allegro con spirito

Malcolm Williamson

Malcolm Benjamin Graham Christopher Williamson AO (honorary), CBE (21 November 1931 – 2 March 2003) was an Australian composer and Master of the Queen's Music from 1975 to 2003.

Biography

Williamson was born in Sydney and studied composition and horn at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. His teachers included Eugene Goossens. In 1950 he moved to London where he worked as an organist, a proofreader, and a nightclub pianist. From 1953 he studied with Elisabeth Lutyens. Williamson was a prolific composer at this time, receiving many commissions and often performed his own works, both on organ and piano.

In 1975, the death of Sir Arthur Bliss left the title of Master of the Queen's Music vacant. The selection of Williamson to fill this post was a surprise, over other composers such as Benjamin Britten, Michael Tippett and Malcolm Arnold, such that William Walton had remarked that "the wrong Malcolm" had been chosen. In addition, Williamson was the first non-Briton to hold the post. He wrote a number of pieces connected to his royal post, including Mass of Christ the King (1978) (see below) and Lament in Memory of Lord Mountbatten of Burma (1980). However, controversy attended his tenure, notably his failure to complete the intended "Jubilee Symphony" for the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 1977. He became less prolific in "Royal" works during the last twenty years or so of his life, although he never completely ceased to take interest in writing music for the Royal Family (see list of "Royal Works" below). His overall compositional output slowed considerably due to a series of illnesses. He died in 2003 in a hospital in Cambridge.

Williamson married Dolores Daniel in 1960 and had one son and two daughters. They were divorced in 1978. He later had a long-term partnership with his publisher Simon Campion.

Williamson's music

Some of Williamson's early works use the twelve tone technique of Arnold Schoenberg, but his greatest influence is often said to be Olivier Messiaen. He discovered Messiaen's music shortly before converting to Roman Catholicism in 1952. He was also influenced by Britten, as well as by jazz and popular music (this latter influence may have come in part from him working as a night club pianist in the 1950s).

Williamson wrote seven symphonies, four piano concertos, operas including Our Man in Havana and The Violins of Saint Jacques, the ballets Sun Into Darkness and The Display, choral works, chamber music, music for solo piano, music for film and television including "Prologue" and "Main Title" of Watership Down, and others.

Williamson also wrote music for children, including the opera The Happy Prince (based on the story by Oscar Wilde) and cassations, short operas incorporating audience participation. One of these, The Valley and the Hill, written for the silver jubilee of Elizabeth II, was performed by 18,000 children.

His largest choral work, the Mass of Christ the King, was commissioned by the Three Choirs Festival for the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977, and attracted popular attention largely because Williamson delivered it late. It is written for two sopranos, tenor and baritone soli, SATB chorus, SATB echo choir and a large orchestra. There were a number of performances over the next few years, including a live BBC broadcast in 1981, but the work is now largely forgotten.

Williamson became generally much less prolific in later life, although he had some very busy years. For example, in 1988 Williamson wrote a large-scale choral-orchestral work The True Endeavour, the orchestral Bicentennial Anthem, the Fanfare of Homage for military band, a ballet Have Steps Will Travel for John Alleyne and the National Ballet of Canada, Ceremony for Oodgeroo (Oodgeroo Noonuccal, formerly known as Kath Walker) for brass quintet, and also commenced work on a substantial new choral-symphony The Dawn is at Hand (to texts by Kath Walker), completed and performed in Australia the following year. Other works include the Requiem for a Tribe Brother (another Australian work, completed in 1992), a third string quartet (1993), a fourth piano concerto (1994) and a symphony for solo harp, Day that I have Loved (1994). The orchestral song cycle on texts by Iris Murdoch A Year of Birds premiered at The Proms in 1995. The same year also saw the premiere of an orchestral work With Proud Thanksgiving, commissioned for the fiftieth anniversary of the United Nations, and dedicated to the memory of Williamson's long-time friend, the UK Prime Minister Harold Wilson.

Honours

Williamson was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1976, and an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1987. The latter award was honorary, but it is not clear why he no longer qualified for a substantive award. The citation for the award read "For service to music and the mentally handicapped". Unusually for Masters of the Queen's Music, he was never knighted.

Royal Works

The Valley and the Hill (1977), children's pageant
Symphony No. 4 - Jubilee (1977), for orchestra. The work (which has never been performed) has three movements:

1. The Birth of the World (Largo)
2. Eagle (Allegro vivo)
3. The Prayer of the Waters (Lento)

Jubilee Hymn (1977), for unison choir, SATB choir & orchestra
The House of Windsor (1977), score for the TV series (an orchestral suite was extracted in the same year)
Mass of Christ the King (1977-1978), for lyric soprano, dramatic soprano, tenor & baritone soli, SATB choir, SATB echo choir & orchestra
Lament in Memory of Lord Mountbatten of Burma (1980), for violin solo & string orchestra.

Premièred by Leonard Friedman (violin) and the Scottish Baroque Ensemble on 5 May 1980.

Ode for Queen Elizabeth (1980), for string orchestra.

Premièred by the Scottish Baroque Ensemble at the Palace of Hollyrood House on 3 July 1980, in the presence of the Royal Family. Public premiere given also by the Scottish Baroque Ensemble on 25 August 1980 at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh. The work is divided into five sections as follows:

1. Act of Homage
2. Alleluia
3. Ecossaise
4. Majesty in Beauty
5. Scottish Dance

Richmond Fanfare (1980), for five trumpets, two tenor trombones, two bass trombones, tuba, percussion & organ
Now Is the Singing Day (1981), for soloists, SATB choir, two pianos, percussion & string orchestra
Mass of St. Margaret of Scotland (1982), for unison choir & piano or SATB choir & organ
Songs for a Royal Baby (1985), for SATB soli/choir & string orchestra

Australian Works

Although Williamson lived in Britain for most of his life, he travelled widely and maintained a deep affection for his native country. He wrote many works specifically for or about Australia, and frequently set texts by Australian poets, such as James McAuley and Kath Walker. Williamson was also inspired to respond through music to political issues, such as Aboriginal rights (a matter close to his heart). Below is a select list of works with a specifically Australian connection.

Symphony No. 1 - Elevamini (1957), for orchestra

Public premiere given by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, in November 1963.

Piano Concerto No. 2 (1960), for piano & string orchestra

Written for a competition at the University of Western Australia, Perth. Premiered on 3 May 1962 by soloist Michael Brimer and the University String Orchestra, conducted by Frank Callaway. The concerto is divided into three movements, with the second running attacca into the third:

1. Allegro con brio
2. Andante lento (with cadenza)
3. Allegro con spirito - Più mosso

Travel Diaries - Sydney (1961), for piano solo

A book of relatively easy piano pieces intended for teaching purposes. Sydney Diaries is one of five such books, with the others concerning London, Naples, Paris and New York. Sydney Diaries has thirteen movements:

1. North Head
2. Pyrmont Dock
3. Harbour Bridge
4. Botanical Gardens
5. At Central Railway
6. Harbour Ferry
7. Lane Cove
8. King's Cross
9. A Morning Swim
10. Kirribilli
11. The Southern Cross
12. In Hyde Park
13. South Head

Symphony for Voices (1962), for a cappella SATB choir

An elaborate five-movement work, setting texts by the Australian poet James McAuley:

1. Invocation (for unnaccompanied contralto)
2. Terra Australis
3. Jesus
4. Envoi
5. New Guinea

Piano Concerto No. 3 (1962), for piano & orchestra

Commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). Premiered by John Ogdon (to whom the work is dedicated) and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra conducted by Joseph Post, June 1964.

I Will Lift Mine Eyes (1970), for unison choir, echo choir & organ

Premiered on 3 May 1970 in Sydney

Concerto for Two Pianos and String Orchestra (1972), subtitled Double Concerto

Premiered by C. Webb & W. Hornibrook (pianos), with the Astra Chamber Orchestra, conducted G. L. Smith in Melbourne in 1972:

1. Allegro ma non troppo
2. Lento
3. Allegro vivo

The Musicians of Bremen (1972), for two countertenors, tenor, two baritones & bass voices

Premiered by The King's Singers in Sydney on 15 May 1972

Adelaide Fanfare (1973), for two trumpets, two horns, 2 trombones, tuba & organ
Canberra Fanfare (1973), for two trumpets, two trombones & percussion
The Glitter Gang (1974), cassation for audience, choir & orchestra

Commissioned by the ABC, premiered at Sydney Town Hall on 23 February 1974 by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Hopkins

In Thanksgiving - Sir Bernard Heinze (1982), for orchestra

In memory of Australian conductor and musician Sir Bernard Heinze. Premiered by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Patrick Thomas, on 23 August 1982 at the Sydney Opera House

Symphony No. 6 - A Liturgy of Homage to the Australian Broadcasting Commission in its Fiftieth Year as University to the Australian Nation (1982), for orchestra

A massive 45-minute score for a huge orchestra including quadruple woodwinds, a large percussion section and organ, the work is divided up into fourteen sections. Commissioned by the ABC, premiered by all seven of the ABC orchestras (Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, The Queensland Orchestra, Sydney Symphony, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, West Australian Symphony Orchestra & Darwin Symphony Orchestra), linked electronically

Symphony No. 7 - Symphony for Strings (1984), for string orchestra

Commissioned to mark the 150th Anniversary of the State of Victoria. Premiered by the Chamber Strings of Melbourne, conducted by Christopher Martin, on 12 August 1985.

Lento for Strings (1985), for string orchestra

In memory of Australian violinist and conductor, Paul McDermott. Premièred in 1985 by the Philharmonia of Melbourne

The Dawn Is At Hand (1988), for SATB choir & orchestra

A five-movement choral symphony to poems by Aboriginal poet Kath Walker. Commissioned by the Australian Bicentennial Authority, and premiered by the Queensland Symphony Chorus & Orchestra in Brisbane, 1989. The movements are as follows:

1. The Dawn Is At Hand -- Aboriginal Charter of Rights
2. The Curlew Cried -- Dawn Wail for the Dead
3. Assimilation - No!
4. We Are Going
5. United We Win -- A Song of Hope

Bicentennial Anthem (1988), for orchestra

Commissioned to mark the 200th Anniversary of European settlement of Australia

The True Endeavour (1988), for speaker, SATB choir & orchestra

Symphonic statement with a text by Australian historian Manning Clark. Commissioned by the Australian Bicentennial Authority, premièred in 1989. The work is divided in seven movements:

1. The Southern Cross above Gondwana
2. Aboriginal Australia
3. Barcarolle of the Disinherited Country
4. The Rainforest: Urban Despoliation
5. Threnody for Murdered Aborigines
6. The Past and the Challenge
7. Mateship: Whitlam's Vision: Makarrata

Requiem for a Tribe Brother (1992), for a cappella SATB choir

Commissioned by Peter Broadbent and the Joyful Company of Singers, this work was written in memory of one of Williamson's Aboriginal friends who died tragically young from AIDS.

String Quartet No. 3 (1993)

A one-movement string quartet, lasting approximately 10 minutes. Written for the Australian String Quartet, and premiered by them in Birmingham on 19 February 1994.

Complete Works

Opera

Our Man in Havana (1963), opera in three acts

based on the novel by Graham Greene, libretto by Sidney Gilliat

English Eccentrics (1964), chamber opera in two acts

based on the book by Edith Sitwell, libretto by Geoffrey Dunn

The Happy Prince (1965), opera in one act

libretto by the composer

Julius Caesar Jones (1965-66), children's opera in two acts

libretto by the composer

The Violins of Saint Jacques (1966), opera in three acts

based on the novel by Patrick Leigh Fermor, libretto by William Chappell

The Brilliant and the Dark (1966), choral operetta

libretto by Ursula Vaughan Williams

Dunstan and the Devil (1967), children's opera in one act

libretto by Geoffrey Dunn

The Growing Castle (1968), opera in two acts

based on a book by August Strindberg, libretto by the composer

Lucky-Peter's Journey (1969), comedy in three acts

libretto by Edmund Tracey

The Red Sea (1972), opera in one act

libretto by the composer

Ballet

The Display (1963), choreographed by Robert Helpmann
Sinfonietta (1965), symphonic work, choreographed in 1967 by Sir Frederick Ashton for the Royal Ballet
Sun into Darkness (1966), ballet in three acts
Perisynthion (1974), originally intended to be choreographed by Robert Helpmann, though (as yet) it has not been danced
Heritage (1985), ballet in three tableaux, choreographed by Phyllis Kempster for West Midlands Youth Ballet
Have Steps Will Travel (1988)

Cassations

A "cassation" is a miniature opera including audience participation. Williamson wrote ten cassations, of varying complexity and duration. His primary intention was to teach children the mechanics of putting on an opera, and the idea for the pieces first came to Williamson while teaching his own children about music. Williamson had a great deal of success with these cassations, which have had performances in Britain, Australia, France, the USA, and in hospitals in Tanzania and Zambia.

The Moonrakers (1967), premiered at the Trinity College of Music, London.
Knights in Shining Armour (1968), for Peirs Russell-Cobb
The Snow Wolf (1968)
Genesis (1971), premièred by the Children's Choir Camp in the Diocese of Western North Carolina
The Stone Wall (1971), commissioned by the BBC Proms. Premiered at the Last Night of the Proms on 18 September 1971 by the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis, in the Royal Albert Hall, London
The Winter Star (1973), commissioned by the Arts Council of Great Britain. Premiered on 19 June 1973 at the Holm Cultram Festival, directed by Andrew Seivewright
The Glitter Gang (1974), commissioned by the Australian Broadcasting Commission. Premiered at Sydney Town Hall on 23 February 1974 by children's choirs and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, conducted by John Hopkins.
The Terrain of Kings (1974), commissioned by, and dedicated to, Jeunesses Musicales. Premiered in Spring, 1975 in France.
The Valley and the Hill (1977), commissioned by the Liverpool Education Authority. Premiered in the presence of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Hope Street Cathedral on 21 June 1977, by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a cast of 18,000 children.
The Devil's Bridge (1982), premiered in Angoulême, France.

Orchestral

Santiago de Espada (1956), overture for orchestra
Symphony No. 1 - Elevamini (1957), for orchestra
Piano Concerto No. 1 (1958), for piano & orchestra
Piano Concerto No. 2 (1960), for piano & string orchestra
Organ Concerto (1961), for organ & orchestra
Piano Concerto No. 3 (1962), for piano & orchestra
Sinfonia Concertante (1962), for three trumpets & piano soli, & string orchestra
Our Man in Havana, Concert Suite (1963), for voices & orchestra
Our Man in Havana, Orchestral Suite (1963/66), for orchestra
The Display, Concert Suite (1964), for orchestra
The Merry Wives of Windsor (1964), for orchestra
Sinfonietta (1965), for orchestra
Violin Concerto (1965), for violin & orchestra
Concerto Grosso (1965), for orchestra
Symphonic Variations (1965), for orchestra
Serenade and Aubade (1965), for chamber orchestra
Sun into Darkness (1966), for orchestra
Six English Lyrics (1966-67), for low voice & strings
Epitaphs for Edith Sitwell (1966/72), for string orchestra
Symphony No. 2 - Pilgrim på havet (1968), for orchestra
A Word from Our Founder (1969), for orchestra
Symphony No. 3 - The Icy Mirror (1972), for soprano, mezzo-soprano & two baritone soli, SATB choir & orchestra
Concerto for Two Pianos & String Orchestra (1972)
Hammarskjöld Portrait (1974), song-cycle for soprano & string orchestra
Perisynthion (1974), for orchestra
Les Olympiques (1976), song-cycle for mezzo-soprano & string orchestra
Harp Concerto - Au tombeau du martyr juif inconnu (1976) for harp & string orchestra
The House of Windsor, Suite (1977), for orchestra (extracted from the music for the TV series)
Ochre (1977), for orchestra or organ & string orchestra
Symphony No. 4 - Jubilee (1977), for orchestra
Fiesta (1978), for orchestra
Azure (1978), for orchestra
Fanfarade (1979), for orchestra
Symphony No. 5 - Aquerò (1979-1980), for orchestra
Lament in Memory of Lord Mountbatten of Burma (1980), for violin & string orchestra
Ode for Queen Elizabeth (1980), for string trio & string orchestra
Tribute to a Hero (1981), for baritone & orchestra
In Thanksgiving - Sir Bernard Heinze (1982), for orchestra
Symphony No. 6 - Liturgy of Homage to the Australian Broadcasting Commission in its Fiftieth Year as University to the Australian Nation (1982), for orchestra
Two Pieces (circa 1983), for string orchestra
Camargue Scenes (198?), for string orchestra
Symphony No. 7 - Symphony for Strings (1984), for string orchestra
Cortège for a Warrior (1984), for orchestra
Lento for Strings (1985), for string orchestra
Heritage (1985), for orchestra
Next Year in Jerusalem (1985), song-cycle for soprano & orchestra
Saxophone Concerto Concertino for Charles (1987), for saxophone & orchestral winds
Bicentennial Anthem (1988), for orchestra
Bratsvo - Brotherhood (1988), for orchestral winds
Piano Concerto No. 4 (1994), for piano & orchestra
A Year of Birds (1995), song-cycle for soprano & orchestra
With Proud Thanksgiving (1995), for orchestra

Choral

Two Motets (1954), for a cappella SATB choir
Mass (1956), for a cappella SATB choir
Adoremus (1959), Christmas cantata for alto & tenor soli, SATB choir & organ
Dawn Carol (1960), for a cappella SATB choir
Agnus Dei (1961), for SATB choir & organ
Dignus est Agnus (1961), for soprano solo, SATB choir & organ
Ascendit Deus (1961), for SATB choir & organ
Procession of Psalms (1961), for SATB choir & organ
Tu es Petrus (1961), cantata for speaker, SATB choir & organ
Easter Carol (1962), for a cappella SATB choir
Harvest Thanksgiving (1962), for SATB & organ
Jesu, Lover of my Soul (1962), for soprano, alto, tenor, bass soli, SATB choir & organ
Let Them Give Thanks (1962), for congregation, SATB choir & organ
O Planctus (1962), for a cappella TB choir
Symphony for Voices (1962), for a cappella SATB choir
The Morning of the Day of Days (1962), for soprano & tenor soli, SATB choir & organ
Twelve New Hymn Tunes (1962), for unison/two-part choir & organ
Wrestling Jacob (1962), for soprano solo, SATB choir & organ
An Australian Carol (1963), for SATB choir & organ
Six Christmas Songs for the Young (1963), unison choir & piano, with optional percussion
Six Wesley Songs for the Young (1963), unison choir & piano
Good King Wenceslas (1963), for SATB choir & organ
Ding Dong Merrily on High (1963), for a cappella SATB choir
Te Deum (1963), for congregation, unison choir & organ
The Boar's Head Carol (1964), a cappella SATB choir
English Eccentrics Choral Suite (1964), for a cappella SATB double choir
Epiphany Carol (1964), for soprano solo, SATB choir & organ
Mass of Saint Andrew (1964), unison choir & organ/piano
Six Evening Hymns (1964), for a cappella unison choir
North Country Songs (1965), low voice solo, SATB choir & piano
Psalm of Praise (1965), for unison choir & organ
A Birthday (1966), for SATB choir & piano
Jenny Kiss'd Me (1966), for a cappella TB choir
Sweet and Low (1966), for SA choir & piano
Canon for Stravinsky (1967), for a cappella SATB choir
Mowing the Barley (1967), for SATB choir & orchestra
Six English Lyrics (1967), for SATB choir & string orchestra
Carol Arrangements (1969), for a cappella SATB double choir
O Sanctissima (1969), for SATB choir & piano
Sonnet "On Hearing the Dies Irae Sung in the Sistine Chapel" (1969), for a cappella SATB choir
The Brilliant and the Dark (1969), pageant for two soprano & two alto soli, SSAA choir & orchestra
Cantate Domino (1970), SATB choir & organ
I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes (1970), for unison choir, echo choir & organ
In Place of Belief (1970), for SATB choir & two pianos
Te Deum Laudamus (1971), for SATB choir, brass ensemble & organ
Love, the Sentinel (1972), for a cappella SATB choir
Carols of King David (1972), for congregation, unison choir & organ
O Jerusalem (1972), for congregation, unison choir & organ
The King of Love (1972), for congregation, unison choir & organ
The Musicians of Bremen (1972), for a cappella AATBarBB choir
Together in Unity (1972), for congregation, unison choir & organ
Canticle of Fire (1973), SATB choir & organ (with extensive solo passages)
Ode to Music (1973), for SATB choir, SATB echo choir & orchestra
Symphony No. 3 - The Icy Mirror (1973), for soprano, mezzo-soprano & two baritone soli, SATB choir & orchestra
The World at the Manger (1973), Christmas cantata for soprano & baritone soli, SATB choir & organ/piano duet
Communion Hallelujas (1974-75), for SATB choir & organ
Sixteen Hymns and Processionals (1975), for unison voices & piano/organ
This is my Father's World (1975), for SATB choir & organ
Love, Dove and Above Chorales (1975), for voices and piano/organ/guitar.
Mass of St. James (1975), for unison voices & organ/piano
Psalms of the Elements (1975), for unison voices/SATB choir & organ
Jubilee Hymn (1977), for unison choir, SATB choir & orchestra
This Christmas Night (1977), carol for SATB choir & piano/organ
Mass of Christ the King (1977-1978), for lyric soprano, dramatic soprano, tenor & baritone soli, SATB choir, SATB echo choir & orchestra
Kerygma (1979), for SATB choir & organ
Little Mass of Saint Bernadette (1980), unison choir, instrumental ensemble & organ
Mass of the People of God (1980), for SATB choir & organ
Three Choric Hymns (1980), for a cappella SATB choir
Now Is The Singing Day (1981), for mezzo-soprano & baritone soli, SATB choir, two pianos, percussion & string orchestra
Mass of Saint Margaret of Scotland (1982), unison choir/SATB choir & organ/piano
A Pilgrim Liturgy (1984), mezzo-soprano & baritone soli, SATB choir & orchestra
Songs for a Royal Baby (1985), for SATB soli/choir & string orchestra
Easter in St. Mary's Church (1987), for SATB choir & organ/piano
Galilee (1987), for a cappella SATB choir
A Book of Christmas Carols (1988), for unison voices & piano/organ
The True Endeavour (1988), for speaker, SATB choir & orchestra
The Dawn Is At Hand (1988-1989), for SATB choir & orchestra
Our Church Lives (1989), for SATB choir & organ
Beyond the Sun and the Moon (1990), for speaker, children's choir & orchestra
Mass of Saint Etheldreda (1990), for SATB choir & organ
Requiem for a Tribe Brother (1992), for a cappella SATB choir

Vocal

A Vision of Beasts and Gods (1958), song-cycle for high voice & piano
Celebration of Divine Love (1963), song-cycle for high voice & piano
Hasselbacher's Scena (1963), for bass & piano
Three Shakespeare Songs (1963), for high voice & guitar/piano
A Christmas Carol (1964), for low voice & piano
North Country Songs (1965), for low voice & piano
Six English Lyrics (1966-67), for low voice & piano/strings
''From a Child's Garden (1968), song-cycle for high voice & piano
In Place of Belief (1970), for four solo voices & piano duet
Death of Cuchulain (1971), for five male voices & percussion
The Musicians of Bremen (1972), for six male voices
Pietà (1973), for soprano, oboe, bassoon & piano
Tribute to a Hero (1981), for voice & piano
Songs for a Royal Baby (1985), for soprano, alto, tenor, bass soli & piano/strings
Vocalise (1985), soprano & piano
Day that I have Loved (1986), for low voice & piano
Feast of Euridice (1986), for voice, flute, percussion & piano
The Mower to the Glow-worms (1986), for low voice & piano
The White Island (1986), for low voice & piano
White Dawns (1986), song-cycle for baritone & piano
New work (1993), for voice & harp

Chamber

String Quartet No. 2 (1954)
Variations (1964), for cello & piano
Concerto for Two Pianos and Wind Quintet (1965)
Pas de Quatre (1967), for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon & piano
Serenade (1967), for flute, piano, violin, viola & cello
Sonata for Two Pianos (1967)
Piano Quintet (1968), for two violins, viola, cello & piano
Pas de Deux (1972), for clarinet and piano
Adelaide Fanfare (1973), for two trumpets, two horns, two trombones, tuba & organ
Canberra Fanfare (1973), for two trumpets, two trombones & percussion
Music for a Quiet Day (1976), for concert band
Piano Trio (1976), for violin, cello & piano
Konstanz Fanfare (1980), for five trumpets, four horns, two tenor trombones, two bass trombones, tuba, two percussion & organ
Richmond Fanfare (1980), five trumpets, four horns, two tenor trombones, two bass trombones, tuba, percussion & organ
Fontainebleau Fanfare (1981), for five trumpets, four horns, two tenor trombones, two bass trombones, tuba, two percussion & organ
Champion Family Album (1984-85), for flute & clarinet, with optional guitar & percussion parts
Springtime on the River Moskva (1986), for two pianos
Pas de Trois (1987), for two pianos
Ceremony for Oodgeroo (1988), for brass quintet
Fanfare of Homage (1988), for military band
Channukkah Sketches (1990), for flute & guitar
Tableau No. 1 (1990), for two pianos
Fanfares and Chorales (1991), for brass quintet
String Quartet No. 3 (1993)

[the String Quartet No. 1, subtitled Winterset, which dates from 1947 & '48, remains unpublished.]

Instrumental

Partita (1950), for piano
Variations (1954), for piano
Piano Sonata No. 1 (1956)
Fons Amoris (1956), for organ
Piano Sonata No. 2 (1957)
Piano Sonata No. 3 (1958)
Resurgence de Feu (1959), for organ
Piano Sonata No. 4 (1959)
Symphony (1960), for organ
Travel Diaries (1961), for piano
Vision of Christ-Phoenix (1962), for organ
Elegy for J.F.K. (1964), for organ
Epitaphs for Edith Sitwell (1966), for organ
Peace Pieces (1971), for organ
Little Carols of the Saints (1972), for organ
Partita on Themes of Walton (1972), for viola
Mass of a Medieval Saint (1973), for organ
Haifa Watercolours (1974), for piano
The Bridge Van Gogh Painted and the French Camargue (1974), for piano
Fantasy on This is my Father's World (1975), for organ
Fantasy on O Paradise (1976), for organ
The Lion of Suffolk (1977), for organ
Mass of the People of God - Offertoire - Dialogue des Choeurs (1980), for organ
Hymna Titu (1984), for piano
Symphony Day that I have Loved (1994), for harp

Film and TV

The Timber Getters (1949), Australian documentary
Inland with Sturt (1951), Australian film score
Arid Land (1960), film score
The Brides of Dracula (1960), Hammer horror film score
Thunder in Heaven (1964), travel documentary
North Sea Strike (1964), oil documentary
September Spring (1964), BP film
Rio Tinto Zinc (1965), TV documentary
Crescendo (1969), Hammer horror film score
The Horror of Frankenstein (1969), Hammer horror film score, directed by Jimmy Sangster
Nothing but the Night (1972), film score, directed by Christopher Lee, also featuring Peter Cushing
Churchill's People (1974-75), many scores for TV-series
The House of Windsor (1977), TV-series score
Watership Down (1977), prologue & title music of film score
The Masks of Death (1984), Sherlock Holmes film score, with Peter Cushing

Musical Theatre

No Bed for Bacon (1958), for Bristol Old Vic
Make with the Mischief (1958), unperformed version of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
Trilby (1959-61), based on the novel by George du Maurier

Unfinished Works

Williamson left a number of works unfinished at his death. These include an Strindberg-based opera Easter (with a libretto by Myfanwy Piper), a Symphony No. 8 - "Agamemnon" (based on the poem by Dame Iris Murdoch), and sketches for a Piano Concerto No. 5, which he had hoped to write for his good Australian pianist-friend Anthony Gray.