Grainger: Winds In Hi-Fi

Dive into the rich and diverse musical landscape of Percy Grainger with "Grainger: Winds In Hi-Fi." This captivating album, released on January 1, 2000, under the Maestoso label, offers a unique blend of traditional and innovative compositions that showcase Grainger's distinctive style and genius. Spanning a duration of 50 minutes, the album is a testament to Grainger's ability to blend folk influences with classical structures, creating a sound that is both familiar and refreshingly original.

The album opens with the six-movement suite "Lincolnshire Posy," a vibrant collection of English folk melodies that Grainger masterfully arranges for wind instruments. Each movement, from the lively "Lisbon Bay" to the poignant "The Lost Lady Found," offers a glimpse into the musical heritage of Lincolnshire, England.

Following this, the "Three Japanese Dances" transport the listener to the Far East with their exotic rhythms and melodies. The suite "Suite Francaise" then takes you on a journey through the diverse regions of France, each movement evoking the unique character and landscape of its namesake region.

The album concludes with Grainger's "Serenade In E Flat Major, Op. 1 (Complete)," a charming and elegant piece that showcases his early compositional prowess. Throughout the album, Grainger's innovative use of wind instruments and his unique approach to arrangement and composition make "Grainger: Winds In Hi-Fi" a compelling and enjoyable listening experience.