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A.B.C.A. : The story of the Army Bureau of Current Affairs
Music for the documentary film produced by the Army Film Unit for the War Office and Ministry of Information. There was a later documentary magazine series (1946) with the same title, it's possible that Alwyn's music was also used for this series. See BFI and Imperial War Museumdatabases.
For military band with harp. Instrumentation : 2(picc)122.4331.timp.perc.harp
Cues : Magazine Titles (Valse tempo -- Vivace -- Blues tempo -- Moderato -- Slow -- Slow -- Allegro -- Slow) -- Play out for Magazine -- Fanfare Break.
Archive has autograph score in ink. MS.Alwyn.1.1.1
 

 

Africa freed see also Tunisian victory
Music for the documentary film, directed by Ian Dalrymple, and produced by the Crown Film Unit, the Army Film and Photographic Unit, and the RAF Film Production Unit for the Ministry of Information, 1943. The film was considered too British in its bias and was not released, a replacement production Tunisian victory was released instead. See Imperial War Museum database.
Location of manuscript unknown. 
 

 

A welcome to Britain see Welcome to Britain
 

 

Battle of Egypt see Desert victory
 

 

Britons at war, 3 see Welcome to Britain
 

 

Britons at war, 4 see Letter to Ulster
 

 

Concerto grosso no. 1 in B-flat major
Orchestration : 1100.2100.perc.solo violin.strings
Dedication: To George Stratton and my friends in the L.S.O.
Commissioned by Arthur Bliss for Section C of the BBC Orchestra
Commercial recordings :
  • Recorded by the City of London Sinfonia, conducted by Richard Hickox, on Oboe concerto and Three concerti grossi, Chandos CHAN 8866. Recorded in St. Jude's Church, Central Square, London, on the 27th February and 1st March 1990. See Chandos
  • 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 : 
  • British Library Sound Archive M-1298-W (BBC Radio 3, recorded 6 May 1968). BBC Concert Orchestra/Vilem Tausky [reel-to-reel tape]
  • Published : London : Alfred Lengnick, 1952. Available for hire in the United States from G. Schirmer
    Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

The crown of the year
Music for the documentary film, directed by Ralph Keene, produced by Greenpark Productions for the Ministry of Information, 1943. See BFIdatabase.
Available on DVD, on Panamint Productions The crown of the year, catalogue no. PDC2006. See Panamint 
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Cymru see Wales
 

 

Desert patrol see Desert victory
 

 

Desert victory
Music for the documentary film feature, directed by Roy Boulting, produced by David MacDonald for the Army Film Unit, and the Royal Air Force Film Production Unit, on behalf of the Ministry of Information, 1943. See BFI and Imperial War Museum databases.
See the complete film online at ScreenOnline
Available on DVD, on the Imperial War Museum's Desert victory, see IWM
For orchestra. Instrumentation : 2(picc.)121.2230.timp.perc.vib.str.
Cues : Desert victory -- Battle of Egypt -- Desert victory piano score (Sketches) 
2. Contact with the enemy & Churchill's visit -- 3. Factory -- 4. Map of routes to Middle East -- 4M1 Daylight -- 4M2 Map of position, observation post, gun loading etc. -- 5. Rommel's "Reconnaisance in force" --8. Burning ship in Benghazi harbour -- 5M3 Battle of the Thumb -- 5M4 Map showing Rommel bringing up armour -- 7. Reinforcements arrive (Score)
Commercial recordings :
  • Recorded by an unidentified orchestra conducted by Sidney Torch recorded during the British Film Festival in a Leicester Square theatre, 1946. Columbia DX-1241/2. This may have been featured on the last track of the compilation CD Movietime scrapbook see Amazon
  • Recorded by the BBC Philharmonic, conducted by Rumon Gamba, on The film music of William Alwyn, volume 2. CHAN 9959. Recorded in Studio 7, New Broadcasting Hous, Manchester on the 28-29 June, 2001. See Chandos
  • 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 F43/129 and 12751 (19 July 1943) London Symphony Orchestra [78 rpm]
  • BBC Sound Archive 6240/3 (13 August 1943) BBC Northern Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson [78 rpm]
    Publications : 
    March from Desert victory, arranged for piano solo by Felton Rapley. London : Chappell, c1943.
    And arranged for military band by W. J. Duthoit. London : Chappell, c1943.
    Archive has autograph sketches in pencil. These include sketches for the full score with cues ; some miscellaneous sketches containing outlines for sections 5M2-8M2 (these pages are numbered 9-12, but no trace of the other pages of this volume can be found), "Battle of Egypt" - preliminary sketches for the title music and musical highpoints of the film, includes some cues ; and "Desert victory, piano score" - not a piano score but short, very rough sketches of miscellaneous sections, also includes a simple harmonization of the Horst Wessel lied, with some indications of scoring. MS.Alwyn.1.1.31 (Sketches)
    Also autograph score in pencil with annotations in coloured pencil in another unknown hand. MS.Alwyn.1.1.32 (Score)
    Printed parts for Philip Lane's arrangement Desert Victory suite, as available on the Chandos recording (see above)
    Archive also has cue-sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.41. 
 

 

Desert victory march see Desert victory
 

 

Escape to danger (see also Squadron Leader X
Music for the feature film directed by Lance Comfort and Max Greene, produced by Victor Hanbury for RKO Radio Pictures. Starring Eric Portman and Ann Dvorak, 1943, (see BFI database)
Probably for chamber orchestra (the same instrumentation as Squadron Leader X - see below), also includes a song for voice and guitar. Instrumentation : probably 1(picc)1(ca)21.2220.timp.perc.32221 + voice and guitar.
Cues : 3MI. Lisbon cafe -- Reel 9. Eric escapes by car (or the "Worser concerto"!). Reel 9 cue may be for Escape to danger or Squadron Leader X.
Archive has autograph partial score and sketches in a mixture of ink and pencil. Escape to danger was made back-to-back with Squadron Leader X with the same production company, cast and crew. At the same time Alwyn was also writing the music for Into battle : Lift your head comrade. The sketches and score held at the Archive are principally for Squadron Leader X, but contain elements from each film. Most of the sketches relate to "Squadron leader X", however it is possible that some of the cues around Reel 9 relate to "Escape to danger". Sadly both films are now lost. P. 14-15 has sketches entitled "Those who escaped", these are sketches for "Lift your head, comrade". P. 16 has sketches for a film with the working title of "Battle school" - this doesn't appear to match the score used in "Lift your head, comrade", the first in a series of short films, which were released under the "Into battle" title, so it may be for another unidentified film, or was intended for "Lift your head" but was unused. A short quotation (in Alwyn's hand) of a few bars from the Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates appears at the foot of the page.
MS.Alwyn.1.1.117 (Reel 9 sketches, which may or may not be for Escape to danger)
MS.Alwyn.1.1.120 (Reel 9 score, which may or may not be for Escape to danger)
MS.Alwyn.1.1.113 (Score for song from Escape to danger)
Also cue sheet. MS.Alwyn.1.14.150
 

 

Four years at war
Music for the radio programme, produced by Laurence Gilliam, written by Louis MacNeice.
Instrumentation : 1121.2220.perc.strings.
Manuscript at the BBC Music Library: Ms.30287
 

 

Fraternity of Bellows march
Commissioned by the BBC for inclusion in a programme on their Latin-American (Brazil) service. 
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

The Gen
Music for an R.A.F. newsreel series consisting of 18 news magazines aired between May 1943 and September 1945, each lasting between 14 and 21 minutes. Soundtrack was recorded by the R.A.F. Symphony Orchestra conducted by Muir Mathieson.
See Imperial War Museum database records GEN 1, GEN 2, GEN 3, GEN 4, GEN 5, GEN 6,
GEN 7, GEN 8, GEN 9, GEN 10, GEN 11, GEN 12, GEN 13, GEN 14, GEN 15, GEN 16, 
GEN 17, GEN 18
For a film clip see Imperial War Museum database
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

A letter from Ulster 
No. 4 in the Britons at war series
Music for the documentary film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, produced by the Crown Film Unit for the Ministry of Information, 1943 (see BFI database)
Available on DVD on Over paid, over sexed, over here from Panamint.
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1110.2100.perc.harp.strings.
Cues : Troopship -- Lorries -- Showers -- Dentistry -- Firing Cyprus visit of tank -- Haymaking (Kitty's behind the sheaves) -- Assault course -- Route march -- Carrickfergus castle -- Strabane river -- Londonderry -- Final section. Boys in train ; Waves of the west -- Titles (Sketches)
Title & opening sequence -- 1M2 -- IM3 Reel 1. Arrival of troopship -- 2M1 Shower bath, dentistry & piano removal -- 3M1 Reel 3. Firing guns & harvesting -- Reel 3. Assault course -- Reel 4. Route march - Reel 4. Carrickfergus Castle, Strabane, Londonderry -- 4M3 Reel 4. Final section (Score)
Archive has autograph sketches in pencil, and autograph score in pencil with annotations in coloured pencil in other unknown hands.
MS.Alwyn.1.1.55 (Sketches), MS.Alwyn.1.1.56 (Score)
 

 

Letter home see A letter from Ulster
 

 

Made in Britain see Workers' gala night
 

 

More Air Force march
Archive recording : Recorded 29 April 1943 by the Central Band of the R.A.F./ unidentified conductor. 
BBC Sound Archive 5796.
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Potato blight
Music for the documentary film directed by Rosanne Hunter, produced by the Realist Film Unit for the Ministries of Information and Agriculture, 1943 (see BFI database)
Location of manuscript is unknown. Archive has cue-sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.96
 

 

Royal Mile, Edinburgh
Music for the documentary film directed by Terry Bishop, produced by Merton Park Productions, 1943 (see BFI database). To view the film see the British Council website.
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1110.2100.timp.perc.vib.str.
Cues : Title music -- Castle through window -- IM3 Pan from Princes Street up Castle -- IM4 Armoury -- IM5 Law courts (interior) -- 2M1 Law courts (exterior) -- 2M2 Printing press -- 2M3 Tollbooth, night scene etc. -- 2M4 Home Guard & end titles.
Archive has autograph score in pencil, with annotations in an unknown hand in colour pencil MS.Alwyn.1.1.102
 

 

Spring on the farm
Music for the documentary film directed by Ralph Keene, produced by Edgar Anstey for Greenpark Productions on behalf of the Ministries of Information and Agriculture, 1943 (see BFI database)
Available on DVD, on Panamint Productions The crown of the year, catalogue no. PDC2006. See Panamint 
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1010.tpt.harp.strings
Cues : 1. Title music -- 2. Corn sowing -- 3. Work in full swing -- 4. Blossoms -- 5. Final section.
Archive has autograph score in ink with pencilled amendments MS.Alwyn.1.1.116
 

 

Squadron leader X see also Escape to danger
Music for the feature film directed by Lance Comfort and Max Greene, produced by Victor Hanbury for RKO Radio Pictures. Starring Eric Portman and Ann Dvorak, 1943, (see BFI database)
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1(picc)1(ca)21.2220.timp.perc.32221
Cues : Titles -- Sergeant switches on light -- Nazi-ace -- Schultz theme -- Lorry to English coast. Lorry moves up avenues ; English coast -- Reel 5. Krone [sic] says "All right, I'll come" ; opens door ; Kohler says "Remember me" ; Ann looks at magazine -- Reel 6. Kohler being gassed -- Reel. 5. Krohn tiptoes out of room ; He hears voices -- Reel 1. C.U. Eric ; Antwerp air port ; calls for car ; car drives off -- Reel 6. Enter Schultz ; "Schultz" ; Comes round door ; Points to Kohler's room ; Pauses at Kohler's door -- Eric descends by parachute ; Eric lands ; Cut to interior attic. Eric's shadow ; Sentry knocking ; Pierre coming to open door ; Eric again ; Attic door opens -- C.U. Eric ; Sentry standing ; Pierre reacts ; "Wings" ; Eric smiles ; To skylight ; Sentry leaves ; Eric listens ; Madame coming upstairs ; Hello -- Reel 2. Lorry ; C.U. of guard ; C.U. Michel & driver ; Car drives away -- Reel 8. Kohler & Mrs. Krohn at telephone ; Cut to interior ; "Go on Mary" -- Reel 7. Krohn & warden ; Mrs. Krohn at bedroom door ; Warden "Blackout" ; Kohler opening door ; Dialogue warden & Krohn ; Krohn closes door & walks towards Eric's room ; Eric in his doorway ; Krohn closing door of Eric's room -- Reel 9. Eric escapes by car. The "Worser concerto" ; Eric in car ; Police ; Eric in car ; Inspector Milne at telephone ; Tel. ops. "Priority" ; Eric's car ; Villa ; Eric in car ; Milne & Fenwick in ante-room ; Interior jail ; From titles to final section -- Mrs Kohler playing -- Those who escaped. Titles -- March for Battle School -- [Coates' excerpt] -- Air from Antrim (Sketches)
1. Titles & opening sequence -- Reel I. Eric as Nazi ace -- Reel 2. Parachute descent -- Reel 2. First lorry scene -- Lorry to English coast -- Ann looks at magazine -- Reel 5. Krohn says "Alright, I'll come" -- Reel 5. Krohn tiptoes out of room -- Reel 6. Enter Schultz -- Kohler being gassed -- Reel 7. Krohn & warden -- Reel 8. Kohler & Mrs. Krohn at telephone -- Reel 9. Eric escapes by car (or the "Worser concerto"!) -- Final section (Score) 
Reel 9 cue may be for Escape to danger or Squadron Leader X.
Archive has autograph score in pencil, signed, with annotations in coloured pencil, and autograph sketches in pencil. Escape to danger was made back-to-back with Squadron Leader X with the same production company, cast and crew. At the same time Alwyn was also writing the music for Into battle : Lift your head comrade. The sketches and score held at the Archive are principally for Squadron Leader X, but contain elements from each film. Most of the sketches relate to "Squadron leader X", however it is possible that some of the cues around Reel 9 relate to "Escape to danger". Sadly both films are now lost. P. 14-15 has sketches entitled "Those who escaped", these are sketches for "Lift your head, comrade". P. 16 has sketches for a film with the working title of "Battle school" - this doesn't appear to match the score used in "Lift your head, comrade", the first in a series of short films, which were released under the "Into battle" title, so it may be for another unidentified film, or was intended for "Lift your head" but was unused. A short quotation (in Alwyn's hand) of a few bars from the Knightsbridge March by Eric Coates appears at the foot of the page.
MS.Alwyn.1.1.117 (Sketches - also includes sketches for other works)
MS.Alwyn.1.1.120 (Score - may include some material from Escape to danger)
 

 

Story of the Army Bureau of Current Affairs see A.B.C.A.
 

 

Summer on the farm
Music for the documentary film directed by Ralph Keene, produced by Greenpark Productions on behalf of the Ministries of Information and Agriculture, 1943 (see BFI database)
To see the film go to Screen Online
Available on DVD, on Panamint Productions The crown of the year, catalogue no. PDC2006. See Panamint 
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1010.tpt.harp.strings
Cues : 1. Titles -- 2. Sweep & baler & rickmaking -- 3. Land club meeting to city market -- 4. Sheep shearing -- Factory chimneys to the end.
Archive has autograph score in pencil MS.Alwyn.1.1.125
 

 

There's a future in it
Music for the semi-documentary film, probably originally intended to be a feature film, directed and produced by Lesllie Fenton for the Strand Film Company on behalf of the Ministry of Information, written by H.E. Bates and starring Ann Dvorak and Barry Morse, 1943 (see BFIdatabase)
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1(picc)120/2210/timp.perc/22121
Cues : Titles -- 1M1 1st plane landing -- 1M2 2nd plane landing -- 1M3 Ground crew & mess room -- 1M4 Kitty puts down phone -- 1M5 "He's done things that make him old" -- 2M1 "Q" for Queenie comes home -- 2M2 Air crew leave plane -- 2M3 Barry phones Kitty -- 2M4 Kitty goes to the Red Lion -- 4M1 Bench scene -- 4M2 Back to the bench -- 4M3 Final section.
Archive has autograph score in pencil with annotations in blue pencil entitled There's no [sic] future in it. MS.Alwyn.1.1.132
Archive also has cue-sheets. Interestingly these are also entitled "There's no future in it". MS.Alwyn.1.14.125-126
 

 

There's no future in it see There's a future in it
 

 

Transatlantic call 
Music for an episode of the People to people radio series, written by D.G. Bridson.
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Tunisian victory see also Africa freed
Music for the feature documentary film, directed by John Huston, Anthony Veiller, Roy Boulting, Hugh Stewart and Frank Capra. Alwyn was initially employed to write the music for Africa freed, which was dropped because of its pro-British bias, Tunisian victory was a replacement for this. See BFI database.
To view Tunisian victory see YouTube
Also available on DVD from the Imperial War Museum
Archive has photocopied pages of autograph sketches. MS.Alwyn.1.1.147.
Archive also has cue-sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.134
 

 

Wales
Music for the documentary film. Footage is principally taken from Wales, green mountain, black mountain, but also includes footage from other films. Text is completely different from the original film, and it has a more prominent score.
To view film see British Council on YouTube
See Wales: Green mountain, black mountain for archive holdings.
For more information see BFI and IWM databases.
 

 

Welcome to Britain
Music for the seni-documentary film, (part 3 in the film series Britons at war), directed by Anthony Asquith and Burgess Meredith, and starring Burgess Meredith and Felix Aylmer. Produced by the Strand Film Company on behalf of the Ministry of Information, 1943. See BFI database. 
Available on DVD from Panamint Productions, Over paid - over sexed & over here
For chamber orchestra. Orchestration : 1(picc)121.2210.timp.perc.hp.22111
Cues : 1M1. Buzz walks to pub -- 2M1. Bombed houses -- 2M2. Bombed church -- 2M3. Warden's home -- 3M1. Buzz has supper -- 3M2. Mr. Chips surveys Britain -- 4M1. American living quarters -- 4M2. Country station -- 4M3. After General Lee's speech -- 6M1. Buzz walks to hotel -- 6M3. End titles -- 6M2. Get going.
Archive has autograph score in pencil with annotations in red pencil. MS.Alwyn.1.1.150
Archive also has cue sheets. MS.Alwyn.1.14.138
 

 

Why we fight see Tunisian victory
 

 

Why we fight : Tunisian victory see Tunisian victory
 

 

Winter on the farm see Winter on the farm, 1941
 

 

Women of Empire march
Arranged for military band by Gerrard Williams for the BBC radio series Salute to the fighting forces
Location of manuscript unknown.
 

 

Workers' gala night : Made in Britain
Music for the BBC radio programme, produced by Leonard Cottrell and John Glynn-Jones. 
Consists of 15 short pieces.
Instrumentation : 0000.2220.harp.strings.

Manuscript at the BBC Music Library: Ms.8421