Crown Imperial (musical composition)

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Crown Imperial is an orchestral march by the English composer William Walton and was performed at the coronation of King George VI in 1937 and substantially revised in 1963. It's written in a ABABC form: An exciting march in C major over Waltonesque long pedal points is followed by an Elgarian trio section in A flat major. Then both march and trio reappear in C again and come to a conclusion in a small heroic coda. It has been arranged for organ by Herbert Murrill. It can be found as such in "A Walton Organ Album", compiled by Robert Gower, published by Oxford University Press.

The march was actually composed with the intention to be performed at the Coronation of King Edward VIII who abdicated in 1936 prior to his Coronation, which was scheduled to be held on 12th May 1937. The Coronation was held on that day, but with his brother King George VI and Queen Elizabeth being crowned in his place.

At the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the march was also used (along with a further Coronation March written by Walton, "Orb and Sceptre"). Crown Imperial is now one of the most popular pieces of Walton's compositions in the orchestral repertoire.