Percy Grainger
EARLY ONE MORNING
Bardic Edition BDE431
Set for voice (man’s or woman's) and piano.
Grainger originally set this traditional melody (in the major key) as a single verse for voice and piano in 1899 when he was sixteen years old. On October 16, 1901, he modified this setting into a sketch for mezzo-soprano and three altos and composed a new verse for mezzo-soprano and male voice choir. In September 1939, he returned to these early manuscripts whilst working on The Easy Grainger. He composed a new harmonisation of this melody, this time in the minor key and followed it with a transcription of the mezzo-soprano and male voice sketch to make a 20 bar setting for two players at one harmonium. On August 25, 1940 he made this transcription for soprano and piano, and in 1950 responded to a request from Leopold Stokowski by transcribing it yet again for full orchestra.
Grainger originally set this traditional melody (in the major key) as a single verse for voice and piano in 1899 when he was sixteen years old. On October 16, 1901, he modified this setting into a sketch for mezzo-soprano and three altos and composed a new verse for mezzo-soprano and male voice choir. In September 1939, he returned to these early manuscripts whilst working on The Easy Grainger. He composed a new harmonisation of this melody, this time in the minor key and followed it with a transcription of the mezzo-soprano and male voice sketch to make a 20 bar setting for two players at one harmonium. On August 25, 1940 he made this transcription for soprano and piano, and in 1950 responded to a request from Leopold Stokowski by transcribing it yet again for full orchestra.
