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The Essay Podcast

The Essay

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Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: Aspects of Grainger

The Essay: Aspects of Grainger: Episode 3: Grainger the Man

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Aspects of Grainger

Episode 3

Episode 3: Grainger the Man

Grainger the Man

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Penelope Thwaites explores the sometimes eccentric personal life of Percy Grainger.

Pianist and composer Penelope Thwaites explains why she thinks Grainger to be one of the least understood figures in musical history.

"If you want to understand the music of Percy Grainger, you need to understand the man - where he came from and what he was aiming at". Pianist and writer, Penelope Thwaites' recent research into composer Grainger's family and background has resulted in discoveries which shed intriguing new light on a man whom, Thwaites maintains is one of the least understood figures in musical history. 

She outlines his life, beginning in Australia and ending in America, a piano virtuoso mentioned in the company of Rachmaninov and Horowitz, a composer whose music reflected his own attitude to life: constantly setting himself new challenges. Grainger's mother played a pivotal role in his life and Thwaites deplores the subsequent vilification of her by many commentators. She touches on Grainger's private life and sado-masochistic practices and his establishment of a Grainger Museum in Melbourne into which he voluntarily put everything about his life.

Produced by Jeremy Hayes for Potton Hall Productions

First broadcast in September 2011.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Series of programmes devoted to the life and work of composer and pianist Percy Grainger

Series of programmes devoted to the life and work of Australian-born composer and pianist Percy Grainger, marking 50 years since his death

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