Last
time we looked at Frank Bridge’s use of the famous “Londonderry Air” in his Irish Melody. A more famous setting of
this tune comes from Percy Grainger (1882–1961) in his Irish Tune from County Derry.
Born
in Australia, Grainger grew up taking piano lessons from his mother and then
later attended conservatory. He spent most of his adult life in America and
Europe composing, conducting, and collecting English folk tunes. His good
friend and fellow composer Edvard Grieg encouraged him to use wax-cylinder
phonographs to record his folk tune collection, making him the first to do such
a thing. “Londonderry Air” was one of the tunes in his collection that he ended
up creating several arrangements for including an a Capella version, a setting
for piano, and the famous wind band arrangement. Below you can hear the wind
band version followed by a setting for choir.
Did
you know that Percy Grainger was known to be quite eccentric? It is said that
he carried his favorite piano stool around in a wheelbarrow and dressed in his
own, unique way.
Next
time we’ll wrap up our Irish-themed month with Edward Collins’ Irish Rhapsody.
