chance.

Coronation Te Deum
Choir of St John's College, Cambridge
Christopher Whitton, organ
Christopher Robinson, conductor

Symphony No 2: II. Lento assai
London Symphony Orchestra
Andr茅 Previn, conductor

String Quartet
Albion Quartet

Litany
Gabrieli Consort, choir
Paul McCreesh, conductor

Piano Quartet: I. Allegramente, IV. Allegro molto
Peter Donohoe, piano
Maggini Quartet