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"Percy Grainger: Irish Tune from County Derry" is a composition by Australian-born composer and pianist Percy Grainger. Here are some interesting facts about the piece and its creator:

1. Composer Background:

   • Percy Grainger (1882-1961) was an eccentric and innovative composer known for his unique musical style. He was born in Melbourne, Australia, and later became a naturalized citizen of the United States.

2. Folk Music Influence:

   • Grainger had a deep interest in folk music, and it greatly influenced his compositions. "Irish Tune from County Derry" is an arrangement of a traditional Irish folk tune that he collected during his travels.

3. Original Title:

   • The original title of the piece is "Londonderry Air," and it is a well-known traditional Irish melody. Grainger often arranged and adapted folk tunes to create his own compositions, adding his distinctive harmonic and rhythmic elements.

4. Expressive Markings:

   • Grainger was known for his detailed and specific expressive markings in his scores. In the case of "Irish Tune from County Derry," he included instructions such as "Noble, in a slow, held-back manner," which gives performers insight into the desired emotional character of the piece.

5. Dynamic and Orchestration Variations:

   • Grainger's score includes dynamic variations and specific instructions for changes in orchestration. This attention to detail allows for a nuanced and expressive performance, with shifts in volume and instrumentation to convey the desired mood.

6. Percy Grainger's Piano Settings:

   • Grainger wrote many of his compositions for piano and later orchestrated them. His piano settings often served as a starting point for his larger-scale works. "Irish Tune from County Derry" exists in both piano and orchestral versions.

7. Popular Adaptations:

   • The melody of "Irish Tune from County Derry" has been widely adapted and used in various contexts. One of the most famous adaptations is "Danny Boy," a popular Irish ballad with lyrics written by Frederic Weatherly.

8. Grainger's Performance Preferences:

   • Grainger was known for his unconventional ideas about musical performance. He advocated for the use of free-swinging motions in conducting and experimented with "elastic scoring," allowing performers to adjust the orchestration dynamically during a performance.

Percy Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry" stands as a testament to his creative approach to arranging and composing, blending traditional folk elements with his own inventive style.