Percy Grainger - The Merry King

[dinosaurtales]

It's scored for piano and 9 instruments - in my case - winds.  Has anybody ever done this one?  You know how Grainger is - no tempo markings you can actually Use - just "lingering" and "in time" and "slow off...." etc. 

Does anybody know what basic tempos are on this?  Also I was told it was "challenging", and even though a bunch of big chords isn't my favorite thing to work on, it doesn't seem that bad.  It doesn't sound like a fast piece, but speed would definitely make it challenging. 

Clues?

[dinosaurtales]

Nobody knows this one? 

 

[dinosaurtales]

Well, ok.  I figure no one is familiar with this cause nobody replied.  So here is the scoop.  It's really a sad folk song about how the Merry King has taken this guy's true love away.  It's sad, then becomes bitter at the end.  The piano part came out great, if I do say so myself!  It's not that tough, and it's really a pretty piece.  If I can get hold of a recording (we're recording at the concert next Wednesday) I'll post it -

[Floristan]

Look here for a recording:

https://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Drilldown?name_id1=4663&name_role1=1&comp_id=54188&bcorder=15&name_id=97727&name_role=4

And, of course, Marc-Andre Hamelin famously recorded solo versions of Grainger's greatest hits (including the Merry King).  See review here:

https://www.cums-smuc.ca/publications/cumr-ol/01/reviews.html#carruthers

Grainger typically would transcribe a piece for every conceivable combination of instruments -- bands, orchestras, small ensembles, solo piano, etc.