Collection Summary
Reproductions of Selected Percy Grainger Papers
1909-1952
(1909-1939)
1909-1952
(1909-1939)
ML94.G
Percy Grainger, 1882-1961
approximately
250 items
4
containers
2.5
linear feet
English
Danish
Collection material in English and Danish
Music Division, Library of Congress
Washington, D.C.
Percy Grainger was an Australian-American composer, pianist, and folksong collector. The papers consist of photostats and photocopies of correspondence with Kären Holten, articles, lecture notes, writings, and sketches for the book The Life of My Mother and Her Son.
Acquisition Information
Ella Grainger deposited writings, music manuscripts, correspondence, memorabilia, photographs, phonorecords, programs, and clippings from 1961 to 1969.
Selected papers were reproduced prior to the deposit's 1978 transfer to the Grainger Museum in Melbourne.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Processing History
Jane Cross processed the Reproductions of Selected Percy Grainger Papers in 2020. Jane Cross and Anthony Edwards coded the finding aid in 2020.
Transfers
The original material was transferred to the Grainger Museum at the University of Melbourne in Australia in 1978.
Other Repositories
The Grainger Museum at the University of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, contains items documenting the life, career, and music of Percy Grainger.
Copyright Status
Materials from the Reproductions of Selected Percy Grainger Papers are governed by the Copyright
Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S.C.) and other applicable international copyright
laws.
Access and Restrictions
The Reproductions of Selected Percy Grainger Papers are open to research. Researchers are advised
to contact the Music Division prior to visiting in order to determine whether the
desired materials will be available at that time.
Certain restrictions to use or copying of materials may apply.
Preferred Citation
Researchers wishing to cite this collection should include the following information:
[item, date, container number], Reproductions of Selected Percy Grainger Papers, Music Division,
Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
Biographical Note
Date
Event
1882 July 8
Born George Percy Grainger in Brighton, Victoria, Australia
1892
Began studying piano under Louis Pabst
1893
Composed first work,
"A Birthday Gift to Mother"
1894 October
New tutor, Adelaide Burkitt, arranged for concert appearances in Melbourne
29 May 1895
Moved to Germany to study at the Hoch Conservatory in Frankfurt
1901
Abandoned his studies and moved to London
Began composing
Marching Song of Democracy,
Train Music,
and
Charging Irishrey
1902 February
First performance as a piano soloist with an orchestra
1905
Started collecting original folk songs
Began close relationship with Danish music student Kären Holten
1911
Began publishing his compositions on a larger scale
1912 May 21
Presented the first concert devoted entirely to his own compositions
1914 September
Moved to America
1917
1919
Served in the U. S. Army with the 15th Coastal Artillery Corps Band in New York City
1922 April 30
His mother Rose committed suicide
1928 August 9
Married Swedish-born artist Ella Ström at the Hollywood Bowl
1932
1933
Appointed professor of music at New York University
1937 March
Lincolnshire Posy
performed at the American Band Master's Association convention in Milwaukee
1937
1944
Taught at Interlochen National Music Camp in Michigan
1948 August 10
Performed on piano at the London Proms playing his
Danish Folksong Suite
with the London Symphony Orchestra under Basil Cameron
1950
Began working mostly on free music machines
1957 May
Made his only television appearance, a BBC Concert Hour performance of "Handel in the Strand"
1960 April 29
Gave his last public concert, at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire
1961 February 20
Died in White Plains, New York
1961 March 2
Funeral service conducted at St. Matthew's Church in Marryatville, South Australia
Scope and Content Note
The Reproductions of Selected Percy Grainger Papers span from 1909 to 1952. The bulk of the materials date from 1909 to 1939 and consist of two boxes of photostats of Grainger's correspondence with Danish music student and confidant Kären Holten, which is primarily in Danish. The collection also contains reproductions of an article, lecture notes, writings, and sketches for the book
The Life of My Mother and Her Son
.
Selected Search Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the LC Catalog. They are grouped by name of person or organization, by subject or location, and by occupation and listed alphabetically.
People
Grainger, Percy, 1882-1961--Archives.
Grainger, Percy, 1882-1961--Correspondence.
Grainger, Percy, 1882-1961.
Grainger, Percy, 1882-1961. Life of my mother and her son.
Holten, Kären, 1879-1953.
Subjects
Composers--Biography.
Titles
Percy Grainger reproductions of selected papers
Form/Genre
Articles.
Autobiographies.
Lecture notes.
Personal correspondence.
Writings (Documents)
Arrangement
The Reproductions of Selected Percy Grainger Papers are organized in one series:
-
[Papers, 1909-1952](ser01)
Catalog Record: [https://lccn.loc.gov/2017563957]
Container List
1-4
Papers, 1909-1952
1909-1952
These selected reproductions include Grainger's correspondence with Kären Holten, an article, writings, lecture notes, and sketches for the book
The Life of My Mother and Her Son
.
Arranged alphabetically.
3/1
Beatless Music Typer,
1925 April 4
1925 April 4
Notes and schematics
3/2
Deemths (Opinions), Book 1,
1940 Decemnber 18
1940 Decemnber 18
Writings
3/3
Deemths (Opinions), Book 2,
1942 October
1942 October
Writings
1-2
Holten, Kären,
1909-1939
1909-1939
Correspondence
Danish
English
Primarily in Danish with some English
3/4-5
Lecture notes,
1934, 1942, and undated
1934, 1942, and undated
4
The Life of My Mother and Her Son,
undated
undated
Sketches for book
3/6
The Organ as a Background Instrument,
1952 December 29
1952 December 29
Lecture
Note: For the American Guild of Organists
3/8
"Percy Grainger and the 'Frankfort Group,'"
1936 October
1936 October
By Cyril Scott
Article
3/7
Thunks,
undated
undated
Writings