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From Wind Repertory Project

Percy Aldridge Grainger (edited by Joseph Kreines)

Contents 1 General Info 2 Instrumentation 3 Errata 4 Program Notes 5 Commercial Discography 6 State Ratings 7 Recent Performances 8 Additional Works for Winds by this Composer 9 Additional Resources

General Info

Year: 1940
Duration: c. 4:10
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: G. Schirmer
Cost: Score and Parts - $65.00   |   Score Only - $7.50

Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II (plus a Flute 3 part in substitution of the Eb Clarinet)
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II (plus a part for Contrabassoon)
Eb Soprano Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV-V
Bb Soprano Clarinet VI (optional part, subs for Alto Clarinet)
Bb Soprano Clarinet VII (optional part, subs for Eb Soprano Clarinet)
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Contra Alto Clarinet
Soprano Sax
Alto Sax I-II
Tenor Sax I-II
Baritone Sax
Cornet (in Bb) I-II-III
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II
Horn I-II-III-IV (plus a part for Eb Horn)
Trombone I-II-III
Baritone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

• Bass Drum
• Cymbal (crash)
• Side Drum
• Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

"The Immovable Do" (composed 1933-1939) draws its title from one of the two kinds of Tonic Sol-fa notation, one with a "movable Do" ("Do" corresponding to the key-note of whatever key the music is couched in, from moment to moment; so that the note designated by "Do" varies with modulation) and the other with an "immovable Do" (in which "Do" always stands for C). In my composition-which is not based on any folksong or popular tune-the "immovable Do" is a high drone on C which is sounded throughout the whole piece. From the very start (in 1933) I conceived the number for any or all of the following mediums, singly or combined: for organ (or reed organ), for mixed chorus, for wind band or wind groups, for full or small orchestra, for string orchestra or 8 single strings. It seems natural for me to plan it simultaneously for these different mediums, seeing that such music hinges upon intervalic appeal rather than upon effects of tone-color.

-Percy Aldridge Grainger

Commercial Discography

• Audio CD: Michigan State Symphonic Band (Keith Brion, conductor)

• Audio CD: Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra (Timothy Reynish, conductor)

• MP3 Download: North Texas Wind Symphony (Eugene Corporon, conductor)

State Ratings

• Florida: V --- (The Florida Bandmasters Association denotes this as "significant literature.")
• South Carolina: V

Recent Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• University of Louisville Wind Ensemble (Frederick Speck, conductor) - 16 February 2008

Additional Works for Winds by this Composer

• Arrival Platform Humlet
• Australian Up-Country Tune (1905)
• Blithe Bells
• Children's March: "Over the Hills and Far Away"
• Colonial Song (1919)
• Country Gardens (1953)
• Died for Love
• Down Longford Way
• Duke of Marlborough Fanfare
• Early One Morning (arr. Kreines)
• English Waltz from "Youthful Suite" (tr. Rogers)
• Faroe Island Dance
• Gumsucker's March (1942)
• Handel in the Strand
• Hill Song No. 1
• Hill Song No. 2
• The Immovable Do (1940)
• I'm Seventeen Come Sunday (tr. Daehn)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (1918)
• Lads of Wamphray March (1905/1937)
• Lincolnshire Posy (1937)
• Mock Morris
• Molly on the Shore (1920)
• The Power of Rome and the Christian Heart (1947)
• Scotch Strathspey and Reel
• Shepherd's Hey (1918)
• The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol
• Themes from Green Bushes (arr. L. Daehn)
• Walking Tune
• The Warriors
• Willow, Willow
• Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon (1949)

Additional Resources

• Percy Aldridge Grainger - Official Website