A Queen's Fanfare, for brass

• Date: 1959
• Composer: William Walton
• Period: Modern (1910-1949)

Review

William Walton composed A Queen's Fanfare for performance by the British State Trumpeters at the 1959 NATO Parliamentarian's Conference in London. Scored for eight trumpets and four trombones, the piece was played during her majesty Queen Elizabeth's entrance to the hall. As a piece of official ceremonial music it is understandably brief, lasting under a minute. It consists of a brief "Maestoso" opening, characterized by dotted rhythms and ornamental triplet filigree, followed by an exuberant "Allegro" section composed of rising and falling arpeggios in a variety of evocative keys. The work's crux comes just near the end, when a quick breath precedes a sudden and heroic shift to the unexpected key upon which the piece concludes. ~ Jeremy Grimshaw, Rovi

Albums with Complete Performances of the Work

Title	Date
Fanfare, British Music for Symphonic Brass Ensemble	1977
Sir William Walton: The Complete Works	1995
William Walton: Coronation Te Deum and other choral music	2002
William Walton: In Honour of the City of London; Fanfares and Marches; Jubilate Deo; Antiphon; 4 Christmas Carols	1991

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