The Banks of Green Willow

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About This Work

Born in London in 1885 to a privileged family, George Butterworth attended Eton then university at Oxford, where his musical gifts emerged. He shared a passion for the indigenous English folk music with his friend Ralph Vaughan-Williams. Both composers arranged “The Banks of Green Willow;” - Ralph Vaughan-Williams in the second movement of his “Folk Song Suite,” and George Butterworth in his eponymous orchestral setting. Although Vaughan-Williams’ setting is much better known, Butterworth’s subtle version deserves further hearing. Freely and imaginatively arranged for Concert Band by Martin Tousignant this excellent score preserves the subtleties and charm of Butterworth’s original orchestration. An enchanting addition to the Concert Band repertoire and one that will delight audiences worldwide.

At the outbreak of the First World War, George Butterworth joined the Durham Light Infantry as a lieutenant in the 13th Battalion. During his year in the trenches, he was mentioned in dispatches for outstanding courage, won the Military Cross for his defense of a trench that was later named after him, and led a raid during the Battle of the Somme. The raid was successful but Butterworth was killed by a sniper's bullet on August 5th 1916. His body was never recovered. He is commemorated on the memorial at Thiepval. His music captured the spirit of the English countryside that he fought for, and died to preserve.

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