Composer of the Week - 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
Published on Friday, 13th December 2019.
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