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Battle for freedom
Music for the documentary film, directed by Alan Osbiston, produced by the Strand Film Company for the Ministry of Information, 1942 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
For orchestra. Instrumentation : 1110.2210.timp.perc.hp.strings.
Cues : 1. Titles & opening sequence -- 2. Education & colonisation -- 3. Title "World faces its greatest danger" -- 4A. South Africa -- 4B. Repeat for Australia -- 4C. Black-out in Australia -- 5. India -- 6. Title "Britain has stood at bay" -- 7. Oil burning -- 8. Map of Pacific -- 9. Empire troops in training.
Available on DVD, on the Imperial War Museum's Dylan Thomas : a war films anthology, see IWM
Archive has no score by the above name but has autograph sketches in pencil for Heartbeat of Empire, and autograph score in ink Empire film with pencilled amendments. These are both clearly for the same film. MS.Alwyn.1.1.19 (Sketches) and MS.Alwyn.1.1.20 (Score)
 

 

Border weave
Music for the documentary film, directed by John Lewis Curthoys, produced by Turner Film Productions for the British Council, 1942 (see BFIand the Scottish Screen Archive databases)
To view film go to the British Council website.
Location of score is unknown. There are a few sketches for an unrelated Scottish film on the short score/sketches of Fires were started, they are close enough together in date for this to possibly be the film.
 

 

Britain to America No. 1
Music for an episode of the documentary radio series, produced and directed by D.G. Bridson and Laurence Gilliams
Instrumentation : 2222.4231.timp.perc.harp.strings

Manuscripts at at the BBC Music Library: Ms.8398 and Ms.8393
 

 

Britain to America No. 2
Music for an episode of the documentary radio series, written by Robert Barr.
Instrumentation : 3+picc2+ca22.4331.timp.perc.harp.strings.voices
Instrumentation for manuscripts in the Alwyn Archive : 1121.2210.timp.perc.strings.baritone.chorus
Cues : 1B. Connecting them -- 1A. Description of country -- 2. North Sea port -- 3. Letter from soldier -- 4. Scotland -- 5. Music for convoy ; Unnumbered cues : Feel rather proud -- This afternoon the coast stands rugged, forbidden, deserted -- Energetic theme for young people -- Three ideas for convoy theme -- Land of Our Birth -- Theme for Birmingham -- Urgent telegram -- Final music. "We turn south again"
Archive has autograph sketches in pencil, vocal score in ink, signed and autograph full score, also in ink and signed. MS.Alwyn.1.6.13-14.
There are further manuscripts at the BBC Music Library : Ms.8374 and Ms.8411.
 

 

Britain to America No. 5
Music for an episode of the documentary radio series, written by Robert Barr, directed by John Glynn-Jones, narrated by Leslie Howard.
Location of manuscript is unknown, the BBC Written Archives has a copy of the script.
 

 

British news
Title and closing music for the documentary series "British news." A compilation of items from each of the major British wartime newsreels produced by the Newsreel Association for the British Council and intended for overseas use.
For brass ensemble. Instrumentation : 4431/timp.perc.
Archive has autograph score in ink with pencilled amendments, and an additional note in pencil with details of tempi, and date and time for recording session. Archive also has parts in ink.
MS.Alwyn.1.1.21-22
 

 

The commandos see Britain to America No. 5
 

 

Comrade lift your head see Into battle : Comrade lift your head
 

 

Cups and saucers see Essential jobs
 

 

Essential jobs
Music for the documentary film, directed by John Page, produced by Alan Rotha for Alan Rotha Productions and the Ministry of Labour for the Ministry of Information, 1942 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
Available on DVD, on the Imperial War Museum's Words for battle : writers at war, see IWM
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Farm worker see The harvest shall come
 

 

Fires were started
Music for the documentary film, directed by Humphrey Jennings, produced by Ian Dalrymple for the Crown Film Unit, 1943 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
Click Screenonline to see clips. 
Available on DVD, on the Imperial War Museum's The fire service at war, see IWM
Cues : Titles -- World going to work -- Documentary sequence -- Fire -- Jacko falls to his death -- Fire at height -- Coming of dawn -- Sirens -- Funeral -- Build -- Finish. A further 2 pages have the following cues : Titles -- Fire -- Use in world going to work -- Misterioso -- Funeral music -- Upside down -- Heavy unit -- Dawn music.
Archive has a short score/sketches, there also appear to be a few sketches on this score for an unrelated film set in Scotland, possibly Border weave. MS.Alwyn.1.1.109
Archive also has cue-sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.45
 

 

Green mountain, black mountain see Wales : green mountain, black mountain
 

 

The harvest shall come
Music for the semi-documentary film, directed by Max Anderson, produced by Basil Wright for the Realist Film Unit, sponsored by ICI, 1942 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
Available on DVD, on the Imperial War Museum's Dig for victory, see IWM
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1100.0100.hp.str.
Cues : Titles & section I (also trumpet calls for "dates") -- Section 2. Boy's walk -- Section 3. Growing up -- Section 4. Love in a cottage -- Section 5. First War montage -- Section 6. Farms for sale [1st version] -- Section 6. Farms for sale [revised version] -- Section 7. Boy leaving for town -- Sect. 8. 2nd War montage -- Sect. 9. Walk to cottage -- Sect. 10. Final sequence & end titles.
Archive has autograph sketches in pencil (sketches also include questions for a music diploma examination) and autograph score in ink.
MS.Alwyn.1.1.44 (Sketches) and MS.Alwyn.1.1.45 (Score)
 

 

Heartbeat of Empire see Battle for freedom
 

 

I was a fireman see Fires were started
 

 

In which we serve
Music for the feature film, directed and produced by Noel Coward and David Lean, and starring Noel Coward, John Mills and Richard Attenborough, 1942 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
Available on DVD
For a film clip see YouTube
For orchestra.
Cues : Titles -- Flotilla tune -- This is the story of a ship -- Shipbuilding -- Shipyard with repeat into end of ship's building -- Champagne bottle -- 8 bars of officers' theme -- Sea trials -- Speed trials -- White ensign -- Daily Express -- Crete -- Southern temperament (sunbath) -- Kinross home -- Shorty Blake -- Cafe -- Speed trials -- End titles -- Shorty enters Blake home -- Mother -- Mother excited -- After wedding -- Towing sequence. L.S. Damaged Kelly -- Flotilla tune from titles -- Dying sailor -- Capt. rushes out -- Speed trials from titles -- Funeral at sea. Dying sailor music -- Flotilla music from titles -- Sea trilas -- 6 bars of White ensign.
Noel Coward alone is credited on screen for the music of "In which we serve", but there have been claims by other composers that they participated in the film. One of the cues in the Alwyn Archive sketches "Damaged Kelly" suggests that Alwyn was involved at an early stage in the creation of the film score. H.M.S. Kelly was the ship, commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten, which was the inspiration for "In which we serve".
Archive has autograph sketches in pencil. MS.Alwyn.1.1.52
 

 

Into battle : Comrade lift your head see Into battle : Lift your head comrade
 

 

Into battle : Lift your head comrade
Music for the documentary film episode, the first episode in the wartime series Into battleLift your head comrade was directed by Michael Hankinson, produced by Basil Wright for Spectator Short Films, and the Ministry of Information, 1943 (see BFI and Imperial War Museumdatabases)
Available on DVD, on the Imperial War Museum's Words for battle : writers at war, see IWM
Cues : Those who escaped. Titles -- 2 -- Playout
Archive has sketches under the title Those who escaped. These match the music used in the film. There are some further sketches entitled "March for Battle school". This may have been music intended to headline the series, unused music for Lift your head, comrade or music intended for a completely different film. MS.Alwyn.1.1.117
 

 

Land of our birth see Britain to America No. 2
 

 

Life begins again
Music for the documentary film directed by Donald Alexander, produced by Paul Rotha for Paul Rotha Productions, on behalf of the Ministries of Health and Information, 1942 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
Location of score unknown.
 

 

Lift your head comrade see Into battle : Lift your head comrade
 

 

A modern miracle
Music for the documentary film directed by Desmond Dickinson, produced by the Strand Film Company for Cable and Wireless, 1942 (see BFI database)
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Our film
Music for the short film directed by Harold French, financed and produced co-operatively by the workers and technicians of Denham Film Studios, 1942 (see BFI database)
For chamber orchestra. Instrumentation : 1110.2200.timp.perc.21111
Cues : 1. Titles & opening -- Into Russia, stock shots -- Russian home -- 2. English home to crack on window -- 3. Walk to manager's office -- Graph to explosion -- Russian factory -- Theme for our film -- Soldiers -- Modulation. (Sketches)
Cues : 1. Title and opening sequence -- (Opening shots) -- Russian home -- Quotation from Sovietland -- Crash on window -- 2. English home to crash on window -- 3. Walk to manager's office -- 4. Graphs to explosion -- (English graph) -- (Russian graph) -- Explosion -- 5. Final section -- (Final shots) -- (End titles) (Score)
Archive has autograph sketches in pencil, and autograph score in ink with annotations in coloured pencil, signed.
MS.Alwyn.1.1.86 (Sketches) and MS.Alwyn.1.1.87 (Score)
Archive also has cue-sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.92-93
 

 

Partners in crime
Music for the short film directed by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat for Gainsborough Pictures on behalf of the Ministry of Information, 1942. Starring Irene Handl and Robert Morley (see BFI database
To view film see YouTube
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Post 23
Music for the documentary film directed by Ralph Bond, produced by Donald Taylor and the Strand Film Company for the Ministries of Information and Home Security, 1942 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
William Alwyn was credited as "ARP advisor", and also had a cameo role in the film.
For bugle and double bass.
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Pulse of Britain see Britain to America No. 2
 

 

Rat destruction
Music for the documentary film directed by Budge Cooper, produced by Paul Rotha Productions for the Ministries of Information and Food, 1942 (see BFI database)
For harp and wind band. Orchestration : 2(picc.)122.4331.perc.hp
Cues : 1. Title music -- 2. Play out -- 3. Moto perpetuo.
Archive has autograph score in ink (titled Rats). MS.Alwyn.1.1.99
 

 

Suite of Scottish dances
Inspired (and based on) Scottish folk songs and dances.
Orchestration : 1121.2110.timp.perc.strings
Dedication : "To Muir Mathieson, to celebrate the arrival of a son and heir"
1. The Indian queen -- 2. A trip to Italy -- 3. Colonel Thornton's strathspey -- 4. Reel: The Perth-shire hunt -- 5. Reel: Loch Earn -- 6. Carleton House -- 7. Miss Ann Carnegie's hornpipe.
Commercial recordings :
  • Recorded by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia, conducted by Gavin Sutherland on Brian Kay's British Light Music Discoveries. ASV label : B000026B2O (1999). See Royal Ballet Sinfonia.
  • In the States this was released as British light music world premieres on the White Label, B00000I9N1. See Amazon.com
  • Re-released in 2008 on the Sanctuary label as part of The best of British light music on the Decca-UMO label, B00012SHYI. See Amazon.co.uk
  • Also recorded by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by David Lloyd-Jones, on Alwyn Orchestra Music, Naxos 8-570704. Recorded in the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, on the 19–22 January 2006. See Naxos
  • Archival recordings : 
    • BBC Sound Archive 7698/9 (11 November 1944, abridged) BBC Scottish Orchestra/Guy Warrack [78 rpm]
    • British Library Sound Archive 5541-BW (BBC Radio 3, 30 November 1981) Ulster Orchestra/Marcus Dods [reel-to-reel tape]
    • Published : Oxford : Oxford University Press, 1947 ; Reprinted : Tewkesbury : Goodmusic Publishing, 2006 (Score and parts)
      Archive has autograph score in ink with pencilled corrections, signed and dated, with an extra 8 bar alternative ending. MS.Alwyn.1.2.47
 

 

They flew alone 
Music for the feature film also known as Wings and the woman. Directed and produced by Herbert Wilcox for RKO Radio Pictures, starring Anna Neagle and Robert Newton, 1942 (see BFI database)
Partly for dance band : 101.2asx.2tsx.0/0220/perc/gtr.pf/str(42201) - not by Alwyn
Sections for solo piano and organ are by Alwyn.
Cues (Nocturne) : After gulls -- After Amy in monsoon -- After Amy on liner leaving Cape Town -- Amy’s death.
Available on DVD, in Odeon's Best of British series, see Odeon
Archive recordings : BBC Sound Archive 5973 (7 July 1943) BBC Northern Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson [78 rpm]
The location of the full score is unknown. Archive has autograph score in copyist's hand in ink or pencil for the dance band sections. These consist of three tunes, none of them by Alwyn : When day is done, The King's horses, and I can't give you anything but love. There is also an autograph score in ink of "Nocturne (mother playing piano)" and an autograph score in pencil "Emmy plays the organ" 
MS.Alwyn.1.1.134 (Dance band music), MS.Alwyn.1.1.135 (Music for Emmy), MS.Alwyn.1.1.136 (Mother plays the piano)
Archive also has cue-sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.127
 

 

Those who escaped see Comrade lift your head
 

 

Wales : Green mountain, black mountain
Music for the documentary film directed by John Eldridge, produced by the Strand Film Company for the Ministry of Information, 1942 (see BFI and Imperial War Museum databases)
Instrumentation : Flute, trumpet, harp, tenor
Cues : Title & opening -- Final sequence.
Available on DVD, on the Imperial War Museum's Dylan Thomas : a war films anthology, see IWM
To view film see YouTube
Archive has autograph sketches in pencil or ink, with some indications of orchestration. MS.Alwyn.1.1.148
Archive also has cue-sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.135
See also Wales. Made in 1943, this travel film uses footage and music, much of which was originally from Green mountain, Black mountain.
See also IWM database and BFI database
 

 

Wings and the woman see They flew alone
 

 

Worker and warfront
Music for the documentary film series, produced by Paul Rotha Productions and Films of Fact for the Ministry of Information, 1942-1946 (see BFI database)
It appears that Alwyn wrote short snippets of music that could be slotted in as required throughout the series. His music was not used however in every film.
Orchestration : 2(pic)1(ca)21.2220.timp.perc.hp.22111
Cues : Titles -- End titles -- Breaks. 1. Slow ; 2. Allegro ; Recreation. 3. Valse time ; 4. Vivace ; 5. Moderato ; 6. Pageantry ; 7. Pastorale ; 8. Factory ; 9. Misterioso ; 10. Fanfare ; 11. Flight ; 12. Comedy ; Landscapes. 13 ; 14. Desolation ; 15. Religious ; 16. Fanfare ; 17. Eastern ; 18. Society.
Archive has autograph sketches and score in pencil. 
MS.Alwyn.1.1.162 (Sketches), MS.Alwyn.1.1.163 (Score)
 

 

World of plenty
Music for the documentary film, directed by Paul Rotha, produced for Paul Rotha Productions on behalf of the Ministry of Information and the Ministries of Food and Agriculture, 1943 (see BFI database)
For film clips see Screenonline
There is further information in the Ministry of Information files, National Archives, Kew.
Location of manuscript unknown. Archive has World of plenty, the book of the film.