Today's programme is truly a must-hear for all!
Composer of the Week
Percy Grainger (1882-1961)
Episode 2
Last broadcast today, 12:00 on BBC Radio 3.
In today's programme, Grainger finds himself in demand as a
concert pianist, and with the backing of his old friend Balfour
Gardiner has his first taste of success as a composer too. At first,
London must have seemed the perfect base for his activities, but
when war was declared in August 1914, he and his mother Rose
decided to up sticks and head out of harm's way - to the Big Apple
- on the not unreasonable grounds that a war casualty could not
become Australia's first significant composer. In New York, Grainger
quickly established himself as a pianist, becoming known as "the
Siegfried of the piano" for his dashing good looks. He found himself
a publisher and commissions started to follow - one of the earliest
resulted in one of his best-known compositions, the orchestral
suite In a Nutshell. A promised ballet commission from the
conductor Thomas Beecham failed to materialize, but Grainger
wrote the work anyway; it became his "imaginary ballet", The
Warriors, one of his most original and inventive scores.
Percy Grainger — Father and Daughter vers. soloists, chorus, orch
Conductor: John Eliot GARDINER
Performer: English Country Gardiner Orchestra
Performer: Monteverdi Choir.
PHILIPS, 446-657-2, 1-6
Percy Grainger — Colonial Song vers. for orch (ST ad lib)
Conductor: Richard HICKOX
Performer: BBC Philharmonic
CHANDOS, CHAN 10638, 1-2
Percy Grainger — Shepherd's Hey vers. for orchestra
Conductor: Richard HICKOX
Performer: BBC Philharmonic
CHANDOS, CHAN 10638, 1-4
Percy Grainger — In a Nutshell - Suite vers. for orchestra
Conductor: Simon RATTLE
Performer: City of Birmingham S O.
EMI, CDC 556-412-2, 1-1
Percy Grainger — One More Day, My John (complex vers.) for piano
Performer: Percy GRAINGER - Piano (June 1918)
NIMBUS, NI-8809, 1-1
Percy Grainger — The Warriors vers. for orchestra
Conductor: Simon RATTLE
Performer: Malcolm WILSON - Piano
Performer: Roderick ELMS - Piano
Performer: Wayne MARSHALL - Piano
Performer: City of Birmingham S O.
EMI, 6975962, 1-15
Amazing works, dazzling performances!