William Mathias Catalogue

Orchestral
arr. Philip Lane
Divertissement
Full orchestra
Score and parts* 9780193657175
*Available from Good Music Publishers
Festival Overture
Full orchestra
2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, timp, perc (bell,
tamb, SD, tamb, BD, clash cym, sus cym, ), hp, str
Hire score and parts 9780193655935
Festival Overture was written in 1969 for the
Caernavonshire Youth Orchestra.
8 minutes
In Arcadia
Full orchestra
3 fl (III+picc), 2 ob, 2 cl, 3 bn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tba, timp,
perc (tubaphone (or glock), bells, vib, SD, tamb, cym, sus
cym, w blk, tri, whip, tam, BD), cel, hp, str
Hire score and parts 9780193655904
Study score* 9780193655928
This piece was commissioned by the Alumni Association of
the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth to celebrate
its 100th Anniversary Year. Mathias has used the occasion
to write a work which meditates on the nature of Time.
In Arcadia is entirely based on a short carol written by
the composer in 1954 when he was himself a student at
Aberystwyth. The concept of `arcadia’ is symbolic of eternal
youth, innocence, and joy.
18 minutes
Helios
Full orchestra
2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, timp, perc (BD, tam,
cym, sus cym, 3 w blk, 3 small dr, SD, whip, glock, vib,
mba, crotales, tbell), hp, str
Hire score and parts 9780193656734
Helios was commissioned, in association with the Welsh
Arts Council, by the Llandaff Festival. This work was more
than partly inspired by a visit to Greece made by Mathias
during the summer of 1975 – ‘Helios’ was the sun-god of
Greek mythology. The transparency and translucence of
Greek landscapes and sea-scapes had an effect on the
scoring, and although there are no folk-song quotations,
Greek dance rhythms are sometimes invoked. The work
has much to do with the transformation into sound of
a recollected experience. There is also the concept of a
journey beginning in darkness and closing in the memory
of light.
16 minutes
Holiday Overture
Full orchestra
2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tba, timp, 3 perc (SD,
w blk, BD, tam, cym, Chinese blk, tri, tamb, glock, vib,
claves, bongos, marac), pn, cel, hp, str
Hire score and parts 9780193656604
Holiday Overture was commissioned by the BBC in
association with the Welsh Arts Council. It was first
performed the BBC Welsh Orchestra in September of 1971.
16 minutes
Invocation and Dance
Full orchestra
2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl, 2 bn, 4 hn, 3 tpt, 3 tbn, tba, timp, 2 perc
(clash cym, BD, SD, sus cym, tri, tamb, gong), hp, str
Hire score and parts 9780193655911
Invocation and Dance was commissioned by the Cardiff St.
David’s Day Festival in 1962. The Invocation draws Mathias’s
‘unmistakable Welsh qualities to the fore, with its folk-like
Dorian melody heard in the oboe’. The work is recorded
by the London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by David
Atherton on Decca SLX 6607.
12 minutes
arr. Philip Lane
Jubilee Dances
Full orchestra
2 fl (picc), 2 ob (cor ang), 2 cl (bss cl), 2 bn
4 hn, 2 tpt, 3 tbn, timp, perc (bd, sd, cym, tri, tamb, tub
bls, tam-tam, whip, glock, xylo) cel (opt), hrp, str
Score and parts* 9780193657151
This work, originally written as Vivat Regina for the Silver
Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977, was scored for brass
band. This arrangement by Philip Lane skilfully crafts the
work for full orchestra.
*Available from Good Music Publishers
8 minutes
4