Bernard Walton (24 March 1917 – 3 June 1972) was a British classical clarinettist.

Biography

Walton was born into a musical family. His grandfather was a cellist with the Hallé Orchestra under the eponymous founder

Charles Hallé Sir Charles Hallé (born Karl Halle; 11 April 181925 October 1895) was an Anglo-German pianist and conductor, and founder of The Hallé orchestra in 1858. Life Hallé was born Karl Halle on 11 April 1819 in Hagen, Westphalia. After settling ...

, and his father played in the Queen's Hall Orchestra.R.A.K.W. "Mr Bernard Walton", ''The Times'', 6 June 1972, p. 16 He studied at the Royal College of Music with George Anderson, the principal clarinettist at the founding of the

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's Hall Orc ...

in 1904. He was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Music (FRCM) in 1968. In 1937, shortly before his 20th birthday, Walton was appointed principal clarinettist of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, joining his father, uncle, and brother as members of that orchestra. He served as principal clarinettist of

Walter Legge Harry Walter Legge (1 June 1906 – 22 March 1979) was an English classical music record producer, most especially associated with EMI. His recordings include many sets later regarded as classics and reissued by EMI as "Great Recordings of the ...

Philharmonia The Philharmonia Orchestra is a British orchestra based in London. It was founded in 1945 by Walter Legge, a classical music record producer for EMI. Among the conductors who worked with the orchestra in its early years were Richard Strauss, ...

from 1953 to 1964. When Legge attempted to disband the orchestra in 1964, Walton tried unsuccessfully to dissuade him, and when that failed Walton took the lead in establishing the New Philharmonia Orchestra as a self-governing body. He served as its first chairman. After leaving the orchestra in April 1966, Walton rejoined the London Philharmonic, and devoted more time to chamber music, forming the Music Group of London with Hugh Bean, Eileen Croxford, and David Parkhouse. He also played in the Virtuoso Chamber Ensemble with

Léon Goossens Léon Jean Goossens, CBE, FRCM (12 June 1897 – 13 February 1988) was an English oboist. Career Goossens was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, and studied at Liverpool College of Music and the Royal College of Music. His father was violinist and ...

and others. Along with the other leaders of the

woodwind Woodwind instruments are a family of musical instruments within the greater category of wind instruments. Common examples include flute, clarinet, oboe, bassoon, and saxophone. There are two main types of woodwind instruments: flutes and re ...

section of the Philharmonia –

Gareth Morris Gareth Charles Walter Morris (13 May 192014 February 2007) was a British flautist. He was the principal flautist of a number of London orchestras including the Boyd Neel Orchestra before joining the Philharmonia Orchestra. He was the princip ...

, Herbert ("Jock") Sutcliffe, and

Gwydion Brooke Gwydion Brooke (16 February 191227 March 2005) was the principal bassoonist of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a member of its "Royal Family" of wind instrumentalists, along with Jack Brymer (clarinet), Terence MacDonagh (oboe), and Gerald ...

– Walton formed what Legge liked to call "Legge's Royal Flush".Legge, Walter. "The birth of the Philharmonia", ''The Times'', 27 December 1975, p. 4 In addition to his work as a performer, Walton was professor of clarinet at the

Royal College of Music The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire established by royal charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, UK. It offers training from the undergraduate to the doctoral level in all aspects of Western Music including performanc ...

from 1954 until his death.

Notes

1917 births 1972 deaths British classical clarinetists Alumni of the Royal College of Music Academics of the Royal College of Music 20th-century classical musicians 20th-century British musicians {{clarinetist-stub