Walter Leigh
OVERTURE: AGINCOURT for orchestra
Goodmusic Concert Originals GMCO133
Level of Difficulty
Attributing a particular level of difficulty to an orchestral piece is awkward!
A piece may be easy for the strings but difficult for the brass; it may feature a tricky instrumental solo but the other parts may be relatively straight forward. A number of the arrangements listed are designed to simplify works to some extent but composers of many original works featured did not consider difficulty when writing them.
What our levels mean:
A = for players up to UK Grade 3
B = Grade 3 to 5
C = Grade 4 to 6
D = Grade 5 to 7
E = Grade 6 to 8
F = Grade 7 and over
Our gradings should be taken only as a rough guide.
To be sure if a piece is suitable for you, take a look at the score.
Orchestration: 2 Flutes (2nd db.Piccolo), 2 Oboes, 2 Clarinets in A, 2 Bassoons, 4 Horns in F, 2 Trumpets in C, 3 Trombones, Timpani, Percussion (2 players: Cymbals (clashed & suspended), Snare Drum, Tambourine, Bass Drum, Glockenspiel), Harp (or Piano)
Strings (Violin 1, Violin 2, Viola, Cello, Bass)
On 6th May 1935 King George V celebrated his Silver Jubilee. To mark the occasion the BBC commissioned Walter Leigh (1905-1942) to compose a festive overture (for a fee of 20 guineas), which would be broadcast in an hour-long concert of Music of the British Isles, conducted by Joseph Lewis. Originally entitled Jubilee Overture, Leigh later renamed it Overture (Agincourt) when it was broadcast two years later, on the occasion of the coronation of King George VI.
The title page of the full score bears this inscription:
"Now gracious God he save our King
His people, and all his well willing.
Give him good life, and good ending
That we with mirth may savely sing
Deo Gracias
Deo gratias Anglia redde pro Victoria"
Song of the Victory at Agincourt
A PACK includes a full score, string parts 4/4/3/4/2 and all wind, brass and percussion parts.
Duration 13 minutes
Audio Sample
Click the play button below to hear a performance which has been computer-generated from the score.