The essence of Percy Grainger’s music is most evident in his piano pieces. He took ownership of traditional and popular influences, rejecting outdated conventions to create works of ingenious variation, textures and moods. No catalogue of piano repertoire should be without a strong selection of works by Grainger, and this duo/duet programme covers the entire range of his spectacular genius in arranging and re-working popular musical material and making it entirely his own. Grainger’s sparkling talent can be heard throughout, ranging from the fantastically popular Country Gardens to the elaborate Fantasy on ‘Porgy and Bess’. Award-winning pianist Caroline Weichert has been praised for her “strong, crystalline tone” (Spiegel Online) in the music of Erwin Schulhoff (GP604), and Clemens Rave’s playing is consistently praised, including in his ability “to handle sound and expression [with] sensitive awareness” (Generalanzeiger Bonn).
This recording was made on a modern instrument: Steinway, Model D
Tracklist 1 Handel in the Strand, "Clog Dance" (version for 2 pianos) (1912) (00:04:39) 2 Molly on the Shore, "An Irish Reel" (version for 2 pianos) (1907) (00:04:46) 3 Shepherd's Hey (version for 2 pianos) (1913) (00:02:21) 4 Harvest Hymn, "Harvest Time in Sweden" (version for piano 4 hands) (1906) (00:02:25) 5 Country Gardens (version for piano 4 hands) (1918) (00:02:24) 6 Song from the Faroer Islands: Let's Dance Gay in Green Meadow (1905) (00:02:31) 7 Spoon River (version for 2 pianos) (1922) (00:04:27) 8 As Sally Sat A-Weeping (version for 2 pianos) (1912) (00:01:07)
Lincolnshire Posy (version for 2 pianos) (1937) (00:17:00 ) 9 I. Lisbon (00:02:05) 10 II. Horkstow Grange (00:02:26) 11 III. Rufford Park Poachers (00:04:28) 12 IV. The Brisk Young Sailor (00:01:44) 13 V. Lord Melbourne (00:03:50) 14 VI. The Lost Lady Found (00:02:29) 15 Fantasy on George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess (1951) (00:20:59)
