| Abstract |
Sir William Walton's character was both complex and baffling. Although hailed as one of the musical giants of the twentieth century, he often seemed to regard his own achievements with a brooding unease and scepticism. He could, by turns, be aggressive or gentle, moody or high-spirited, with a satirical humour that spared neither his friends nor his enemies. In his younger days he loved two beautiful, aristocratic women--one a German baroness, the other a chatelaine of English society--yet he was born of middle-class parents in Oldham and, until the Sitwells 'adopted' him, knew little of the glittering, sophisticated world which they inhabited. In the realm of music he was largely self-taught and remained all his life an indifferent performer on the piano, but his technical brilliance in such works as Belshazzar's Feast and the Violin Concerto rivalled that of the greatest masters of the art. Although he made no attempt to create a new compositional style or language, his music, spiced by harmonic asperities and many ingenious touches, came to be regarded as belonging to the European mainstream. At its best it was never less than magnificent. The need for a carefully researched and clear-sighted biography of Walton cannot be exaggerated. The author has provided one, giving a vivid, often extremely moving portrait of Sir William as composer and man. His book draws upon a wide range of material, including previously unpublished letters--some written by Walton himself--and the reminiscences of friends and collaborators who knew him intimately. With its comprehensive analyses of all Walton's works this book will not only captivate the general reader, but also provide a valuable source of information for the musical scholar or student. |
