Percy Grainger “The Life and Times” 7th Grade General Music, Mr. Putka

Percy Aldridge Grainger George Percy Grainger, who later changed his name to Percy Aldridge Grainger, is considered a groundbreaking composer. He wrote countless of legendary works for both orchestra and band alike.

Percy’s Childhood Percy was born July 8, 1882 in the country of Australia and was the only child of John Grainger and Rose Aldridge. His father left him at an early age. His mother Rose was left to educate the young Percy herself. With Rose’s guidance Percy a normal education and persisted that her child practice the piano two hours a day.

Percy’s Childhood Cont….. Percy started studying piano privately at the age of ten. He studied with the German pianist Louis Pabst. Under Pabst, Percy first studied and played the music of Bach. According to most, Percy was a child prodigy. He not only succeeded at the piano but also showed great potential in painting, drawing, and speaking foreign languages.

Quick Quiz At what age did Percy begin to study under Louis Pabst? Ten.

New Beginnings By the encouragement of his new teacher, Adelaide Burkitt, the twelve year old Percy and his mother Rose left Australia for Frankfurt, Germany. While in Frankfurt, Percy studied at the renowned Dr. Hoch’s Conservatory.

Dr. Hoch’s Conservatory Percy began composing while attending the school. In 1889, to his friends amazement, Percy used mix meters in his piece entitled “Love Verses from The Song of Solomon”. For example his piece used the following time signatures sequentially, 2 1/2/4, ¾, 2 1/2/4, 3/8, 2/4, and etc…….

Interesting Fact Percy was ahead of his time, Igor Stravinsky first used mix meters in a composition that was written in 1913.

London, England In 1901, Percy and his mother Rose moved to London, England. Percy became a successful concert pianist and gained the attention of Ferruccio Busoni. Busoni, a well accomplished musician, offered to teach Grainger for free. The two studied together throughout their careers.

London Cont…. Percy wrote many classic pieces while living in London. Such as, “Colonial Song”, “Irish Tune from County Derry”, and “Molly on the Shore.”

World War 1 Percy Grainger cancels all prior commitments and moves to America in 1914 due to the war. Percy makes his American debut in He plays piano in the piece “Shepard’s Hey.” Percy joins the army in He enlists as an army bandsman, while in the band he learns a variety of instruments.

Life Changes After a honorable discharge from the army, his mother commits suicide. After the suicide, Percy became a vegetarian or as known in those days meatshunner. He marries Ella Strom, a sweetish poet and artist, in 1928.

Other Accomplishments Aside from composing many classic pieces, Percy becomes the dean of the New York University’s Music Department. He later performed at the White House for the Roosevelt family in the late ’30s.

Percy’s Last Years Percy spent some of his last years working on a electronic device that would perform “Free Music.” His last years were spent fighting a bout with cancer. Percy died February 20, 1961.

Final Thoughts Percy broke the rules of composing. This is what Sparre Olsen said of Percy, “He masters the whole scale of human feeling-the soft, the tender, the lyrical, the dramatic, the wild.” I would like to thank percygrainger.com for all the information used in the slide show.