The piano arrangement of the folk-dance tune County Derry Air remains the work most frequently associated with this prolific Australian figure. Born in Melbourne in 1882, he pursued a career that spanned continents and decades, evolving from a society performer into an influential composer, ethnomusicologist, and university teacher, eventually settling permanently in the United States by 1914.
European Training and Career
At age thirteen, he departed Australia to attend the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt. During his time in Europe, he established himself as a pianist and concert performer. Between 1901 and 1914, he lived in London, where he focused on collecting folk melodies. His professional circle included figures like Edvard Grieg and Frederick Delius, and he maintained a strong interest in Nordic culture throughout his life.
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Moving to the United States in 1914, he served as a bandsman during the First World War and obtained American citizenship in 1918. His professional life included an appointment at New York University. Later in his career, he shifted focus toward educational work and the development of music machines. He also founded the Grainger Museum in his birthplace of Melbourne to serve as a repository for his archives.
Legacy and Final Years
Despite achieving recognition, including the St. Olav's Medal in 1954, he grew increasingly critical of his own output as he aged. His final concert took place in 1960. He died in 1961 in White Plains, New York, and was buried at the West Terrace Cemetery. His body of work includes compositions such as Afterword and Shallow Brown, reflecting his background as an arranger, saxophonist, and conductor.
Fast facts
- Born: 1882, Melbourne
- Died: 1961, White Plains
- Citizenship: United States; Australia
- Education: Hoch Conservatory
- Employer: New York University
- Notable Works: County Derry Air, Afterword, Shallow Brown
- Awards: St. Olav's Medal (1954)
- Religion: Atheism
Questions readers ask
Where did Percy Grainger study?
He received his formal musical education at the Hoch Conservatory.
Was he an American citizen?
Yes, he moved to the United States in 1914 and became a citizen in 1918.
Where is he buried?
He is buried at the West Terrace Cemetery.
Achievements
- St. Olav's Medal — 1954
- Notable work: County Derry Air
- Notable work: Afterword
- Notable work: Shallow Brown
- Instruments: saxophone and piano
- Genres: classical music
