Orchestrational archetypes in Percy Grainger's wind band music.

Abstract

This study closely examines the orchestrational techniques in four of Percy Grainger's wind band compositions; Colonial Song, Irish Tune From County Perry, Molly On The Shore, and five movements from Lincolnshire Posy; Lisbon, Horkstow Grange, The Brisk Young Sailor, and The Lost Lady Found. These are works which are representative of Grainger' s orchestrational techniques. This information has been used to newly orchestrate three of Grainger's pieces for band in his orchestrational style. They are The Cutting of the Hay, Lord Maxwell's Goodnight, and British Waterside (or The Jolly Sailor). It is interesting to note that all but one of these band works (Horkstow Grange) are orchestrations of previously completed compositions. Presumably, Grainger's attention would have been focused on matters of scoring only when writing for band. In analyzing Grainger's orchestrational techniques in these pieces, I have not made any value judgments as to their success. I have also been very careful not to compare these techniques to any other composer. Rather, I have done an exhaustive survey of recurring orchestrational techniques in an attempt to understand why his wind band music sounds the way it does. Chapter I identifies and codifies Grainger's scoring of melodic material. Similarly, Chapter II deals with countermelodic material. Chapter III examines recurring features in Grainger's part writing. Chapter IV documents his preoccupation with contrapuntal dynamic techniques. There is no debate that Grainger made an original contribution to the wind band literature. This study has explored in depth Grainger's orchestrational techniques in an attempt to show specifically why his wind band music is so readily identifiable as Grainger. It is my assertion that the Grainger 'sound' is a function of recurring orchestrational techniques rather than other compositional elements such as melody or harmony. His consistent choice of doublings for both melody and countermelody place a personal stamp upon his music. His continual use of contrapuntal dynamics to achieve timbrel effects also renders his music distinguishable as being only by Grainger. His part writing proves always to be uniquely satisfying because of the constant voice shifting and meandering parts.