Grainger in the Plains (1986)
for solo piano
On discovering the music of Percy Grainger
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Published in: Collected Shorter Piano Pieces Vol 3 (forthcoming)
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Duration: c. 5 minutes
Programme note
I heard a BBC Radio 3 broadcast in the 1980s, and discovered the music of Percy Grainger. I was fascinated enough to compose a homage of sorts, reimagining 'Handel in the Strand' as 'Grainger in the Plains', that is to say White Plains in NY State, where he lived and died. Grainger imagined Handel strolling down the Strand and adapted 'The Harmonious Blacksmith' for his piece; I imagine Grainger strolling around White Plains, working on his transcription of the 'Hornpipe' from the 'Water Music', with odd snippets appearing here and there.
for solo piano
On discovering the music of Percy Grainger
Publisher: Bardic Edition
Published in: Collected Shorter Piano Pieces Vol 3 (forthcoming)
Available from Goodmusic Publishing
Duration: c. 5 minutes
Programme note
I heard a BBC Radio 3 broadcast in the 1980s, and discovered the music of Percy Grainger. I was fascinated enough to compose a homage of sorts, reimagining 'Handel in the Strand' as 'Grainger in the Plains', that is to say White Plains in NY State, where he lived and died. Grainger imagined Handel strolling down the Strand and adapted 'The Harmonious Blacksmith' for his piece; I imagine Grainger strolling around White Plains, working on his transcription of the 'Hornpipe' from the 'Water Music', with odd snippets appearing here and there.
