born March 29, 1902, Oldham, Lancashire, Eng.
died March 8, 1983, Ischia, Italy
British composer.
His parents were musicians, and he learned to sing and play piano and violin early. He established his reputation at age 19 by setting to jazzy music the whimsical poetry of Edith Sitwell (see Sitwell family ); Façade (1923) premiered with the poet reading her poetry through a megaphone. Walton's later works include Belshazzar's Feast (1931), two symphonies (1935, 1960), and concertos for viola, violin, and cello (1929, 1939, 1956). His scores for Henry V (1944), Hamlet (1947), and Richard III (1955) became well known; he also wrote coronation marches for {{link=George">George VI and Elizabeth II .