Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol, Grainger - Clarinet Choir - Schmitt Bloomington - December 13, 2023

The Australian-born Percy Grainger made a career as a touring pianist in the British Isles and collecting folk songs from the British and Irish countryside. He later emigrated to the United States, where he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a Saxophonist. His many works as a composer tie together these English folk tunes with classical instrumentation. "The Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol" is a charming piece based on an English folk tune traditionally performed by 'mummers' during Christmas. Grainger's arrangement captures the rustic and heartfelt qualities of the original tune, while his distinctive harmonic language adds a touch of whimsy.