Irish Tune from County Derry: British Folk Music Settings, No. 15 [Alf:36-A675390]

At the age of 19, Percy Aldridge Grainger (1882-1961) embarked on a career as a concert pianist, composer and folksong collector-arranger. It was in the last category that drew him to the tune he called IRISH TUNE FROM COUNTY DERRY, which he first arranged for wordless mixed chorus in 1902. The work proved very popular, and Grainger made several settings over the years that followed, with a version adapted for piano in 1911, and an orchestration for strings and two optional horns in 1913. This orchestral arrangement is now a popular standard in the repertoire.