PERCY GRAINGER’S “MOLLY ON THE SHORE”

Percy Grainger is one of the premier composers for the Wind Band. He is certainly someone I would want to be molded partially after. One of the pieces that is most striking and bright to the ear is his “Molly On The Shore.” It is a very uptempo and bright piece that makes particularly much use of the higher woodwinds. Higher flutes and piccolo are month the main musical messengers along with the oboes. There is a slower quarter or half note current that holds throughout the whole work while eighths, sixteenths and triplets scurry over top of the texture in a colorful flurry. The tempo stays the same throughout all the piece, however the counterpoint changes to accompany the different woodwinds. In one guise, it is the flutes and clarinets that take over, and in another is the saxophone which has this E-flat-F rocking back an fourth (Notice: I am talking about the pitches in concert terms). It is a shiny but quaint piece that really makes you want to dance. It has such a festive spirit about it, no wonder people love this music. It’s flavor is full of innocence and vigor. The bounce of it never escapes the mind. It may be fairly short, but sometimes the shortest musical moments make for the most memorable happenings.