Molly on the Shore

by Percy Aldridge Grainger
arr. by Christopher Rueda

for Reed Quintet (ob / Bb cl / alto / bs cl / bsn)

$20 – PDF

“In setting Molly on the Shore, I strove to imbue the accompanying parts that made up the harmonic texture with a melodic character not too unlike that of the underlying reel tune. Melody seems to me to provide music with initiative, wheras rhythm appears to me to exert an enslaving influence. For that reason I have tried to avoid regular rhythmic domination in my music – always excepting irregular rhythms, such as those of Gregorian Chant, which seem to me to make for freedom. Equally with melody, I prize discordant harmony, because of the emotional and compassionate sway it exerts”. – Percy Aldridge Grainger

This piece was composed for his mother, Rose Annie Aldridge, in 1907.

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.