Belshazzar's Feast (Walton)

Belshazzar's Feast is the title of an oratorio by the English composer William Walton. It was first performed at the Leeds Festival in 1931, and has remained one of the most popular works in the English choral repertoire. The text was arranged from Biblical sources by Osbert Sitwell.

Musical structure

The work is scored for very large orchestra (which includes a saxophone, optional organ, two brass bands and a large percussion section), chorus in eight parts, semichorus, and baritone soloist. The chorus represents the Jewish people throughout, although they adopt the tone of the Babylonians when telling the story of the feast.

Related Topics:
Orchestra - Saxophone - Organ - Percussion - Chorus - Baritone

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It is in several distinct sections, played continuously. After a brief, recited introduction, the chorus and baritone sing of their homeland Zion, in an emotional setting of Psalm 137 (By the waters of Babylon, there we sat down, and wept), and angrily express their bitterness toward their captors. The narrative then begins, and in a prolonged sequence we hear their horror, and then outrage, at the profanities of the king, followed by an exuberant march section depicting the king and his court praising their gods. The section is framed by a descending figure of four notes that, through repetition, passes down through the orchestra, immediately establishing a jazz influence with a flattened first note and marked syncopation.

Related Topics:
Zion - Psalm - Jazz

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This leads to an eerie, and economically orchestrated, depiction of the writing on the wall, and the death that night of Belshazzar. The people celebrate their freedom, in a joyous song of praise interrupted by a lament over the fall of a great city.

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The music throughout is complex rhythmically, and richly orchestrated. The rhythms and harmonies reflect Walton?s interest in jazz and other popular music, pressed into service to tell a religious story.

Related Topics:
Rhythm - Orchestrated - Harmonies - Popular music

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