Walton: Five Bagatelles for Classical Guitar
The Five Bagatelles (1970-71) by William Walton are among the finest works in the 20th-century guitar repertoire and the centrepiece of William Walton's sole contribution to the instrument. Written at the request of Julian Bream, who provided a fingerboard chart and technical guidance during composition sessions on Walton's home island of Ischia, the Bagatelles combine the Mediterranean brightness of Walton's late style with virtuosic guitaristic writing across five highly contrasted movements.
Background
William Walton (Oldham, 29 March 1902 - Ischia, 8 March 1983) was among the most distinguished British composers of the 20th century. The Bagatelles are dedicated to Malcolm Arnold 'with admiration and affection for his 50th birthday.' Julian Bream edited the published score (Oxford University Press, 1974 -- 'Edition Julian Bream') and gave the world premiere on 27 May 1972 at the Bath Assembly Rooms.
Walton subsequently orchestrated the Bagatelles as Varii Capricci (1975-76; premiered 4 May 1976 with the LSO under Andre Previn at the Royal Festival Hall). He grew so accustomed to the orchestral version that, when Bream later played him the original guitar version, Walton had completely forgotten the piece was written for guitar.
The Movements
| No. | Marking | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allegro | Fanfare-like, jazzy harmonies, upbeat wit; melancholic mid-section |
| 2 | Lento | Languid, slightly Satie-esque; hypnotic accompaniment |
| 3 | Alla Cubana | Smoky, seductive; syncopated Latin-American rhythms |
| 4 | Sempre espressivo | Dreamy, serene |
| 5 | Con slancio | Frantic virtuosic finale; most technically demanding |
Duration: approximately 12-14 minutes. Level: advanced / professional. Published by Oxford University Press (ISBN 9780193594074).
Performed at Siccas Guitars
Isabella Selder performed the complete Five Bagatelles for Siccas Guitars.
See all piece articles: Famous Classical Guitar Pieces
