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Tuneful Percussion of Percy Grainger
Woof!
Nominated for Best Classical CD at the 2001 Aria Awards!
It took musicians about 60 years to realise the beautiful possibilities of the Saxophone family. How long will it be before the rich quality of the percussion section will be used in full? So said the ever before-his-time Percy Grainger in 1926. The famous Australian composer's life-long fascination with percussion instruments began in Paris in 1900 when he was inspired by the sonorities and clear tones of the Balinese and Javanese gong orchestras. Later he turned to designing his own unique 'tuneful' percussion, including a set of staff bells and a steel marimba, which he deposited in his Melbourne museum in the mid 1930s. Rarely used since and never before recorded, these instruments now take centre stage on this new recording of Grainger's complete music for percussion. With the assistance of the Grainger Museum and some recently discovered manuscripts, the Woof! percussion quartet presents a most unusual and authentic listening experience. Press quotes:
“Move Records has released a charming and fascinating disc of the composer's music that I believe comes closer to Percy's spirit than anything on Chandos's first 16 volumes ... not only a delightful CD - and one of the best sounding that I've heard from Move - but also an important one.”
— Andrew Ford, ABC 24 Hours “one of the most engaging CDs I've encountered in years ... fascinating liner notes”— Neville Cohn, OzArts Review “remarkable arrangements ... excellent liner notes ... 3 stars (exceptional)”— Michel Faligand, Percussions, France “This impeccable, crystal-clear recording allows every detail to be heard ... a tintinnabulation to delight the ear ... Pure pleasure!”— International Record Review “this delightful disc ... adds up to a very satisfying whole ... fine performances ... enormous variety ... recorded sound is excellent.”— BBC Music Magazine “What does this well-known composer have to do with percussion music? Quite a bit as it turns out, thanks to the efforts of the Woof! percussion ensemble”— Percussive Arts Society, USA “Woof! performs the 16 titles splendidly ... excellent booklet notes ... A real find!”— The Delian, USA “clearly a labour of love ... this is a fine album filled with uniquely delightful music ... the booklet is a model of clarity.”— Gary S. Dalkin, musicweb.uk “Great music, great playing ... this CD is finely produced. The extraordinary wide palette of sounds - pecussive and others - has been exquisitely captured.”— Malcolm Gillies, Sounds Australian Journal “an extremely fine Melbourne-produced disc that is as unusual as it is delightful.”— Bill Hoffmann, Canberra Times “well-produced disc ... dazzling ... Grainger's very own creations are expertly deployed by Woof! in this varied program of folksong arrangements, transcriptions of ethnic music and original compositions.”— Tony Way, The Age - Green Guide “This CD recording is unique ... diverse ... has an immense variety of instrumentation very finely performed ... a definite must”— Alison Eddington, Percussive Arts Society Australia “there are many fine moments on the CD ... a lot to enjoy.”— 2MBS FM “constantly diverting music ... fascinating liner notes ... one of the most engaging CDs I've encountered in years.”— Sophie Saxe-Lehrman, The West Australian “a valuable resource for teachers in schools, either in the percussion studio or to illustrate an aspect of the classroom music syllabus.”— Amanda Watson, ASME Journal Audio preview:
Arrival Platform Humlet from 'Room-music Tidbits' download Track Listing:
Shepherd's Hey (arr. Woof!)
The Lonely Desert Man sees the Tents of the Happy Tribes Arrival Platform Humlet Bahariyale v. Paliyandi Berong Pengetjet Blithe Bells (Bach arr. Grainger) Crying for the Moon (Ella Grainger arr. Grainger) Eastern Intermezzo Irish Tune from County Derry (arr. Ragdale) London Bridge (Balfour Gardiner arr. Grainger) Pagodes (Debussy arr. Grainger) Sailor's Song (arr. Woof!) Under en bro Sekar Gadung Valley of the bells (Ravel arr. Grainger) Country Gardens (arr. Woof!) Catalogue Number: MD3222
Price: AU$26.00
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Tuneful Percussion of Percy Grainger can be purchased through Buywell Just Classical who offer secure on-line ordering. |
 Featured Artists:
Woof! is a Melboune-based percussion ensemble and has been broadcast both on 3MBS FM and ABC Classic FM. It has premiered a number of Australian works and its membership is drawn from all over Australia.
Tracey Patten completed her music degree with Honours at the Victorian College of the Arts in 1994 and that year recieved various awards including the colleges orchestral prize enabling her to study in Amsterdam at the Sweelinck Conservatorium. She has also been featured on ABC-FM's Young Australia program and performed the Carl Vine Percussion Concerto with the Geminiani Chamber Orchestra.
Matthew Goddard graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with an Honours Degree in Music Performance and in June 1999 was appointed to his current position as Principal Timpanist in the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
Christine graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 1992 and as a recipient of the Willem van Otterloo Scholarship began three years of study at the Sweelinck Conservatorium of Amsterdam. After her return in 1996 Christine began freelance work including orchestras, contemporary chamber ensembles, musicals, opera and theatre. As well as being a member of WOOF! Christine also teaches at various high schools around Melbourne.
Stephen Hardie graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts with a BA (Hons) in performance, later becoming a casual performer with the Melbourne Symphony. He has also played with the State Orchestra of Victoria, the Melbourne Bach orchestra and the Orchestra of the Melbourne Chorale, along with numerous other freelance engagements.
Composers:
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