by Percy Aldridge Grainger
arr. by Christopher Rueda
for Reed Quintet (ob / Bb cl / alto / bs cl / bsn)
$10 – PDF
The tune itself is a Morris dance, a centuries-old tradition of fluid, group dancing from England. Still, Grainger insists on his 1913 piano solo score that “This setting is not suitable to dance Morris dances to.” Ever the contrarian, Grainger also said that “where other composers would have been jolly setting such dance tunes I have been sad or furious. My dance settings are energetic rather than gay.”
We highly recommend pairing this with our arrangement of Irish Tune from County Derry. The two works are frequently performed together, with this piece following the Irish Tune.
Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882 – 1961) was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist who lived in the United States from 1914 on and became a citizen in 1918. In the course of a long and innovative career, he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He served briefly as a bandsman in the United States Army during the First World War through 1917–18, having lied about his ability to play the saxophone. Grainger went on to explore the potential of the wind ensemble, leading to a wealth of rich, innovative works for wind instruments.
Christopher Rueda (b. 1994), clarinetist and bass clarinetist of the Doclé Reed Quintet, graduated from the Eastman School of Music after studying with Jon Manasse and Kenneth Grant, and then moved to Chicago and completed his master’s degree in clarinet performance from Northwestern University – Bienen School of Music, where he studied with Steve Cohen and Lawrie Bloom. In his free time, Christopher enjoys arranging and transcribing music not only for reed quintet, but for a variety of ensembles.
Doclé Reed Quintet 