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