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HENRY THE FIFTH op.330 (March 1984)
Incidental music for a production of the play by the Royal Shakespeare Company directed by Adrian Noble
Published by: Highbridge Music LtdCommissioned by: The Royal Shakespeare Company
Instrumentation: Theatre ensemble
[Key to Abbreviations]
Duration: 40 mins
First Performance: Royal Shakespeare Company 28 March 1984 with Kenneth Branagh as Henry V. Director: Adrian Noble
Notes
For Kenneth Branagh's notable theatrical debut for the opening of the 1984 Stratford season Adrian Noble asked Howard to write a 'film score for theatre', with distinct sounds portraying peace and war. For peace Howard wrote harp variations on the folk-like theme he set to 'Sword and shield', to be played on-stage, and for war a ferocious brass and percussion line-up including ship's chains and 20' thunder sheet. He also set 'Let us sip, and let it slip' and the 'Non Nobis Domine' for the cast to sing.