(Past) News and Announcements

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An archive of past events

This page contains news of past events at the Grainger House or concerning the International Percy Grainger Society. Notices of current activities appear in the "UPCOMING EVENTS" box on our home page.

We thank you for continuing to share with us your news and your questions.

NEWS, JULY, 2015: SOME NEW OFFICERS AND A NEW DUES ARRANGEMENT On July 26, the Board of Trustees met at the Grainger House. Our number has increased with the addition of two wonderful people. Barry Ould, of Bardic Edition Music Publishers, who has published many of Grainger's works, is now President. Rolf Stang, one of our stalwart founders, who always keeps us energized, is now President Emeritus. Susan Edwards Colson, attorney and philanthropic advisor, is now Vice President and General Secretary. Mark Grant also continues as Vice President. At the meeting, Rolf was presented with a certificate of appreciation for all he has done to make everyone aware of Percy's legacy. Stewart Manville, our forever Archivist and Curator, was also presented with a certificate lauding his contributions. We also discussed the new dues structure for the Society, as described in the box above. After the meeting, we adjourned to the nearby City Limits diner for lunch. Below are a picture of Stewart receiving his award, taken by Matt McGarrell, and a picture of the group at lunch, which our waiter was kind enough to take. Left to right: Barry Ould, Rolf Stang, Cora Sowa, John Sowa, Mark Grant, Matt McGarrell, Eric Culver, Susan Edwards Colson.

AUGUST, 2012: REPAIRS TO THE GRAINGER HOUSE ARE PROCEEDING AT A SWIFT PACE! The International Percy Grainger Society is pleased to report that needed repair and restoration work on the Grainger House is at last being done. Our thanks go to two brothers, contractors specializing in restoring historic buildings, who are willing to do this work at a reasonable price. Already they have rebuilt/restored the kitchen stoop ($6,340) and reshingled the front porch. Below are shown "before and after" photos documenting the progress so far, as well as an estimate for future work. Much more, of course, remains to be done, on the roof, internal plumbing, etc. We are seeking to raise funds toward completion of restoration work and for continued maintenance. Our current goal is approximately $20,000, of which the roof estimate is $11,500. Donations to the International Percy Grainger Society are tax deductible. For information, contact Stewart Manville at 7 Cromwell Place, White Plains, NY 10601-5005, or e-mail at stewartmanville@USA.com, or telephone at (914) 281-1610. Kitchen stoop before restoration. Kitchen stoop after restoration. Front porch with old shingles removed. Front porch with new shingles installed.

MAY 12, 2012: NASHVILLE SYMPHONY PERFORMS GRAINGER'S "WARRIORS" On Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 7:30 PM, the Nashville Symphony with Giancarlo Guerrero, Music Director, presented Percy Grainger's The Warriors. The program also included Ives, Universe Symphony and Terry Riley, The Palmian Chord Ryddle for Electric Violin and Orchestra. The concert was part of Carnegie Hall's Spring for Music program, and took place in Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

YORKSHIRE WIND ORCHESTRA PLAYS GRAINGER, JULY 23, 2011 On Saturday, July 23, the Yorkshire Wind Orchestra of the U.K. will present "A Musical Tribute to Percy Grainger." A press release follows. For more information, go to http://www.yorkshirewinds.co.uk. In an English Country Garden - a musical tribute to Percy Grainger Concert goers are in for a treat when local conductor Keiron Anderson brings the Yorkshire Wind Orchestra to St Margarets Church, Ilkley, UK on Saturday 23rd July at 7pm for "A Musical Tribute to Percy Grainger". This orchestral concert promises to be extra special with a varied programme of classical music by the eccentric, brilliant, quirky and fun Australian composer Percy Grainger. Although his name may not be familiar to everybody, Percy's beautifully crafted arrangement of "Danny Boy" was brought to the fore in the film "Brassed Off" and his well known ditty "Country Gardens" is instantly recognisable to all as the children's favourite "In an English Country Garden". But Grainger's skill and creative flair for composition doesn't stop there. He was an avid collector of folk songs and his original works are often influenced by simple melodies that are woven together with great care and affection, many of which have become key works in the orchestral wind repertoire. Grainger's clever musical arrangements always carry his characterful and intense wit, which the Yorkshire Wind Orchestra will bring to life under the expert direction of Keiron Anderson. The programme will include Country Gardens, Lincolnshire Posy, Molly on the Shore, Blithe Bells, Ye Banks and Braes o' Bonnie Doon, Children's March, Irish Tune from Country Derry and many more. The Yorkshire Wind Orchestra is a regional orchestra made up of semi-professional and amateur woodwind, brass and percussion players and is a leader in its field. The orchestra's musical director, Keiron Anderson, is known locally to many from his work as Head of Creative Arts at Ilkley Grammar School. As such, this concert is guaranteed to be a fitting tribute to the 50th anniversary of the end of Percy's life. Tickets are on sale now from Grove Bookshop, Ilkley, Wharfedale Equestrian, Guiseley and online from the orchestra's website www.yorkshirewinds.co.uk priced £12 GBP / £10 GBP (concession) / £6 GBP (student and under 16s).

GRAINGER HOUSE WELCOMES VISITORS, MAY, 2011, AND A NEW GRAINGER STUDIES JOURNAL IS ANNOUNCED On May 30, 2011 members of the Percy Grainger Society and friends met at the Grainger House to welcome Philip G. Kent, University Librarian of the University of Melbourne. Barry Ould from the Percy Grainger Society in the U.K. was also in attendance. Mr. Kent gave an illustrated talk on renovations and improvements to the newly reopened Percy Grainger Museum at the University of Melbourne. He also gave out hardcopies of the first issue of a new journal, Grainger Studies, An Interdisciplinary Journal, which is available online at www.msp.unimelb.edu.au/index.php/graingerstudies. After the meeting, everyone went to the City Limits Diner in White Plains for an excellent lunch. Some attendees at the Grainger House. Back row, left to right: Dana Perna, Barry Ould, Lucinda Hess, Eric Culver (Holy Cross College), Mark Grant, John Sowa, Philip Kent. Front row (seated): Rolf Stang, Stewart Manville. After the meeting, participants adjourned to the restaurant. At the end of the meal, the waiter was kind enough to take our picture.

PERCY GRAINGER CELEBRATION IN WHITE PLAINS, FEBRUARY 20, 2011 In White Plains, Percy Grainger's long-time home town, Grainger's legacy was celebrated on the fiftieth anniversary of his death (February 20, 1961) with a concert of his music at Grace Church in White Plains, under the direction of Vincent Lionti, violist (with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra) and conductor. Other members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra also performed. The concert took place on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at 4:00 PM. Board members of the International Percy Grainger Society Rolf Stang, Dr. Cora Sowa, and Stewart Manville spoke about Grainger and his work before the concert and between groups of selections. The pieces played were as follows: PROGRAM The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol Mock Morris The Only Son Ye Banks and Braes O'Bonnie Doon Molly on the Shore The Two Sisters The Nightingale Youthful Rapture Free Music No. 1 Died for Love Harvest Hymn Shepherd's Hey! Arrival Platform Humlet Irish Tune from County Derry Handel in the Strand Colonial Song

LONDON, FEBRUARY 17-20:CELEBRATING GRAINGER 2011 The "Celebrating Grainger 2011" Festival, of which Penelope Thwaites is Artistic Director, was held in London in February, 2011. THE PRESS RELEASE APPEARS BELOW: FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORKS TO BE PERFORMED, INCLUDING PREMIERES AND RARELY HEARD PIECES, CLICK HERE. PRESS RELEASE CELEBRATING GRAINGER 2011 17-20 FEBRUARY 2011 KINGS PLACE CONCERT HALLS (17-19 Feb) 90 York Way, London N1 9AG THE BRITISH LIBRARY (20 Feb) 96 Euston Road, London NW1 2DB The maverick Australian, Percy Grainger (1882-1961) was a citizen of the world. A leading piano virtuoso and highly original composer, Grainger broke the snobbish boundaries of classical music, gaining inspiration from folk music of Europe, Asia and the Americas. His music is a celebration of life - from the wildly ecstatic to the heart-breakingly sad. The three-day event at Kings Place showcases some of his most vivid repertoire. Whether thrilling to the richness of the Royal Artillery Band, specially chosen instrumental ensembles from the London Music Colleges, or to Grainger's terrific choral works, exotic world music percussion settings & multi-pianos, this event will take you on a voyage of discovery you will not forget. A Seminar at the British Library on Sunday 20 February will mark the exact 50th anniversary of Grainger's death. Leading scholars will explore some of the unknown aspects of his adventurous life and work, complementing the publication of Boydell & Brewer's The New Percy Grainger Companion. ************* THURSDAY 17 FEBRUARY 6.00pm BAND BLAST-OFF Wind and Brass Ensembles, Guildhall saxophones & recorders 7.30pm THE HARMONIOUS SONGSMITH Addison Singers, cond. David Wordsworth, Stephen Varcoe, Penelope Thwaites, & Special Guest, Yvonne Kenny [ CLICK HERE for complete Thursday program.] FRIDAY 18 FEBRUARY 6.00pm PERCY GRAINGER AND THE PIANOLA Michael Broadway incl. Grainger himself playing 7.30pm WIND BAND SPECTACULAR The Royal Artillery Band, conductor, Maj. Neil Morgan [ CLICK HERE for complete Friday program.] SATURDAY 19 FEBRUARY 1.30pm ROOM-MUSIC GEMS The Fitzwilliam String Quartet & friends 2.30pm SING GRAINGER Choral workshop for audience and choirs 4.45pm EXPERIMENTING WITH GRAINGER The "Electric Eye Tone Tool" & the Theremin 7.30pm EAST MEETS WEST Grainger Elastic Band, cond Roger Montgomery, FitzwilliamQuartet, multi-pianos, Penelope Thwaites, John Lavender, Grainger Singers, dancers. [ CLICK HERE for complete Saturday program.] SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY Seminar at the British Library. [ CLICK HERE for complete Sunday program.] ************* Contacts: Artistic Director: Penelope Thwaites, thwaites.jackson@googlemail.com, Tel: 0207 794 5090 Percy Grainger Society, info@percygrainger.org.uk, Tel: 01296 428609 Kings Place Concert Halls, info@kingsplace.co.uk, Box Office: 0207 520 1490

October, 2010: REOPENING OF THE GRAINGER MUSEUM IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA The long-awaited reopening of the Percy Grainger Museum in Melbourne, Australia took place in October, 2010. Visit the museum Web site at http://www.lib.unimelb.edu.au/collections/grainger.

June 19, 2010 - MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR INEZ BULL Inez Stewart Bull, musician, educator, and long-time Board member of the International Percy Grainger Society, died on February 8 at the age of 89. Ms. Bull wrote many books, among which is the volume 7 Cromwell Place, A Loving Tribute to Percy Grainger, 1989. A memorial service was held on Saturday afternoon, June 19, at the Montclair Community Church, near her home in Montclair, New Jersey. The memorial began at 1:00 PM. Attendees shared stories, memories, and music of Inez Bull. Light refreshments were served. The church is located at 143 Watchung Ave, Upper Montclair. The phone number for the church is 973-746-0042. An obituary for Inez Bull can be found at the NorthJersey.com "Obituaries" page http://www.northjersey.com/obituaries/84084972_Dame_Inez_Bull__89.html.

CONCERT: COLUMBIA FESTIVAL OF WINDS at Columbia University, New York, Sunday, March 7, 2010 We received the following announcement from Andrew Pease, director of the Columbia University Wind Ensemble: On March 7, 2010, The Columbia University Wind Ensemble will host the second annual Columbia Festival of Winds to support inner-city music education. The mission of the Columbia Festival of Winds is to highlight the artistry of wind bands in the New York City area while raising money for our inner-city music education initiative, Making Music Matter. This program provides free instruments and lessons to 4th grade students at PS 125, which would otherwise have no instrumental music program. The proceeds from last year`s Columbia Festival of Winds allowed us to start 16 students, who will perform as the Making Music Matter PS 125 band at this year's Festival. The Columbia Festival of Winds will include performances from: Columbia University Glee Club Princeton University Wind Ensemble Manhattan Wind Ensemble Jambalaya Brass Band Frank Sinatra High School Band Lesbian and Gay Big Apple Corps Making Music Matter PS 125 Band Columbia University Wind Ensemble The WYCLIFFE GORDON QUARTET will complete the festival with a headline performance from 8-9:30pm. The Festival will be held in Alfred Lerner Hall at Columbia University 2920 Broadway (at 115th Street) New York, NY 10027 Tickets are available at http://cuarts.com/calendar/view/type/4/event_id/4875. They are an absolute steal: $5 - students $15 - adults $30 - VIP (includes preferred seating and a free t-shirt) Also join us at our performers` pizza party for an additional $5 (advance purchase only). A portion of the proceeds will go to Making Music Matter, our free band program at PS 125. For more information, visit us on the web: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/wind/cfw/hub.html Hope to see you there, -Andy Pease Music Director Columbia University Wind Ensemble We have been told that Grainger's "Lincolnshire Posy" will be on the program.

CONCERT ANNNOUNCEMENT: PIEDMONT WIND SYMPHONY On Tuesday, November 17, 2009, the Piedmont Wind Symphony, conducted by Robert Simon, presented a concert in the 1st Presbyterian Church Auditorium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Robert Simon is Artistic Director of the Wind Symphony, and is on the Board of Trustees of the International Percy Grainger Society. The 1st Presbyterian Church is at 200 N. Cherry St. in Winston-Salem. The concert, which celebrated the Piedmont Wind Sympnony's 20th season, began at 7:30 P.M. Featured were pianist Celia Henderson, flugelhornist Patrick Tucker, and vocalist Art Bloom. Tickets were $20, available at the door.

2009 - IN MEMORIAM ROBERT BECKHARD We are sad to report that Robert Beckhard, long-time International Percy Grainger Society member, Board member, and friend, died May 28, 2009 from complications due to Parkinson's disease. We miss him, and celebrate his long life. His nephew, Daniel Beckhard, has submitted the following obituary: BECKHARD - Robert L., age 91, died May 28, 2009 in New York, New York. Beloved husband to Patricia Knight Beckhard, brother-in-law to Susan Knight Cecil and Sally Knight Rabilloud, and uncle to Elizabeth Waller, Daniel Beckhard, and Ruth Werner. Born and raised in Brookline, Massachusetts, he was a passionate musician and student of English music from the early 20th century. He studied at the Boston University College of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music, and Harvard University. During the late 1940s he was an editor of music and text material at G. Schirmer Inc., working with such composers as Kurt Weill, Percy Grainger, and William Schuman. Bob composed over 200 original published choral and piano works, and his works have been performed by numerous professional and school choruses. He contributed an essay to the book "Peter Warlock, A Centenary Celebration," published in 1994. In later years he devoted himself to research for a book about the life and music of John Goss. Bob was also an accomplished professional photographer, whose photographs have been publicly exhibited in New York and Putnam County, New York, and published in books and magazines. He taught photography at the Garrison, N.Y. Art Center. He and Pat loved their cottage near the Hudson in Garrison, where Bob spent countless happy hours tending his vegetable garden. He will be greatly missed by his family and his wide circle of friends.

A New Master's Thesis on Percy Grainger Congratulations to Mike Miceli of Greenwich, Connecticut, who has just completed his Master of Arts in music at Western Connecticut State University. The title of his Master's thesis is "Percy Grainger and his Lincolnshire Posy." Some of his research was done at the Grainger House at 7 Cromwell Place in White Plains.

JUNE, 2008: RECITAL AT THE GRAINGER HOUSE OF GRAINGER SONGS SUNG BY SOPRANO JANE THORNGREN A recital of songs by Grainger, Grieg, Quilter, and Foster In June 2008, the board meeting of the International Percy Grainger Society, held at the Grainger House, was treated to a recital by soprano Jane Thorngren, singing songs by Grainger, Grieg, Roger Quilter, and Stephen Foster. She was accompanied by Stephen Sulich, playing Grainger's own piano. The songs presented were aas follows: Songs by Grainger: Early One Morning The Sprig of Thyme The Pretty Maid Milkin' Her Cow Died For Love British Waterside Songs by Edvard Grieg (in Norwegian), with commentary by Rolf Stang: Med en Vandlilje (With a Waterlily) En Svane (A Swan) Songs by Quilter, Foster Love's Philosophy, by Roger Quilter Ah, May the Red Rose Live Always, by Stephen Foster

2007 - Grainger friends at birthday party for Stewart Manville In 2007, friends of Stewart Manville (and of Percy Grainger) celebrated the 80th birthday of the archivist/curator of the International Percy Grainger Society in June at the Kittle House in Chappaqua, New York. Among those present were Rolf Stang, president of the IPGS, and Malcolm Gillies and David Pear, co-authors of Portrait of Percy Grainger. Below are some pictures taken after lunch by Cora Sowa, Webmaster of the IPGS. Stewart Manville receives congratulations at the head of the table. Another view: Rolf Stang is seated third from the left, Malcolm Gillies standing next to him. Still another view: David Pear is seated second from the right.

2007 - A VISIT FROM PENELOPE THWAITES, PIANIST AND ADVOCATE OF THE MUSIC OF PERCY GRAINGER http://www.impulse-music.co.uk/thwaites.htm Earlier in the spring of 2007, Penelope Thwaites, who has recorded much of the piano music of Percy Grainger and has organized concerts and festivals of Grainger's music, visited New York. She is a recipient of the Grainger Medallion. Below are two photos taken at the Café des Artistes. The first, at dinner, is of Penelope Thwaites. The second, after dinner, is of Cora Sowa, Stewart Manville, and Penelope.

2006 - Pianist Sarah Cahill visits Grainger House, featured it on her radio program http://www.sarahcahill.com Sarah Cahill is a pianist based in Berkeley, California, who specializes in new, experimental, and unusual music. She has a radio program on KALW (San Francisco) called "Then and Now," featuring interviews with musicians and composers, historical performances, and recordings of music outside the mainstream. The picture above is of Ms. Cahill visiting the Grainger House and signing the guestbook (with Stewart Manville in the background) on July 7, 2006. In 1998, she conducted a "virtual tour" of the Grainger House on her show (at that time on KPFA Berkeley), with the Society's Vice President, Mark Grant, walking through each room of the house with a cordless telephone, providing commentary. This fall, Ms. Cahill is among a group of pianists playing Grainger in Japan. For more information, see her Web site at http://www.sarahcahill.com.

PAST EVENT NEWS: DOWNTOWN SINFONIETTA AT GRACE CHURCH, WHITE PLAINS HONORS GRAINGER'S 125TH BIRTHDAY AT ITS FALL CONCERT, OCTOBER 21, 2007

On Sunday, October 21 2007 at 4:00 PM, the Downtown Sinfonietta, conducted by Vincent Lionti, presented another of their wonderful concerts in the Downtown Music at Grace series at Grace Church in White Plains, New York. Featured were two rarely heard concertos, Joseph Rheinberger's Organ Concerto No. 1 in F major, and Georg Philipp Telemann's Concerto in D major for Three Horns and Violin. The program also included orchestral works by Grieg and Dvořák, with a special performance of Percy Grainger's Irish Tune from County Derry to celebrate the 125th year of Grainger's birth.

A reception of delicacies donated by Susan Lawrence-Gourmet Food, Chappaqua, NY followed the program.

Grace Church is at the corner of Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY, less than a mile from the Grainger House. For information about Music at Grace, phone (914) 949-0384, or go to the Web site http://www.gracewhiteplains.org/11.html. For more about the Weekend Discoveries series, visit http://www.dtmusic.org/5.html.

PAST EVENT NEWS: BARD COLLEGE MUSIC FESTIVAL, HONORING ELGAR, INCLUDES MUSIC BY GRAINGER

The Bard College SummerScape festival for 2007 honors composer Edward Elgar (1857–1934), on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his birth. Over SummerScape's last two weekends (August 10-12 and 17-19), the Bard Music Festival will present concerts, lectures, and symposia featuring the music of Elgar and his contemporaries. Music by Percy Grainger will be performed as part of the festival.

Bard College is located in Annandale-on-Hudson, NY, about 90 miles north of New York City. For information, visit the SummerScape Web page.

Past Event News: Grainger's 125th birthday party in Melbourne

A celebration of Percy Grainger's 125th birthday was held at the University of Melbourne, Australia on Tuesday, July 10, 2007.

Cocktails were to be served from 5:30 PM until 7:30 PM in the Main Dining Room, University House. Featured were a series of "Meditations on Percy" by Vincent Plush together with music by Grainger performed by Glenn Riddle.

An exhibition of photographs from the Grainger Museum collection were on display in the Main Dining Room.

For information, contact Astrid Krautschneider on 03 8344 5270 or e-mail grainger@unimelb.edu.au.

PAST CONCERT NEWS: EDVARD GRIEG SOCIETY PRESENTS JOSEPH SMITH IN PERFORMANCE OF GRIEG, GRAINGER, AND BARTOK, ON MARCH 9, 2007 IN NEW YORK

The Edvard Grieg Society will present Joseph Smith in a lecture-recital: Finding the Hidden Harmonies, on the folkloric piano music of Grieg, Grainger, and Bartok on March 9, 2007, 7:30 PM. It will be at Yamaha Hall, 689 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor, (entrance E 54th St.), NYC. Tickets ($20, students $10) can be purchased in advance by sending a check to: Edvard Grieg Society, 10 Kenyon Court, Norwood, N.J., 07648 For information, call 201-750-0525.

The music will include the Jutish Medley and Irish Tune from County Derry by Grainger, and selections from Opus 66 and Opus 72 by Grieg.

FALL 2006 EVENTS: BANDMASTERS' CONVENTION IN CHICAGO AND "PACIFIC CROSSINGS" FESTIVAL IN TOKYO FEATURE GRAINGER

Two important events took place in the fall of 2006:

• Bandmasters' convention in Chicago, including performances of works by Percy Grainger and by Leroy Osmon, longtime member of the International Percy Grainger Society.
• "Pacific Crossings" music festival in Japan, this year focusing on the music of Percy Grainger. Sarah Cahill, who has featured the music of Grainger on her radio program and has visited the Grainger House, was one of the performers.

PAST CONCERT NEWS: October 15, 2006 -- More Grainger at Grace Church in White Plains

On Sunday October 15, 2006, the Downtown Sinfonietta, conducted by Vincent Lionti, whose concert last May electrified the audience with a performance of "Molly on the Shore," again featured a work by Grainger. In this concert, they performed Grainger's "Youthful Rapture" for Cello and Strings. The concert took place at Grace Church at 4:00 PM. Grace Church is at the corner of Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY.

Mr. Lionti e-mailed to me that "Our performance of 'Molly on the Shore' to conclude our concert last May was a big hit with the audience, and they have demanded more Grainger for our opening concert this season."

For information about Music at Grace, phone (914) 949-0384, or go to the Web site http://www.gracewhiteplains.org/11.html.

To see fans of "Molly on the Shore" of an earlier generation, look at the postcard of the Flonzaley Quartet.

PAST CONCERT NEWS: THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2006: GALA FOR "DOWNTOWN MUSIC AT GRACE" INCLUDES GRAINGER WORK, WHICH WAS THE HIT OF THE NIGHT

On Thursday evening, May 11, 2006, "Downtown Music at Grace," an activity of Grace Church in White Plains, hosted a gala fundraising reception and concert, including a performance of Grainger's "Molly on the Shore." Downtown Music at Grace is best known for their series of free noon concerts, presented each Wednesday from September to June, at Grace Church.

The location for the gala was in the Grand Banking Room at the Arts Exchange, Westchester Arts Council, 31 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY. At 6:30 p.m. there was a reception with hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. At 8:00 p.m. there was a concert, featuring the debut of the Downtown Sinfonietta, a string ensemble made up primarily of members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, with Vincent Lionti conducting.

The final selection played was "Molly on the Shore," and Mr. Lionti asked Stewart Manville to come up and say a few words about Grainger before the piece was played. Stewart's introduction to "Molly" and the rousing performance by Mr. Lionti and the Sinfonietta were the hit of the evening and got the audience enthused.

For information about Music at Grace, phone (914) 949-0384, or go to the Web site http://www.gracewhiteplains.org/11.html.

The concert included the following selections:

• Sibelius: Festivo
• Sibelius: Romance
• Dalmazio Santini: Prelude for Strings
• Tchaikovsky: Elegie
• Dvorak: Notturno
• Grieg: Holberg Suite
• Grainger: Molly on the Shore

PAST CONCERT NEWS: FEBRUARY 10, 2006: MANHATTAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC CONCERT INCLUDES GRAINGER

At 8 PM on February 10, 2006, the Manhattan School of Music Wind Ensemble, Mark Gould, conductor, presented a concert that includes Grainger's Lincolnshire Posey. The concert included the following:

Percy Grainger, A Lincolnshire Posey
Jacques Ibert, Concertino for Cello & Winds
Philip Sparke, Year of the Dragon
Krzysztof Penderecki, A Pittsburgh Overture
Leonard Bernstein, Prelude, Fugue, & Riffs

FREE CONCERT: No tickets required. For more information, visit the Web site at http://www.msmnyc.edu.

ANNOUNCEMENT: PAUL SWAN'S PORTRAIT OF PERCY GRAINGER IS NOW ON THE WEB

Paul Swan (1883-1972), American artist and dancer (once called "Nijinsky's successor") was an almost exact contemporary of Percy Grainger. According to letters from Percy to Swan, Swan did several portraits of Percy and Ella. The current location of these portraits is now unknown. (Does anyone know where they are?). A photograph of one of them, however, exists, in the possession of Janis Londraville, Swan's biographer. Londraville's book about Swan, The Most Beautiful Man in the World: Paul Swan, from Wilde to Warhol is being published this fall by the University of Nebraska Press. You can see Swan's portrait of Grainger on Londraville's Swan Web site, http://www.paulswan.net.

OBITUARY FOR TALLULAH In December, we told you the sad news of the death of Tallulah, or "Whitey," the second white cat who resided at the Grainger House. We also told you the happy news that black-and-white Tuxy had now moved in. Mark Grant has written an obituary, which we reproduce below, and has supplied some pictures of Tallulah and Tuxy, both separately and together, some of which also appear below. Below that, are pictures that I took last fall of Tallulah, Tuxy, and Mark. (Pictures of Tallulah with Tamara, our other beloved white cat, who died in 2003, appear farther down on the page.) Tallulah (who in later years responded to the name "Whitey") started off as a tough, wary, street-smart kitty who hunted prey and was only really bonded to her mother, Tamara. As the years went on, though, she tamed considerably -- her fierce glare melted into warm, curious eyes, and she would give and receive real affection from people as she took Tamara's place as reigning feline of the Grainger house. She had a beautiful face, a funny tapeworm-like tail, and an unforgettable loud expressive voice that was undimmed until the very last days of her long life (at least over 17 ½, according to veterinary records). We miss her sorely.

NEWS DECEMBER, 2005: SAD NEWS: A GRAINGER HOUSE PET, TALLULAH, PASSES AWAY Tallulah makes sure that no one invades her feed dish We are sad to announce that Tallulah, the second white cat who has graced the Grainger House for many years, has died. We see her picture above, on the steps of the house. Despite the loving care and medical attention given her by our Society Vice President, Mark Grant, Tallulah succumbed to multiple health problems at an advanced age. We will miss her cheerful presence. We have been joined, however, by a young male cat known as Tuxy (for his black and white tuxedo, which he always wears, ready to attend a concert, with a matching black cummerbund across his middle). Mark and Tuxy are pictured below. Tuxy gets a belly rub

PAST CONCERT NEWS: COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY WIND ENSEMBLE PLAYS GRAINGER "POWER OF ROME AND THE CHRISTIAN HEART" AT ITS HALLOWEEN CONCERT, OCTOBER 22, 2005

On October 22, 2005 at 8:00 PM, the Columbia University Wind Ensemble included Grainger's "The Power of Rome and the Christian Heart" in its Halloween Concert.

A personal note: clarinetist Brianna McTeague, grand-niece of your Webmaster, Cora Sowa, played in the ensemble! She is in her first year at Barnard.

Despite a downpour and flooded streets outside, the program was a success and was well-attended. The press release read as follows:

Featuring the following works:

"Incantation and Dance" - John Barnes Chance
"March from Symphonic Metamorphosis" - Paul Hindemith
"Pageant" - Vincent Persichetti
"The Power of Rome and the Christian Heart" - Percy Grainger. Featuring Douglas Drake, organist
"Night on Bald Mountain" - Modest Mussorgsky

$5 Suggested donation. Reception immediately to follow.

More information at http://www.columbia.edu/cu/wind

PAST CONCERT NEWS: HUDSON VALLEY WIND SYMPHONY PRESENTS ITS SECOND ANNUAL ALL-GRAINGER CONCERT AT SUNY PURCHASE ON MAY 21, 2005

The Hudson Valley Wind Symphony, which performed an all-Grainger program in 2004 at the Purchase College Performing Arts Center in Purchase, NY (SUNY Purchase), presented their second annual all-Grainger concert on Saturday, May 21, 2005 (again at SUNY Purchase) Fernando Jimenez was guest conductor. Margaret Leng Tan, renowned pianist and interpreter not only of Grainger but of John Cage and other contemporary piano composers, was a guest artist, along with violinist James Graseck. For the program and for biographies of the artists, see below.

TO READ ABOUT THE FIRST GRAINGER CONCERT OF THE HUDSON VALLEY WIND SYMPHONY, CLICK HERE.

The following is the press release for the program (which has now already taken place):

PERCY ALDRIDGE GRAINGER, celebrated composer, pianist and one of the most creative musical geniuses of the 20th century, lived in and was active in the musical life of White Plains from his arrival at 7 Cromwell Place in 1921 until his death in 1961.

The International Percy Grainger Society was founded to ensure that his amazing music, including over 600 works, would endure and be heard. To that end, the Society is pleased to present The Hudson Valley Wind Symphony in its second concert devoted solely to Grainger's compositions for wind band, many of which were composed in White Plains. Guest conductor Dr. Fernando Jimenez, Director of Music at Western Connecticut State University and an active conductor throughout the United States, Central and South America, will lead the ensemble in "Children's March", "Horkstow Grange", "Handel in the Strand", "The Immovable Do", and the "Lads of Wamphray" among other favorites.

The program will be opened by pianist Margaret Leng Tan, not only a Grainger expert but internationally regarded as one of the most important figures in contemporary music, and the world's first professional toy pianist. She will perform "Bridal Lullaby" for solo piano and then will be joined by violinist James Graseck in "Mock Morris", "Harvest Hymn" and "Molly on the Shore." Stewart Manville, archivist of the Grainger Society, will make a special appearance with Ms.Tan singing "Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow."

Tickets, priced at $20 adults and $10 students and seniors, may be reserved by calling the Performing Arts Center Box Office at 914-251-6200. Visit www.HVWS.org for more information.

The Purchase College Web site provides directions to the campus. You can also see a campus map. For more about the performing group, visit the Web site of the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony.

THE PROGRAM

The program was as follows:

First half: Margaret Leng Tan, piano; James Graseck, violin and viola, Stewart Manville, voice:

Harvest Hymn - violin and piano
Mock Morris - violin and piano
Arrival Platform Humlet - solo viola
Pretty Maid Milking Her Cow - Stewart and Margaret
Bridal Lullaby - piano
Molly on the Shore - violin and piano

Second half: The Hudson Valley Wind Symphony:

Children's March
Horkstow Grange
Themes from "Green Bushes"
Handel in the Strand Perthshire Majesty (by Samuel Hazo, written in homage to and à la Percy Grainger)
The Immovable Do
Lads of Wamphray

THE ARTISTS

Fernando Jimenez

ARTISTS' BIOGRAPHIES

Margaret Leng Tan is an internationally celebrated artist renowned for her performances of American and Asian music that transcend the piano's conventional boundaries. Hailed by The New Yorker as ³the diva of avant-garde pianism², she has progressively perfected an individual style fusing sound, choreography and theater, inspiring many composers to create performer-specific works for her including John Cage, Tan Dun, Alvin Lucier, Michael Nyman, Somei Satoh, Ge Gan-ru, Toby Twining, Julia Wolfe, Raphael Mostel, Stephen Montague and Erik Griswold.

One of the leading performers of John Cage's music, Margaret Leng Tan worked with the composer from 1981 until his death in 1992. Ms Tan participated in Carnegie Hall's 2001-2003 When Morty Met John...Cage/Feldman series, making her Carnegie Hall debut performing Cage's Concerto for Prepared Piano and Chamber Orchestra with Dennis Russell Davies and the American Composers Orchestra in 2002. Ms. Tan appears in the PBS American Masters films on John Cage and Jasper Johns performing works by Cage. Her acclaimed Cage recordings on New Albion, Mode and ECM are critically regarded as definitive interpretations.

The world's first professional toy pianist, Margaret Leng Tan has transformed a toy into a legitimate instrument inspiring composers to create an adventurous new repertoire for her toy pianos and toy instruments. Ms. Tan and her diminutive instruments present a music-theater of nostalgia and exuberance at festivals around the world where she has appeared alongside a litany of today's most hailed artists in classical music. Her groundbreaking album, The Art of the Toy Piano (Philips/Universal), has received widespread national and international critical acclaim.

Ms. Tan's roster of concert appearances include the Berliner Festspiele, Klavier Festival Ruhr, Wien Modern, Melbourne International Festival of the Arts, Wigmore Hall Centenary Festival, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, Festival International de Piano La Roque d' Antheron, the Singapore and Hong Kong Arts Festivals, Cervantino International Arts Festival, the Ravinia, Spoleto USA, BAM Next Wave, Bang On A Can, and Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors and Serious Fun Festivals.

Evans Chan's documentary, Sorceress of the New Piano: The Artistry of Margaret Leng Tan (2004), has been invited to numerous international film festivals, including Vancouver, Buenos Aires and Melbourne. Ms. Tan's recording of George Crumb's Makrokosmos 1 and 11 was released by Mode Records in late 2004 to coincide with her Carnegie Hall performance honoring George Crumb's 75th birthday.

Margaret Leng Tan was the first woman to graduate with a doctorate from The Juilliard School and her doctoral thesis was on the Free Music of Percy Grainger. She is a recipient of The National Endowment for the Arts' Solo Recitalist Award. A native of Singapore, she currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her four dogs, three Steinways and, at last count, sixteen toy pianos.

Violinist James Graseck has created a unique career and reputation as one of New York's most well-known and beloved subway musicians through the MTA's Music Under New York program. Since graduating with a Master's degree from The Juilliard School, he has performed in AliceTully Hall and Carnegie Hall, as well as, as a soloist with orchestras in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. At the same time, he has chosen to share the classical music experience with a wider public, beyond the traditional concert hall.

James Graseck has appeared on televison in The Tonight Show, Prime Time Live, The Morning Show, VH1's Behind the Music, and most recently with Margaret Leng Tan on WNYC/PRI's national weekend show, The Next Big Thing. His film credits include an appearance in One True Thing starring William Hurt and Meryl Streep. On September 11, 2004, James Graseck performed for the Remembrance Ceremonies at the World Trade Center site at the request of 9/11 families.

Past concert news: May 1, 2005, United States Marine Band plays Grainger in Washington

On Sunday, May 1 at 2:00 P.M., the "Presidents Own" United States Marine Band, Lt. Col. Michael J. Colburn, conducting, with the Choral Arts Society of Washington, Norman Scribner conducting, presented an all-Grainger program at The Music Center at Strathmore.

The program, titled "The Glory of Grainger,"included Lincolnshire Posy, Danish Folk-Music Suite, "The Duke of Marlborough" Fanfare, "I'm Seventeen Come Sunday,", "Colonial Song," American Folk Dance "Spoon River," "Shallow Brown," Children's March "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Irish Tune from County Derry," and "Marching Song of Democracy."

For more information about the Marine Band, call (202) 433-4011 or visit the Marine Band Web site.

BOOK SIGNING: BIOGRAPHY OF FREDERICK FENNELL BY ROBERT SIMON, APRIL 26, 2005, AND REISSUE OF ROBERT SIMON'S "PERCY GRAINGER: THE PICTORIAL BIOGRAPHY"

Robert Simon, conductor, author, and member of the Board of Trustees of the International Percy Grainger Society, has written a biography of Frederick Fennell, distinguished conductor at the Eastman School of Music and interpreter of the music of Percy Grainger. There was a lecture and book signing by Mr. Simon at the National Arts Club in New York on Tuesday, April 26, at 8:00 PM.

Mr. Simon also signed copies of his Percy Grainger: The Pictorial Biography 20th Anniversary Edition (Third Edition, updated 2003), which has a foreward by Frederick Fennell (Ludwig Music Publishing Company, 1044 Vivian Drive, Grafton OH 44044).

The National Arts Club is at 15 Gramercy Park South, phone (212) 475-3424.

GRAINGER CD NOMINATED FOR GRAMMY AS "BEST CLASSICAL CD" (2005)

The Music of Percy Grainger Vol. IV, whose production was announced last year, received a Grammy nomination for "Best Classical CD." The Executive Producer is Leroy Osmon, who has long been active in the International Percy Grainger Society. It is available from Mark Custom Recording in New York. For details about the series, including contents of all the volumes, and information about how to order them, see the item New Grainger CD's available below.

CONVERTS WON FOR GRAINGER IN SANTA MONICA!

On Sunday, September 12 at 7:30 pm at First Presbyterian of Santa Monica, tenor Shawn Thuris performed four songs of Grainger ("British Waterside," "The Pretty Maid Milkin' Her Cow," "Shallow Brown," and "Willow, Willow") in a joint recital with mezzo-soprano Monica Hershenson. Kirill Gliadovsky played for Mr. Thuris and Christopher Luthi played for Ms. Hershenson. The concert included music of Berlioz, Brahms, Glinka, Saint-Saens, Wagner, and others.

The First Presbyterian Church is located at 1220 Second St. (at Wilshire Blvd), Santa Monica 90401.

Mr. Thuris was kind enough to send an e-mail thanking us for listing his recital on our website, and he reports that the performance went well. His e-mail included the following endorsement from an audience member:

"One smart fellow in the audience who is new to classical singing, said that Shallow Brown was his favorite piece in a program that included Schubert, Wagner, "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" and "O del mio amato ben". A convert made!"

Mr. Thuris says that he was most satisfied personally with "The Pretty Maid Milkin' Her Cow" and "British Waterside" -- "probably because they were hardest to get right." He promises to include Grainger songs in future recitals, and to let us know when these recitals will take place.

Past concert news, July 8, 2004 chamber ensemble "Sounds of Westchester" in a concert of Westchester composers, including Grainger

On Thursday, July 8, 2004, the Caramoor International Music Festival in Katonah, NY presented a program of "Sounds of Westchester" by the chamber ensemble Music from Copland House, performed in the Spanish Courtyard. Selections included the following:

• Tower, Petroushskates
• Griffes, Poem for flute and piano
• Barber, Dover Beach for baritone and string quartet
• Menotti, Trio for violin, clarinet, and piano
• Gershwin, Songs from Strike up the Band
• Bermel, SchiZm for clarinet and piano
• Copland, Sextet for string quartet, clarinet, and piano
• Grainger, a medley of pieces, including Shepherd's Hey, Molly on the Shore, and Handel on the Strand

The Grainger piece, which was performed at the halfway point of the concert, really woke everybody up!

Past concert news, May 15, 2004: Hudson Valley Wind Symphony in all-Grainger program at SUNY Purchase

GREAT SUCCESS!

On May 15, 2004 at 8 PM, the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony, conducted by James D. Wayne, presented an all-Grainger concert at Purchase College of the State University of New York. The concert, titled "An Evening of Music by Percy Grainger," was given to benefit the International Percy Grainger Society and the Percy Grainger Library, White Plains. It was held in Theatre C of the Performing Arts Center, Purchase NY.

The concert was received enthusiastically by a sold-out audience. An introduction was made by the mayor of White Plains. Narration was provided by Rolf Stang, gifted story-teller and president of the International Percy Grainger Society, and by Stewart Manville, curator and archivist of the Society (who also performed the vocals in Bell Piece). Mayor Delfino presented a Proclamation to Mr. Stang designating May 15, 2004 "Percy Grainger Day." A picture of the Proclamation and the complete text appear below.

A high point was provided by the playing of original 1908 recordings by Percy Grainger of three of the songs which he later used in his masterpiece Lincolnshire Posy. We were thus treated to a comparison of the haunting simplicity of the original songs with the complexity of the music that Grainger made from them.

A SECOND ALL-GRAINGER CONCERT BY THE HUDSON VALLEY WIND SYMPHONY TOOK PLACE THE FOLLOWING YEAR. CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT IT.

THE PROGRAM

The program included the following selections:

• Duke of Marlborough Fanfare
• The Gum-Suckers March
• Colonial Song

• Three 1908 Grainger recordings of folk songs, which Grainger used in his Lincolnshire Posy:
  • Horkstow Grange
  • Rufford Park Poachers
  • Lord Melbourne
• Lincolnshire Posy
  • Lisbon
  • Horkstow Grange
  • Rufford Park Poachers
  • The Brisk Young Sailor
  • Lord Melbourne
  • The Lost Lady Found

• The Merry King
• English Waltz
• Molly on the Shore
• Irish Tune from County Derry
• Bell Piece

• ENCORE BY POPULAR DEMAND: Country Gardens

For more information on the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony, visit their Web site at www.hvws.org.

PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF WHITE PLAINS, PRESENTED AT THE 2004 HUDSON VALLEY WIND SYMPHONY GRAINGER CONCERT

Below is a reproduction of the Proclamation by Mayor Joseph M. Delfino of White Plains, honoring Percy Grainger and the International Percy Grainger Society and proclaiming May 15, 2004 "Percy Grainger Day." It was presented at the concert by the Hudson Valley Wind Symphony at SUNY Purchase in May, 2004.

(Apologies for the unevenness of the image below. Because of its size, the Proclamation was too big to fit all at once in the scanner, and it had to be scanned in sections and digitally reassembled. It also had to be scanned through the glass of its frame. The actual size of the proclamation, which can be seen at the Grainger House, is about 12" by 18". Since we at Percy Grainger lack the resources of a Lucasfilm or a Pixar, it was difficult to rematch colors exactly. (One more reason to see the original at the Grainger House!)

Since the illustration may be difficult to read, you may read the complete text below the illustration.

TEXT OF THE PROCLAMATION BY THE MAYOR OF WHITE PLAINS PROCLAIMING "PERCY GRAINGER DAY" (A photograph of the actual proclamation appears above. The City of White Plains Office of the Mayor PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Percy Grainger was one of the most creative musical geniuses of the 20th Century; and WHEREAS, Percy Grainger was known internationally for his flash and celebrity and was a permanent fixture in the City of White Plains; and WHEREAS, Percy Grainger is best known for his remarkable output of over 600 works, many of which are beloved staples of the concert repertoire and enthusiastically studied worldwide by numerous musical scholars; and WHEREAS, many of his works for wind band were composed in White Plains; and WHEREAS, by this proclamation, the City of White Plains acknowledges the unique relationship between Percy and the City; now therefore BE IT RESOLVED, that I, Joseph M. Delfino, Mayor of the City of White Plains, thank the Percy Grainger Society for their continuing efforts to promote the legacy of one of the most famous and talented residents of our City; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that in recognition of Percy's accomplishments, Saturday, May 15, 2004 is hereby declared "Percy Grainger Day" in the City of White Plains; and be it FURTHER RESOLVED, that the text of this proclamation be dispersed throughout White Plains for all people of good will to forever know. Given Under My Hand and Seal this 15th Day of May 2004, [signed] Joseph M. Delfino, Mayor

Past concert news, May 26, 2004: Vincent Lionti, violist, returns to perform another Grace Church noon concert

GRAINGER'S "SUSSEX MUMMERS' CHRISTMAS CAROL" AT GRACE CHURCH

On May 26, 2004, Vincent Lionti, whose thrilling solo viola concert on March 24 at Grace Church in White Plains included music by Percy Grainger, returned to Grace Church in another "Noonday Getaway" concert. Mr. Lionti was joined by Joseph Rabbai and Jihwan Kim in a program of music for viola, clarinet, and piano that included Percy Grainger's "Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol."

The program of May 26 included the following selections:

• The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol, by Percy Grainger
• Trio in E-flat Major, K498 ("Kegelstadt"), by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
  • I. Andante
  • II. Menuetto. Trio.
  • III. Rondo. Allegretto.

Grainger's Sussex Carol, its hymnlike arrangement interpreted perfectly by Mr. Lionti, accompanied by Mr. Kim, was particularly appropriate for the location. Grace Church is a tiny Gothic jewel surviving (like the Grainger House!) amid the glass towers of modern White Plains. It has, with its high, carved, wooden gable ceiling, beautiful acoustics for the performance of chamber music.

Despite the rainy day, the audience was enthusiastic, and tried in vain to coax the three performers to play at least one encore after a program that was all too short. Alas, we had to be satisfied with a number of gracious curtain calls.

The concert, part of the "Downtown Music at Grace" series, was on Wednesday, May 26, at 12:10 P.M. Grace Church is located at the intersection of Main Street and Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains. This project was made possible, in part, by the Arts Alive program of the Westchester Arts Council, with funding from the Decentralization Program of the New York State Council on the Arts.

Information regarding Downtown Music at Grace can be obtained from the Downtown Music office at (914) 949-0384, or Virginia Honneus, Press Representative, at 845-279-6709.

BIOGRAPHY OF VINCENT LIONTI

Vincent Lionti has been a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 1987. He holds Bachelor's and Master's Degrees from the Juilliard School where he was Principal Viola of each of the school's three orchestras. Mr. Lionti also studied chamber music with members of the Juilliard String Quartet. From 1983-1987 Mr. Lionti was a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, a faculty member at Macomb County Community College, a founding member of the Ventura String Quartet, and a member of the Renaissance City and Lyric Chamber Players. He has served as Guest Principal Viola for the Indianapolis, New Jersey, and American Symphony Orchestras as well as the Santa Fe Opera. He has appeared at many summer festivals, including the Casals, Bard, Waterloo, Meadowbrook, Adirondack, Sunflower, and Southhampton Music Festivals. Mr. Lionti is conductor of the Westchester County Youth Orchestra, and the New York University School of Music Orchestra.

The program of March 24, 2004 at Grace Church included the following selections:

• Arrival Platform Humlet (1912) Percy Grainger
• Suite (1944) John Duke
• Elegy (1944) Igor Stravinsky
• Play It Again, Sam (1989) Milton Babbitt
• Variations on The King’s Hunting Jigg (1977) Maurice Gardner

Cats at the Grainger House; obituary for Tamara

Tamara relaxes in style on the Grainger House front porch

As you can see if you have taken our "House Tour," there is a tradition of pets at the 7 Cromwell Place going back to the days of Percy and Ella, and even of Percy and his mother Rose.

Percy and Ella fed the neighborhood cats on the back porch (depicted on our "Kitchen" page. At the time of Ella's death, and for several years thereafter, her two gray tabby cats, Missy and Massy, were in residence. Rose, in her memoirs, described listening to the birds singing and feeding the squirrels, and how Percy admired the toads that lived in the yard (quoted on our "Porch" page).

Of late, two white cats, Tamara and Tallulah, have been the guardian animals of the place. In the fall of 2003, sadly, Tamara died. Included here are some pictures of Tamara and Tallulah, taken by Mark Grant, Vice President of the International Percy Grainger Society, who also contributed the obituary below.

Obituary:

"We announce with sadness the passing on October 20, 2003 of Tamara, the elder of the two white cats that have lived on the porch at 7 Cromwell Place since the late 1980s. (The other white cat, her granddaughter, Tallulah, who answers to the name "Whitey," survives.) Tamara, according to White Plains veterinarian Alvin Vogel, who treated her since 1988, was between 16 and 20 years old and for most of her life was healthy and robust. Tamara was a friendly and lovely cat, and an inveterate survivor, rebounding from a vicious animal attack and two cancer surgeries and living well in old age despite chronic kidney disease and deafness. In recent months, despite losing weight, she was still happy, active, and spry enough to negotiate every stair step from the street curb to the top floor of the Grainger House.

"Tamara received attentive, regular medical care from Dr. Vogel and consulting veterinary oncologist Gerald Post of Norwalk, Connecticut. When Tamara's cancer was found to have metastasized to her lungs (two years after her first tumor, a remarkable survival), and a crippling, painful bowel obstruction returned for the third time despite repeated treatment, she was put to sleep.

"We will miss her but we celebrate the life of this good-natured, wonderful animal whose presence warmed the entrance to the Grainger House for so many years."

New Grainger CD's available: complete series of band music:

We are pleased to announce that recordings of the complete band music of Percy Grainger, performed by the University of Houston Wind Ensemble, are now available on four CD's.

The recordings, "The Music of Percy Grainger," can be obtained from

Mark Custom Recording Service, Inc.
10815 Bodine Rd.
Clarence, NY 14031-0406
(716) 759-2600

The series was started by money donated to the International Percy Grainger Society, who co-produced the series, by Mark Custom Recording Service, Mark Morette, owner. The University of Houston also plans to do a sax CD of all of Grainger's sax music, next school year.

I am indebted to Leroy Osmon, who was Executive Producer for Vol. IV, and who did the program notes for it, for this news. Below are the contents of the four volumes:

Vol. I, Univ. of Houston Wind Ensemble, Eddie Green, cond.:

1. Molly on the Shore
2. Lincolnshire Posy
3. Colonial Song
4. Blithe Bells
5. Irish Tune From County Derry
6. Shepherd's Hey
7. "The Duke of Marlborough" Fanfare
8. Country Gardens (1953)
9. The Power of Rome and the Christian Heart

Vol. II, Univ. of Houston Wind Ensemble, Eddie Green, cond.:

1. Lads of Wamphrey
2. Handel in the Strand
3. Spoon River
4. Walking Tune
5. Faeroe Island dance
6. The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol
7. Eastern Intermezzo
8. The Immovable Do
9. Scotch Strathspey and Reel

Vol. III, Univ. of Houston Wind Ensemble, Eddie Green, Cond.:

1. Children's March
2. Hill Song No. 2
3. Down Longford Way
4. Mock Morris
5. Australian Up-Country Tune
6. Bellpiece
7. Marching Song of Democracy

Vol. IV, Univ. of Houston, Tom Bennett, cond.:

1. The Warriors
2. The Gum-suckers March
3. The Merry King
4. O Mensch, Bewein' Dein' Sunde Gross
5. Tuscan Serenade, Op. 3, No. 2
6. Prelude in the Dorian Mode
7. Chorale No. 2

New York Times article enhances our visibility:

A thoroughly entertaining article in the "Westchester" section of the New York Times introduced Grainger, the Grainger House, and the International Percy Grainger Society to a wider audience. The column, which appeared on Sunday, June 8, 2003, was written by Anthony Aibel, conductor of the mentoring orchestra of the Music Conservatory of Westchester (see the the next news item).

The writing is fact-filled, outlining Grainger's life and accomplishments (as well as some of his eccentricities). Aibel describes, for example, not just Grainger's better known folksong arrangements, but his importance in creating an original repertory, not transcribed from orchestral music, for concert band. Aibel pauses whimsically to marvel at the "mysterious-looking" house, appearing "like a backdrop for an Alfred Hitchcock film."

The article should pique a few people's curiosity. It's worth looking up in the Times archives or at your library.

Past concert news, February 28, 2003:

Note: The following concert in White Plains of Percy Grainger's music has now taken place, and was a great success.

The Music Conservatory of Westchester (formerly known as the Westchester Conservatory of Music), located at 216 Central Avenue, White Plains, at 7:30 pm on Friday February 28 presented the debut concert of their new mentoring orchestra conducted by Anthony Aibel in a program including four of Percy Grainger's works for orchestra: Country Gardens, The Immovable Do, Irish Tune from County Derry, and Shepherd's Hey. The program also included works by Aaron Copland, J.S. Bach, and Felix Mendelssohn. The concert, which opened the new concert hall at MCW, was sponsored by the Grammy Awards and was part of Grammy Fest 2003. Anthony Aibel was the principal conductor of the Westchester Symphony Orchestra for 10 years and on February 11 made a personal tour of 7 Cromwell Place hosted by Stewart Manville.

All were invited to come to this very special concert, the first performance of Grainger orchestra works in the city he made his home in at least a generation, if not ever.

Book announcements:

Leroy Osmon, "His Name Was Percy Grainger":

"Announcing a new book on Percy Grainger by Leroy Osmon.

"His Name Was Percy Grainger: A Program Guide For the Band Works of Percy Aldridge Grainger, published by RBC Music Publishers, San Antonio, Texas (800) 548-0917 sales@rbcmusic.com

"Including letters and quotes never before in print from the personal collection of the author. A valuable reference for any director performing or researching the band works of this original Australian-American composer. A unique feature of the program notes is the inclusion of the words (as well as a wealth of historical background) to all the folk-songs which Grainger used in his compositions."

Malcolm Gillies and David Pear, "A Portrait of Percy Grainger"

Our attention has been called to a new book edited by Malcolm Gillies and David Pears, A Portrait of Percy Grainger (2002), published by the University of Rochester Press (Eastman Studies in Music). The book contains essays on Grainger by friends, acquaintances, and musical associates and by Grainger himself, and is illustrated with reproductions of scores, architectural drawings, and machine plans.

Dissertations on Grainger

Percy Grainger has become a popular subject for dissertations. Names and titles can be found at the Web site http://wwwlib.umi.com/dissertations. However, only dissertations for the most current two years are available for free.

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