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The careerist
Incidental music for the radio play, first broadcast on the BBC Third Programme 22 October 1946, performed by Jan van der Gucht and William Alwyn. Produced and written by Louis MacNeice.
For tenor and flute.
Cues: 1. Introduction -- 2. Link to small-boyhood -- 3. Link to first school -- 4. Link to public school -- 5. Link to university -- 6. Link to last days at Oxford -- 7. Link to first job -- 8. Wedding march (flute only) -- 9. Link to racketeering -- 10. Link to autocracy -- 11. Link to war (sung against an air-raid siren) -- 12. Link to last scene -- 13. After suicide -- 14. End music (flute only)
Recording: BBC Sound Archive F46/63
Archive has sketches, holograph in pencil, and score, holograph in ink. See MS.Alwyn.1.6.4 (Sketches), and MS.Alwyn.1.6.3 (Score)
 

 

Each for all
Working title: Trade Unions
Music for the documentary film, narrated by John Slater, directed by Montgomery Tully, produced by Verity Films on behalf of the British Council, 1946.
For chamber orchestra. 1110/2200/timp.perc/22111
Cues: Music I. Titles & opening sequence -- Music 2. Montage. Hodgson ; Boilermakers ; Allen ; Railwaymen ; Dukes ; Woolstoncroft ; Bricklayers ; Delegate speakers ; Porters ; Dame Loughlin ; Holmes ; Isaacs -- Music 3. Miners ; Slater ; Shipyard workers ; Hikers
Archive has manuscript score, holograph in pencil. See MS.Alwyn.1.1.142
 

 

Flying visit
Music for the radio travelogue, produced and written by Leonard Cottrell. Broadcast on the BBC Home Service in August-September 1946
For chamber orchestra. 1(picc)1(ca)11/2200/perc/str.
Manuscript in the BBC Music Library: Ms.20352
 

 

Green for danger
Music for the feature film starring Alastair Sim and Trevor Howard, produced by Launder and Gilliat, directed by Sidney Gilliat for Individual Pictures. For further details and production stills see BFI database
For a clip see YouTube
For orchestra
DVD available. See Amazon
Manuscript lost
Archive has PRS returns and cue-sheet. MS.Alwyn.1.14.49-50
 

 

Home again
Music for the Christmas radio feature. Broadcast on the Home Service and Light Programme, 25 December 1946. Produced by Laurence Gilliam.
For chamber orchestra
Recording in the BBC Sound Archive F46/76 
Manuscript in the BBC Music Library Ms.20437
 

 

I see a dark stranger
Also released as "The Adventuress"
Music for the feature film starring Deborah Kerr and Trevor Howard, produced by Launder and Gilliat, directed by Frank Launder. For further details and production stills see BFI database
For the trailer see YouTube
Available on DVD. See Amazon
For orchestra
Cues: Bridie's tune -- Bridie -- Dark stranger motive -- Bridie's tune -- Idea for title background -- Middle section of titles -- Dark stranger motive -- Dark stranger chord -- Bridie -- Reel for break up of funeral -- Funeral procession -- 12M2 Hotel bedroom, David & Bridie married -- 6M2 Bridie's reflection in mirror -- 2M2 Miller sees Bridie into cab -- 4M1 The sergeant is locked out -- 1M3 Bridie's birthday -- 9M3 Bridie burns the notebook -- 2M1 Bridie leaves home -- 2M1 continued -- 12M3 "Play off" and end credits -- 2M1 continued -- 6M1 -- 3M1 Bridie turns to leave Callaghan's room -- 3M2 Miller leaves bookshop & Cromwell statue -- Title music -- 5M1 Bridie runs away from David -- 5M2 Bridie limps back to hotel -- Opening of picture -- For cafe etc. -- Chair wheels -- Nightmare -- 9M4 Love scene in Liverpool bedroom -- 6M3 Bridie dashes upstairs after scene with Grandpa -- 7MX Bridie in corridor looking into carriage, thought music -- 7M1 Thoughts "Now how can I ask to have the window halfway down" -- 7M2 Thoughts "Isn't anybody going to say anything at all?" -- 8M1 Bridie's bedroom -- 8M2 Corner pan to Bridie on Tynewald court steps -- 11M1 Break-up of funeral -- 11Mx Funeral procession -- 7M3 Railway carriage -- 7M4 Liverpool hotel -- 9M4 Love scene -- 9M1 Bridie leaving Tynewald court -- 9M2 Bridie in the train -- 10M3 From ticket 211 -- 10M4 Dawn shot of boat sailing out of harbour -- 12M1 David sees the straw hat -- 1M2.
Archive has sketches, holograph in pencil. Also includes a note on recording sessions, holograph in pencil, scribbled on the back of a letter from "Maude" to William Alwyn. See MS.Alwyn.1.1.150 and cue sheet MS.Alwyn.1.14.57.
 

 

Land of promise
Music for the documentary film produced and directed by Paul Rotha for Paul Rotha productions and Films of Fact, 1946. For further information, production stills and to see the complete film go to Screen online
For chamber orchestra. 1(picc)1(ca)11/2200/timp.perc/hp/32221.
Cues: (Piano score) 1M2 Overlap titles -- 1M3 Chord out of [illegible] for observer -- 1M4 Hansard -- 1M6 Title music -- End titles same as 1M1 -- 1M5 Newspaper track to Knowall -- 1M6 -- 1M7 Characters in pub -- 1M8 -- 1M9 Airshot -- 2M1 -- 2M2 Track shot to drain -- 2M3 Release from slum scenes -- 3M1 Tenants association -- 4M1 Title "Homes as they are" -- 4M2 Health build up -- Again for 4M3 agriculture -- 4M4 -- 4M5 Repeat 4M2 -- 5M1 -- 5M2 Link to pub -- 6M1 Voice tells what he wants -- 6M2 Airshot -- 7M1 Thunder chord -- 7M2 End titles.

Cues: (Score) 1M1 Title music -- 2M1 Big Ben -- 1M2 Opening sequence -- 1M3 Chords for observer and history -- 1M4 Chord for Hansard -- 1M5 Newspaper track to Knowall -- 1M6 Knowall protests -- 1M7 Characters in pub -- 1M8 Slums to title "Houses as they were" -- 1M9 Airshot -- 2M2 Track shot to drain -- 2M3 Release from slum scenes -- 3M1 Tenants association -- 4M1 Titles "Homes as they are" tottering wall to stone overturned -- 4M2 March -- 4M4 March Trio -- 5M2 Link to pub, woman says "They're coming back" -- 6M1 Voice tells what he wants -- 6M2 2nd airshot -- 7M1 Thunder chord.
Archive has piano score (arr. by the composer) and score. Both holograph in pencil, the score is signed. See MS.Alwyn.1.1.54 (Piano score), MS.Alwyn.1.1.53 (Score)

 

 

Man from Belsen
Music for the radio play. Produced and written by Leonard Cottrell, starring Valentine Dyall and Carleton Hobbs. Broadcast on the BBC Home Service 12th April 1946.
For marimba (or xylophone), vibraphone, gong, side drum, tenor drum, cymbals and timpani.
Cues: Music I. Slow march. "The clothes all exactly the same" etc. -- Music X after "It was Belsen" -- 2 -- 3 -- Music 4 -- Music 5 -- Music 6 -- Music 7 -- Music 8 -- Music 9 -- Music 10. Like a death rattle -- Music 11.
Recording in the BBC Sound Archive F46/25 featuring James Blades and Henry Taylor.
Archive has score and parts. Holograph in pencil, signed. MS.Alwyn.1.6.11
 

 

Men of Gloucester see Overture in the form of a serenade
 

 

Nalinakanti
Part of a BBC Radio feature production, recorded 21st March 1946
For chamber orchestra. picc.110/harp/string quartet/double bass
Recording at the BBC Sound Archive 9292
Manuscript at the BBC Music Library, Ms.20275.
 

 

Overture in the form of a serenade
Also known as "Men of Gloucester"
Dedicated to Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams.
For orchestra, solo soprano and chorus. 
Premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson, in Bourton-on-the-water, June 1946.
Recorded by Michaela Haslam (soprano), The London Chorus and the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by John Wilson. Recorded at the Colosseum, Town Hall, Watford, 12-14 July 2009. Dutton CDLX 7237, also available on iTunes.
Archive has sketches, holograph in pencil; score, holograph in ink, signed and dated "London June 1946; and parts with corrections. MS.Alwyn.1.4.21-23.
 

 

Peace thanksgiving see Song of Thanksgiving
 

 


Plan for London
 see Proud city
 

 


Proud city

Subtitled "The plan for London"
Music for the documentary film, directed by Ralph Keene for Greenpark Productions and the Film Producers Guild on behalf of the Ministry of Information, 1946. For further information and production stills, see BFI database.
To see film go to YouTube. Also available on the London Pride DVD, see Panamint Cinema
For chamber orchestra. 1110/2200/timp.perc/hp/22111.
Archive has holograph score in pencil, signed. MS.Alwyn.1.1.94
Archive also has cue-sheets MS.Alwyn.1.14.98
 

 

Slum song see Three songs for voice and piano, with words by Louis MacNeice
 

 


Song of thanksgiving

Arrangements of music for the documentary film, directed and designed by Norman Walker and Victor MacClure, see BFI database.
Manuscript lost.
 

 

Three songs for voice and piano, with words by Louis MacNeice
1. The Streets of Laredo (variations on a cowboy tune) -- 2. Slum Song -- 3. Carol
Streets of Laredo
Variations on a cowboy tune. First line: O early one morning the All clear was sounding.
Unpublished, unrecorded.
Archive has holograph sketches in pencil. A further leaf has the melody line only in C major in an unknown hand with the first few bars transposed to D major in Alwyn's hand in biro. On reverse of this leaf are the words to The Braes of Yarrow in Hedli Anderson's hand in ink. The sheet of notes contains amendments to the first two lines in Louis Macneice's hand in pencil, with a few lines in Alwyn's hand in biro. See MS.Alwyn.1.4.47
Further items at Cambridge University Library : 3 copies in a copyist's hand in the Hedli Anderson collection (Hedli Anderson, a singer, was married to Louis MacNeice). Piano part was later arranged for guitar by Norman Watson, and featured as no. 15 in "The cruel wars", a song and poetry sequence devised by Anderson. See MS.Add.8959.3
Slum song
First line "O the slums of Dublin fermenting with children"
Published Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1948. Available to buy at Presto Classical
Recorded by Elin Manahan Thomas and Iain Burnside at Potton Hall, Westleton, Suffolk, 10-11 October, 2006. See Naxos
Manuscript at the BBC Music Library Ms.22790
Archive has holograph sketches in pencil, dated April 25, 1946. Copy in copyist's hand in ink, with amendments in blue pen in Alwyn's hand, and markings in an unknown hand in red pencil. This was presumably the copy used in preparation for the Oxford University Press publication. See MS.Alwyn.1.4.42 (Sketches), MS.Alwyn.1.4.43 (Score)
Further items at Cambridge University Library : 3 copies in a copyist's hand in the Hedli Anderson collection. See MS.Add.8959.2. Printed edition is item no. 2 in volume M290.a.90.192
Carol
First line: To end all carols, darling.
Unpublished, unrecorded.
Cambridge University Library has holograph score in ink, signed and dated London, July 1946. See MS.Add.8959.1
 

 

Trade unions see Each for all
 

 


Your children and you

Music for the documentary film, part of the Your Children series. Directed by Brian Smith, produced by John Taylor and Alexander Shaw for the Realist Film Unit, 1946. Sponsored by the Central Office of Information, Ministry of Health and the Central Council for Health Education
See BFI database.
For chamber orchestra. 1010/0000/perc/hp/str.
Cues: 1M1. Main titles -- 1M2. Lullaby -- 1M3. What's moving - what's new? -- 1M4. Playpen -- 2M1. Smashing up the happy home! -- 2M2. Play -- 2M3. Fear sequence -- 2M4. Chords for overheard remarks -- 3M1. Smacking -- 3M2. Final section.
The National Archives, Kew. Film Production File INF 6/704 includes music cue sheets
Alwyn Archive has holograph score in biro and pencil. See MS.Alwyn.1.1.165