5 Bagatelles - William Walton - (ii) Lento (iii) Alla Cubana

5 Bagatelles - William Walton
II: Lento
III: Alla Cubana
William Walton was a British composer who composed in various modes of music such as film, operatic, and wartime propaganda music as a means to not be sent away to fight. For the most part, Walton was somewhat overshadowed by Benjamin Britten, but perhaps his most well known works are instrumental and symphonic works such as Belshazzar’s feast, Viola Concerto, and in the guitar community, his Five Bagatelles.
Composed for, and edited by Julian Bream, the Five Bagatelles combines the impressionist and modern styles of Walton’s tutors such as Claude Debussy and Igor Stravinsky. Lento best shows this impressionism, reflective of works such as Gymnopedie by Erik Satie with a modern twist. Alla Cubana takes a more dance-like approach using rhythmic emphasis in the Cuban style.