Percy Aldridge Grainger, 1882-1961
Brought up in Melbourne, Australia, after completing his musical studies in Germany the composer made his living as a concert pianist and private teacher in London between 1901 and 1914. His song collecting work began in 1905 in Lincolnshire. The following year he began to make use of the Edison Phonograph to record folk songs – notably from the remarkable Lincolnshire singer Joseph Taylor. His enthusiastic use of this new technology distinguished him from all other early 20th century collectors in Britain. By 1910 he had collected songs in around a dozen counties, including five from Samuel Holdstock at Wittersham in August 1909. On that occasion he was accompanied by Mrs Edith Lyttleton, who lived at Wittersham, and had probably invited Grainger down specifically to hear Mr Holdstock sing.
Grainger and his mother went to America at the outbreak of war in 1914. He became an American citizen, and remained in the United States for the rest of his life.
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