
George Percy Aldridge Grainger
Upcoming Performances
About George Percy Aldridge Grainger
Percy Aldridge Grainger was born on 8 July 1882 in Brighton, Victoria (Australia), to the renowned architect John H. Grainger. His musical talent showed when he was only a young boy. Aged twelve, he went on his first concert tour as a pianist. In 1895, he travelled to Europe where he studied piano and composition at the Dr. Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt for four years.Between 1901 and 1914 he lived in London, where he gradually gained fame as a composer and piano virtuoso. His co-operation with Schott started in 1911, when the increasing recognition of his works manifested itself through performances in London Queen's Hall and the Aeolien Hall, for instance. In these days his friendship with the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg developed. Grieg's devotion to the music of his country inspired Grainger to occupy himself with English folk music. With a phonograph he collected numerous examples of English folk music, which he later linked into his own compositions. Also, in these days, his close friendships with composers like Frederic Delius, Cyril Scott or with personalities of English music life like Herman Sanby and Balfour Gardiner developed.
In 1914, Grainger and his mother moved to the United States, where he lived until his death. Although he always saw and called himself an Australian, he became an American citizen and, for a short time, a member of the US Army Bands.
After the First World War Grainger continued his concert tours and lectures, which also led him back to Australia from time to time. In the 1930's he laid the foundation stone of the Grainger Museum at Melbourne University. In 1928, he married the Swedish artist Ella Viola Strom. Grainger also increasingly dedicated himself to the research and the publication of medieval music and the music of foreign cultures. Towards the end of his life, he worked on methods of carrying out "free music", i.e. music without any restrictions of time or determined intervals. Together with scientist Burnett Cross he developed the so-called "Free Music Machines", which were the predecessors of modern electronic synthesizers.
Percy Alridge Grainger died on 20 February 1961 in New York and was buried in his family's grave in Adelaide, South Australia.
Worklist
Gallery



Chronology
Begins his Kipling 'Jungle Book' Cycle composed 'as a protest against civilization'
Completes Youthful Rapture (originally A Lot of Rot) and Love Verses from 'The Song of Solomon'; commences Marching Song of Democracy, inspired by Whitman
Arranges Irish Tune from County Derry for unaccompanied mixed chorus; completes initial setting of Hill Song No. 1
First uses phonograph to record folksongs.
Sets Molly on the Shore for string quartet
His controversial 100-page article 'Collecting with the Phonograph' appears in the Journal of the Folk-Song Society; makes the first gramphone recordings of short passages by Grieg, Liszt and Stanford.
Completes Father and Daughter setting of Faroe Islands music.
Changes his professional name to Percy Aldridge Grainger.
Completes initial setting of Shepherd's Hey.
Schott (London) starts to publish his compositions.
Completes The Warriors: Music to an Imaginary Ballet, dedicated to Delius.
Joins US army as a military musician.
Completes Country Gardens, based on a Morris Dance tune collected by Cecil Sharp.
Completes Children’s March: Over the Hills and Far Away, for band.
Undertakes long concert tours of the American Far West.
Rescores a number of his early works.
Première of The Bride’s Tragedyat Evanston Festival.
Travels to Scandinavia to collect Danish folk music.
Première of To a Nordic Princess.
Completes initial setting of his Danish Folk-Music Suite.
Takes a teaching post at New York University.
Premiere of experimental Free Music No. 1
Official opening of the Grainger Museum in Melbourne.
Begins glossary of his ‘Nordic English’.
Collaborates with Stokowski in Hollywood Bowl performance of Grieg piano concerto, In a Nutshell suite and Suite on Danish Folk Songs.
Performs Danish Folk Music Suite at a Promenade Concert in London.
Products
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for orchestraComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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from R. Wagner's 'Die Meistersinger'Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: 5 cellosHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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theme from the film 'Howards End'Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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theme from the film 'Howards End'Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: Walter HartleyMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: concert bandHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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theme from the film 'Howards End'Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: Alan GibbsMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mixed choir or female choir, tenor solo (ad libitum) and ensembleLanguage: EnglishHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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original music by Josquin DesprezComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: stringsHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for medium voice and pianoComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: medium voice and pianoProduct number: ED 12562Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
anonymous, arranged by P. A. GraingerComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mixed choir and stringsLanguage: LatinHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for choir (unison women's, men's or mixed choir) and brass instrumentsComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEditor: Barry Peter OuldArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: choir (unison women's, men's or mixed choir) and brass instrumentsLanguage: EnglishHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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English Gothic MusicComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: strings and choir and organ ad libitumHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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original music by William BradeComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: stringsHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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No. 6 from Kipling SettingsComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: baritone, men's choir (or 4 male voices) and pianoProduct number: ED 12511Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax -
English Gothic MusicComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: strings and choir and organ ad libitumLanguage: LatinHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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original music by Lyonel PowerComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: Mezzosoprano and stringsLanguage: LatinHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for middle-fiddle (viola) soloComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: violaProduct number: ED 12558Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax -
for soli or massed violinsComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: violinsHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for solo tenor and mixed choirComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Choral score, Piano part for rehearsal onlyInstrumentation: Tenor solo and mixed choir a cappellaProduct number: ED 12512Product TypeIn stockAs low as €3.99Incl. Tax
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for orchestraComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for mixed choir and orchestraComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mixed choir and orchestraLanguage: EnglishHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Choral scoreSeries: Choral Music of Our Time
Instrumentation: mixed choir a cappella; piano ad libitumProduct number: ED 11282Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax -
for strings arranged by P. A. GraingerComposer: George Percy Aldridge Grainger | Guillaume de MachautArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: stringsHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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English Gothic MusicComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: strings and 3-part men's choir or 3-part mixed choir ad libitumHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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after John DowlandComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: tenor solo and orchestraLanguage: EnglishHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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a free ramble on J. S. Bach's aria Sheep may Graze in SafetyComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: 2 copies requiredSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: 2 pianos (4 hands)Product number: ED 12901Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax -
after J.S. Bach's "Sheep may Graze in Safety"Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: pianoProduct number: ED 12545Product TypeIn stockAs low as €20.99Incl. Tax -
for military bandComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: MilitärkapelleHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for theatre orchestraComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: theatre orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for small or massed orchestraComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Nr. 43 from British Folk-Music SettingsComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerSeries: Edition Schott
Bold William Taylor, No. 43
Instrumentation: mezzo-soprano or baritone and pianoProduct number: ED 13179Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
for mezzo-soprano or baritone voice and ensembleComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: mezzo soprano or baritone and ensembleLanguage: EnglishHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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[interpolating "Air" from Overture No. 3 as slow movement]Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: strings, piano and organHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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arranged by Joe ConwayComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: Joe ConwayMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: tenor and stringsLanguage: EnglishHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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No. 30 Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie DoonComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: ScoreSeries: British Folk-Music Settings
Instrumentation: mixed choirProduct number: ED 12117Product TypeIn stockAs low as €4.99Incl. Tax -
No. 5 Irish Tune from County DerryComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Choral score, with underlayed Piano part for rehearsal onlyInstrumentation: mixed choir (SATBarBarB)Product number: ED 11283Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax
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No 22 "Country Gardens" (Handkerchief Dance)Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: piano (4 hands)Product number: ED 11198Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax -
No. 7 Brigg Fair "It was on the fifth of August" (England)Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Choral scoreInstrumentation: mixed choir (SATBB) with tenor-soloProduct number: ED 11190Product TypeIn stockAs low as €5.99Incl. Tax
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No. 1 Molly on the shoreProduct TypeIn stockAs low as €8.99Incl. Tax
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No. 40 LisbonComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Score and partsSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: wind quintetProduct number: ED 11128Product TypeIn stockAs low as €7.99Incl. Tax -
or The Jolly SailorComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerSeries: Edition Schott
British Waterside
Instrumentation: voice and pianoProduct number: ED 12523Product TypeIn stockAs low as €10.99Incl. Tax -
or The Jolly SailorComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Low (original) key versionSeries: Edition Schott
British Waterside
Instrumentation: voice and pianoProduct number: ED 12522Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
original music by Claude DebussyComposer: George Percy Aldridge Grainger | Claude DebussyArranger: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: wind ensembleHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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realised by Eldon RathburnComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEditor: Eldon RathburnMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for piano and military bandComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEditor: R. Mark RogersMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: piano and military bandHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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for orchestraComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: Adolf SchmidMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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The Valley Lay Smiling - after Thomas MooreComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: ensembleHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: organProduct number: ED 12897Product TypeIn stockAs low as €6.99Incl. Tax -
version for two voices and piano or piano aloneComposer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerEdition: Score, This edition can be used as additional vocal scores for the other versions of Colonial SongSeries: Edition Schott
Instrumentation: soprano, tenor and piano or piano aloneProduct number: ED 12525Product TypeIn stockAs low as €9.99Incl. Tax -
(Marjorie Lawrence version)Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerArranger: Marjorie LawrenceMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano and orchestraLanguage: VocalisesHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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(1919 version)Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: orchestraHire/performance materialHire/performance material
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(1st setting)Composer: George Percy Aldridge GraingerMedia Type: Hire/performance materialEdition: Performance materialInstrumentation: soprano, tenor and orchestraLanguage: VocalisesHire/performance materialHire/performance material