The Life of Percy Aldridge Grainger | Full Documentary
This audio is from a 1982 New York Public Radio archive collection entitled,
"A Tribute to Percy Grainger". The voice heard herein is John Bird—one of the most respected Grainger scholars and the author of his famous 1976 biography. Hoping to further elevate this invaluable broadcast, I included a wealth of rare photos and videos.
As you will hear Mr. Bird say, Percy Grainger's music and his life have been severely neglected by much of the musical powers that be. "Where musical progress and compositional experiments are discussed, my name is never mentioned. Can a more complete aesthetic failure be imagined? Not by me."
—Grainger writes.
While studying composition in college, Grainger was best known for: (1) arranging some folk-tunes & ditties, (2) Lincolnshire Posy, (3) being a "bad guy", and (4) weird whip stuff. Rarely did I hear the man's name praised. I can assure you, the professors who would easily overlook or belittle Grainger's work could not name more than 3 of his composition. There is a deep-seated resentment which persists to this day and is perpetuated by ill-informed students and "intellectuals".
I pray that Grainger's music can be looked at with fresh eyes. It has been over 100 years since some of his finest compositions were penned, and I think it's time the worlds hears some of it.
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0:00 Intro | The Story of Percy Aldridge Grainger
0:33 John Bird's Introduction
2:36 A Child in Australia
9:51 Grainger in Germany
12:26 A Young Man in London
14:40 The Lincolnshire Lad
15:42 Move to America
17:18 The Death of Grainger's Mother
18:18 Ella Viola Ström (Grainger)
19:02 Academia
20:32 The Grainger Museum
24:05 The Later Years and "Free Music"
26:34 John Bird's Reflections on Grainger
43:41 "You may think of turnips as I play”
44:37 Grainger's Lost Music
45:37 Grieg and Grainger Together
47:50 Grainger's Reflections
50:34 Wrapping Things Up
51:29 Outro | The Story of Percy Aldridge Grainger