Talk about a natural, athletic approach to the keyboard! Has there ever been one more-so? I suspect not. Although there are various live/broadcast items of Grainger's around, this may be his only filmed example. It is confirming of much. What? Well, for one he played with his whole body with no apparent holding or tension - pure naturalism. Anthing else? Yes. His personality was fearsome and determinate, even though having a mellifluous voice and of supreme artistry. We are very lucky to have this document. . : .
Wow! I don’t know where you found this but thank you so much! It helps up and combing musicians get a glimpse into what the great composers of the past really heard in their head, and not just the ink on a page. His playing of “Shepards Hey” was so intricate. I wonder it if will ever be matched by the greatest of wind-bands.
This is amazing, I didn't know there was even a full footage of him playing Maguire's Kick that survived (I've only seen that excerpt everybody did from that documentary), let alone another one. My thirst for good pianism is quenched for now.
Me too. What a shame he was such a racist bigot. Behind our prejudices and bigotry however lie our fears; Grainger betrayed Australia by leaving it. He became pretty rootless after that. He was uncomfortable with quite a few things even by his own accounts and obviously felt he deserved punishment or he would not have got off on masochism sexually. Troubled fellow but my goodness, what a musician. Going to the heart and soul of it via native folk only adds to his innate musicality.
Teachers should use this to demonstrate the ideal posture. Straight back, leaning slightly forward to approach the upper and lower range of the keyboard. Also freedom of movement and flexibility of the body, although dramatic hand lifting is overdone and I think just for show!
12 years apart yet played at the same tempo. incredible
Talk about a natural, athletic approach to the keyboard! Has there ever been one more-so? I suspect not.
Although there are various live/broadcast items of Grainger's around, this may be his only filmed example. It is confirming of much.
What?
Well, for one he played with his whole body with no apparent holding or tension - pure naturalism.
Anthing else?
Yes. His personality was fearsome and determinate, even though having a mellifluous voice and of supreme artistry.
We are very lucky to have this document.
. : .
These recordings are gems, and I haven't seen the film footage in forever. Thanks for posting this!
Wow! I don’t know where you found this but thank you so much! It helps up and combing musicians get a glimpse into what the great composers of the past really heard in their head, and not just the ink on a page. His playing of “Shepards Hey” was so intricate. I wonder it if will ever be matched by the greatest of wind-bands.
This is amazing, I didn't know there was even a full footage of him playing Maguire's Kick that survived (I've only seen that excerpt everybody did from that documentary), let alone another one. My thirst for good pianism is quenched for now.
Magnificent synch. work, bravissimo.
Greetings from East Anglia
amazing synch!
Very clever, and quite marvellous!
Splendid!!
Unique!!
Splendid! Many thanks from Athens, Greece!
0:05 Maguire's kick
2:42 Shepherd's hey
Uncanny! I wonder if the film needed a lot of tweaking or whether his rubato/agogics were just that consistent over the years.
Great stuff as usual Jack!
All I can say is thank you, Jack. You are amazing
Merely as an 'Afterword', I had nary a clue this gifted lad was ever possessed of such prodigious technique !
Me too. What a shame he was such a racist bigot. Behind our prejudices and bigotry however lie our fears; Grainger betrayed Australia by leaving it. He became pretty rootless after that. He was uncomfortable with quite a few things even by his own accounts and obviously felt he deserved punishment or he would not have got off on masochism sexually. Troubled fellow but my goodness, what a musician. Going to the heart and soul of it via native folk only adds to his innate musicality.
Musical ability need not convey purity and fair mindedness.
This was over 100 years ago.
Fascinating! Thanks for posting this. Someone went to some considerable trouble to marry up sound and image, I suspect.
Did he ever play at the Holywell Music Room?
Teachers should use this to demonstrate the ideal posture. Straight back, leaning slightly forward to approach the upper and lower range of the keyboard. Also freedom of movement and flexibility of the body, although dramatic hand lifting is overdone and I think just for show!
Guess we know who was watching Chico Marx movies. Or maybe the other way around.
Great composer and pianist, and unfortunately, according to music historian David Pear he was also "at root, a racial bigot of no small order."