William Walton : Spitfire Prelude and Fugue. Video clips. 

Even after 80 years the spitfire still looks majestic.

I have had the privilege of flying in a Spitfire half a dozen times. It is an incredibly poignant experience, thinking about the young men, not much more than boys who flew these aeroplanes as weapons of war. It is also so exciting that you are on a high for weeks afterwards. Walton’s music encapsulates both the spirit of our allied airman and the heart of the Supermarine Spitfire. This piece of music is as iconic as the aeroplane it is named after. I love the machine and I love Walton’s tribute to the most beautiful plane ever built. NB Thank heavens Mitchell’s preferred name ‘Shrew’ was rejected and Spitfire chosen instead.

Just look at those ladies building these wonderful machines...history i'm proud of...

I had the chance, some years ago, of flying in one of the two seater examples in the UK. The package I had "booked" was a combat patrol over the White Cliffs of Dover before heading back to the airfield. I had mentioned to the pilot that my elderly (now sadly passed away) Grandmother was watching me from below and had served in WW2 in the Army but had had a long association with the RAF with her husband having served in it too. He had already taken the controls back from me as we had been heading back, but he brought the old girl low over the cliffs and the intercom clicked and he simply said "Your plane, sir" and allowed me to do several level passes over her before a full power screaming run with a climb and a victory roll before he retook the controls and landed. It was not a long time and I doubt I shall ever do it again, but I can honestly say that I have piloted a Spitfire and that, ladies and gentlemen, is frankly awesome

Poetry in Motion. Almost in tears when I look at this footage and think of the First of the Few who laid down their lives, some teenage boys.

Flew in 2 twin seat Spitfires in 2017 and 2018, ultimate dream come true....

Superb video. Walton's music is simply sublime to put it mildly.

Which other plane has it's own majestic music. God bless these young men.

Fabulous composer - a hero to me.

Outstanding! The Machine, the Music and the Men summon up The Best of British.

what a majestetic Cantus Firmus! And so long it breaks all the rules. And after that little militaristic opening comes beautiful peaceful sequence beautiful ! THANK YOU WILLIAM

Fantastic, the slow movement of the orchestra with the spitfire in the background, sublime says it all🤓

masterfull piece of music...

Ending it with a victory roll, superb. M.

Absolutely Wonderful !! The pride of British Aviation !!

Damn fitting. With "Spitfire Prelude" you'd definitely find the feels, and oh let's not forget there was a Singaporean who flew Spitfires with the RAF during the War (Tan Kay Hai).

Brings tears to your eyes

The spitfire is more than just an aircraft.

Beautiful editing of clips to score.

My mum who was of that generation; said "The Nazis were evil." and there was something in her voice and the old movie and news clips about them that made me aware she was right. So I do not forget "The Few". This music honors them and I am grateful.

Walton was a master at this type of 'imperial' music. He had the knack of condensing pride and grandeur into musical notes. Just listen to 'Orb & Sceptre', Crown Imperial' and 'Richard III'. Also his deeply moving 'Battle of Britain' main theme.

That pilot did a superb display. Great video, many thanks. M.

Fabulous music, soulful and stirring!

My Uncle flew from Aug 40 until 43 shot down and a P.O.W a Boxing champion with the R,A,F. and just before he died two thugs beat him up and stole his watch that he wore all through the Battle of Britain I would like to have seen them try that when he was young... P.S he said they spoke a foreign accent..

Oh, this video is going in my favo(u)rites playlist straightaway

Some songs and music seem to hit me and make me cry. I'm crying like an idiot.

Wonderful video! I once met and spoke to William Walton - I'm a musician. And I have a PPL so this video links my two main interests SO well !

You can not play music like that and show any other plane than a Spitfire. Fantastic

Makes a grown man want to bag a couple of 109s before banking gently round and back into the sun-kissed arms of a ruddy-cheeked land girl.

Stunning video...even better soundtrack - well done :-)

One of the Best

Stunning!!

SPITFIRE , a bloody great plane . i

Sir William Walton is a relative on my late father's side. I am now doing my family tree on my father's side.

Delightful flying. M.

Grateful thanks....old chap

Fantastic video, long live the working women! ☆incurrence in all areas of work! ☆hallelujah!☆☆☆☆☆Thanks thanks❤❗️

The perfect combination.

My dad was in the Pathfinders of Bomber Command during WW2. I could never have been that brave. I feel like crying when I hear this. I am 67 fer C*******'s sake!

Walton on top form. The sound of the Merlin engine can, however, bring a lump to the throat. Combine the two & this music & film is just sublime.

Wunderbares Video.

Gosh! I'm in tears!

Brave men an example to us all.

Bloody wonderful music, and, of course, editing! Oh, we Yanks had our iconic WWII fighters too, P-38, -47, -51, but nothing quite approaches the Spitfire as a symbol of the crucial defense of Western civilization against its greatest internal threat. I regret that I've only seen Spitfires pickled in museums.

Myth or reality, the Spitfire to me seems to have encapsulated the whole of WW2 into a struggle ( in right so) between the good and the evil. The striking good looks of the aircraft (the hero - Spitfire) makes it even so a timeless contest between the dragon and the prince (here representing the civilized world). William Waltons music just seems to amplify that notion, and in a superb way. Please excuse me for my lack of proper english expression. English is not my mother tongue. I am just a humble scandinavian viking 🙂

The backdrop of the squadron take off looks like Duxford and it has hardly changed.

Lest we forget!. the pilots, ground crews, ferry pilots bringing in new or repaired aircraft and those striving in the factories to produce them!.

Music at 4.m8ns in ....just awesome

This is a tribute to the Spitfire, much as I love it, I also want an equally brilliant piece of music for the Hawker Hurricane! Please?

Great footage of the factory girls! Women's lib started there!

Perhaps one of the greatest components of that aircrafts fame, was its name. Before the aircraft, the Royal Navy had used the name HMS Spitfire for several small ships. Originally a Spanish Treasure Ship in the 16th century, captured by the British and renamed Shitsilver!

Great video, The spit will always look great as she was inspired by birds. Well apart for the clipped wing version. 😮

WHEN A MINUTE ,MEANT A MINUTE❤😊

Sucks to be you Mr. Messerschmitt, doesn't it? Hey, is that Wagner's Fw-190 Overture I hear? No. It isn't. 'Null said.

This was, of course, written to accompany the film 'The First of The Few' (1942) starring Leslie Howard (as R.J.Mitchell) & David Niven. Charting the development of the Spitfire & Mitchell's early death it really is a 'must see' movie if you like military history.

I think the women making Spitfires are adorable. M.

David, to complete the picture you may wish to consider including the following suggestions in the video. Hurricanes, who generally took on the bombers, whilst the Spitfires tackled the German fighters. Chain Home radar stations that scrambled and then guided the Spitfires and Hurricanes to intercept the incoming raids. The Observer Corps who reported sightings overland. Initially our radar only worked over the sea. I could go on to mention the heroes in the Emergency Services who tackled the initial blitz which lasted for 57 nights. Thank you anyway. Love Walton's music and your video.

Try hearing this whilst a Spit and Mustang beat the audience up from about 50 feet! Glourious!

David, thinking of your uncle today especially, as I listen to Walton's brilliant tribute. Reason being I just discovered the RAF Museum have saved Arthur Scarf's Victoria Cross, won in the Far East, for the nation.

Be definitely had some homage to Elgar in places

repeat please!

I know these Spits but that was a very Long time ago

Wow, watching these mostly young girls riveting the parts of the Spitfire shames me. I have been effusive in my praise of the pilots, the controllers, Dowding and Park. Not to mention the ground crew and the Observer Corps. How could I forget the contribution they made.

Those Young Men jumping into those Spitfires so young in their Handsome Spitfires they had Balls! We need this kind of Supermen to Lead Britain and move away from today’s selfish generation.

Weren't we great

after seeing the production line.all i can say is never under rate the power of womanhood

Quite bizzar music.

The Queen is dead. God save the King.

5.11...........

And god bless RJ Mitchell.

We are forgetting one thing RJ MITCHELL

l'oiseaux de guerre, prêt à défendre sa patrie

Pity he didn't do the same for the Hurricane which really won the Battle of Britain.

Pity het didn't finish with a repeat of the Prelude in slow tempo

All that heavy orchestration. I can't tell if the Queen is being crowned or getting married.