Percy Grainger

This extensively revised edition of John Bird's acclaimed biography of Percy Grainger gives the first circumstantial account of the life and works of one of the strangest figures in twentieth-century music. Behind Grainger's highly original compositional achievements, folksong collecting and glittering career as a virtuoso concert pianist lay a tragic and chaotic personal life--long domination by his mother, unorthodox sexual predilections, an eccentric athleticism, a demonic spiritual drive and wildly inconsistent personal philosophy with Anglo-Saxon obsessions such as his famous `Blue-Eyed English'. A list of published compositions, a current discography of performances by Grainger, and a selection of his seminal writings complete what has already proved to be a standard work. In their Prefatory Note to the first edition, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears wrote: `In his sympathetic and tactful biography John Bird has beautifully balanced the brilliance with the turbulence of this unbalanced genius--we are grateful to him'.

Table of Contents:
List of Illustrations Prefatory Notes by Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears Appreciaton by Leopold Stokowski Author's Preface 1: `Bubbles' 2: Doctors and Dustbin Lids 3: `Perks' joins the Frankfurt Gang 4: Saint and Sinner 5: Grettir the Strong Flexes his Muscles 6: `The years before the war were Hell' 7: The Twisted Genius and the Dinkum Aussie 8: Packed Houses and Zulu Warriors 9: `I am an Australian, not a Corsican' 10: Unto Brigg Fair 11: The Little Half-Viking 12: `Poor put-upon Percy' 13: `Adieu Old World! I would hail a New World' 14: `Your mad side has ruined us' 15: Beatless Music, Blue-Eyed English, and a Nordic Princess 16: `The measure of my artistic defeat' 17: `I shall go back to the joys of my teen-years' 18: `Your loving but defeated, Percy' Select Source List Appendix A. Catalogue of Grainger's Published Original Compositions and Arrangements Appendix B. Statements on `Free Music' Appendix C. Preface to Spoon River, American Folk-Music Setting No. 2 Appendix D. Discography: Performances by Grainger Appendix E. Catalogue of Duo-Art Piano Rolls made by Grainger Appendix F. Select Bibliography: Performances of Grainger's Works by Others Index

Review :
`excellent book.' Steve Schwartz `one of the best musical biographies ever!' Ken Russell `This documented srutiny of the man and his music is an unabridged tribute to a flawed genius. Its insights are unlikely to be surpassed. Grainger's spirit should now be appeased.' Eric Fenby `This fascinating book ... depicts in detail the character of one of the most extraordinary human beings of whom records exist.' Roy Fuller `anecdote and quotation are gathered usefully together in a rich array ... Bird's book benefits from an extensive discography for which all readers wishing to pursue the subject will be grateful.' Lucien Jenkins, Music Teacher, May 1999 `the release of this revised and slightly extended edition of John Bird's pioneering biography, first published in 1976, is welcome. Bird charts the course of his subject admirably, ... he offers us an absorbing character study.' Peter Tregear, Times Literary Supplement `this fully revised edition of John Bird's masterly biography of 1976 is timely. John Bird has devoted much of his life to collecting information and memorabilia about the composer, and his knowledge of the subject is second to none ... The book is superb, beautifully produced, splendidly written, with all of Grainger's gusto coming out on every page. John Bird pulls no punches, gives us every side of this multi-faceted man, and paints a vivid picture, warts and all. What could have become a tiresome catalogue of concert and engagements and touring is always a fascinating account of professional life in the first half of the century, enlivened by Percy's eccentricities' Tim Reynish, The Journal of the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles, Spring 1999, Vol 14 no2 `John Bird has written a masterly book, a thumping good read as well as a scholarly account of one of the quirkiest of all geniuses. Even if you have the Faber edition, (which cost £5.95) you should buy this latest edition for the clarity of presentation, for its new material and for its celebration of Percy Grainger, still under-performed by all of us tone-men who dare to try his tonery.' Tim Reynish, The Journal of the British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles, Spring 1999, Vol 14 no2 `makes available again in a handsome edition a well written and nicely illustrated account of a fascinating composer, folk song collector, and human being. Particularly well handled are the complex relations of Percy's early life ... The biography is written by a passionate advocate of Grainger's music, and the preface gives the academic musical establishment a splendid roasting for its supercilious attitude towards his subject. Nevertheless, here is a fine edition from a major publisher.' David Atkinson, English Dance & Song Autumn 1999 Vol 61 no3