Scapino (Walton)

[1][n 1] Walton accepted the commission, and originally planned an extensive suite of five pieces to be called Varii Capricci.

He again drew inspiration from an old print, in this case the character Scapin in Jacques Callot's Les Trois Pantalons, dating from 1619.

[9] In its revised 1950 form, the work is scored for three flutes (one doubling piccolo), two oboes, one cor anglais, two clarinets, one bass clarinet, two bassoons, four horns, three trumpets, three trombones, one tuba and one harp, with a percussion section comprising timpani, cymbals, triangle, castanets, Chinese temple blocks, glockenspiel, xylophone, side drum, bass drum, tam-tam and strings.

[3][8] After the first London performance, The Times described it thus: The character Scapino is presented in two contrasting themes at the opening of the work, the first molto vivace on the trumpet; it is, in Michael Kennedy's words, "preceded by a flurry of strings and woodwind and a crash of percussion.

After the two themes have been presented and developed, Walton introduces a slower and more flowing melody for violas and cor anglais, "come una serenata" (like a serenade), depicting Scapino's romantic side.