The Bear Reduced Orchestration


The Bear

William Walton

Reduced Orchestration: 0001 0000 violin/viola, harp, piano, timp/percussion

Violin/Viola, Bassoon, Harp, Piano, Timp/Percussion

This chamber arrangement of William Walton’s The Bear was conceived for 5 players, with the pianist as music director. It was performed in this way by Mid Wales Opera in Nov/Dec 2017 with 16 performances across Wales and the Welsh borders. The violin part includes a small number of passages for viola; though this doubling is optional the viola writing is not challenging and is highly recommended.

 

This version of The Bear is published by Oxford University Press. It was filmed and streamed in 2021 by Opera Holland Park.

Jonathan Lyness’s consummate chamber reduction.”

seenandheard-international.com, NOVEMBER 2021
(Opera Holland Park)

Walton’s witty 1967 score sparkles in this chamber reduction by Jonathan Lyness.”

operatoday.com, NOVEMBER 2021
(Opera Holland Park)

Walton’s score, stylishly reduced to five instruments – piano, harp, percussion, bassoon and violin/viola – by MWO’s music director Jonathan Lyness, comes across with much character.”

THE GUARDIAN, 7 NOVEMBER 2017
(Mid Wales Opera)

Arranger and MWO music director Jonathan Lyness captures the taut piquancy of Walton’s score with just five players in salon mode. Together, violin/viola and bassoon, harp, percussion and piano romp and sigh through a plethora of styles and references.”

THE STAGE, 7 NOVEMBER 2017
(Mid Wales Opera)

Hilariously realised in […] Jonathan Lyness’s skilful reduction for a quintet of players […] the instrumental ensemble gave unfailing support and met the challenges of this busy score head on.”

CLASSICAL SOURCE, 23 NOVEMBER 2017
(Mid Wales Opera)

For more information or to hire this reduced orchestration of The Bear, please contact us