Although Kenneth Downie states in his introductory foreword to his National test-piece 'Handel in the Band' that it is a references Percy Grainger's 'Handel in the Strand' with its underlying vein of humour, it is fair to say that the composer would not have a laugh about some of the late Australian's other notable foibles and persuasions.
Unorthodox genius
Grainger (1882 — 1961) was an odd man from an odd family — an unorthodox genius whose personal beliefs and lifestyle can in part be attributed to his lineage and childhood environment.
His grandmother for instance tied herself to the ship's mast on the journey from England to Australia so that she could witness the full force of an ocean storm, whilst his grandfather gained notoriety as a hotel keeper in Adelaide for his policy of evicting Jews and bookmakers.
Grainger's father John was an educated man with a taste for whiskey and prostitutes — which led him to infect Percy's mother Rose, with syphilis.
Pushy parent
She herself was a woman who displayed the ultimate attributes of 'pushy parent syndrome' — completely isolating Percy from interaction with other children and punishing him with a horsewhip for any indiscretions (and there were many). She later jumped to her death from the 18th floor of the Aeolian Building in New York.
Perhaps understandably, Percy later developed a taste for self-flagellation and growing weeds in his garden, but less understandably, to becoming a raving anti-semite.
He also refused to use many Italian terms in his music and later became a vegetarian, got married at the Hollywood Bowl, loved Elvis Presley records and had a voracious appetite for pancakes.
Before leaving Melbourne for a last time, he deposited in a bank a parcel that contained an essay and photographs related to his sex life, not to be opened until 10 years after his death.
Perhaps understandably, Percy later developed a taste for self-flagellation and growing weeds in his garden, but less understandably, to becoming a raving anti-semite4BR
Over 1000 works
His genius as a composer and pianist was undoubted: He used irregular rhythms before Stravinsky did, pioneered research and the use of folk music much like Bartok, and experimented with random music forms as early as 1905, including electronic music. In total he composed, set, arranged and edited over 1000 works.
However, as a man he was vain, disturbed and disturbing. He once ranked himself as a composer (using his own system) as behind Wagner and Delius but ahead of Grieg and Tchaikovsky.
In the half century and more since his death, the musical world is well on its way to appreciating Grainger the composer, but still many years away from understanding Grainger the man.
