Percy Grainger

Donald Macleod surveys the life, music and quirks of Australian
composer, Percy Grainger


Donald Macleod begins this week episode about Percy Grainger by
tracing the composer's ambivalent relationship with his primary
musical instrument, the piano, and the ever-present influence of
his mother. He then follows Grainger to London, where his
composing took second place to performing, leading to concert
tours of Scandinavia, South Africa, New Zealand and back home to
Australia. We’ll also hear about his enthusiastic and sometimes
controversial role in the folksong revival of the 1900s, away
from starchy drawing rooms and concert halls. Donald keeps up
with Grainger during an anxiety-ridden move to America during the
First World War. To end, he explores some of the composer's more
unsavoury views and his quest for musical 'freedom'.


Music featured: Mowgli's Song Against People Molly on the Shore
Walking Tune Tribute to Foster Marching Song of Democracy
Hill-Song 1 and 2 Handel in the Strand English Dance Colonial
Song Scotch Strathspey and Reel The Warriors Brigg Fair Creeping
Jane I'm Seventeen Come Sunday Four Settings from 'Songs of the
North' Green Bushes Lincolnshire Posy Country Garden Suite: In a
Nutshell The Power of Rome and the Christian Heart Irish Tune
from County Derry The Bride's Tragedy Shepherd's Hey The Power of
Love Jutish Melody (Danish Folk Song Suite) To a Nordic Princess
Immovable Do Free Music Free Music No 2 The Jungle Book
(excerpts)


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Martin Williams for BBC
Wales


For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Percy Grainger.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000c4kf


And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve
featured on Composer of the Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z