The Percy Grainger Society is proud to announce Carthage College’s virtual concert: Elastic Scoring and Tuneful Percussion.
This event, conducted by Professor James Ripley—Life Member of the Percy Grainger Society—offers a unique and illuminating journey into Grainger’s ground-breaking work for percussion ensemble, demonstrating innovation that predates many better-known milestones in the field.
While Edgard Varèse’s Ionisation (1929–1931) is frequently credited as the first percussion ensemble composition, Grainger’s 1928 setting of Debussy’s Pagodes provides compelling evidence of his pioneering spirit. The program also celebrates Grainger’s originality and highlights the influence of gamelan sonorities and non-Western traditions that inspired his work.
Program Highlights
Arrival Platform Humlet
Eastern Intermezzo
Ravel’s Valley of the Bells
Gamelan Anklung
Blithe Bells
Sekar Gadung
Bahariyale V. Palaniyandi
(with flute replacing the vocal solo, as a bit of elastic scoring)
The concert will showcase historic Deagan percussion instruments—chimes, vibraharp, steel marimba, xylophone, and the remarkable Nabimba—offering a once-in-a-generation chance to hear this repertoire as Grainger envisioned it. Also featured in the concert will be several selections from Grainger's Chosen Gems for Winds, performed by members of the Carthage College Concert Band.
Event Details
The performance will be livestreamed from Carthage College’s Chicago-area performance space, utilizing the full range of historic instruments. Select segments will include the living instruments virtual site at the Grainger Museum.
As Prof. Ripley states, “Whether breathing new life into Grainger’s visionary
scoring or exploring the astonishing tones of rare percussion, our goal is to reveal the imaginative reach that made Grainger’s music so extraordinary and enduring.”
“We are delighted to announce this concert,” noted Dr. Paul Jackson, President of the Percy Grainger Society. “While distance keeps me from attending in person, I am there in spirit, and I am absolutely certain the audience will enjoy this event.”
This event is an invaluable opportunity to experience rarely performed works, rediscover Grainger as a visionary in percussion writing, and enjoy the distinctive voices of instruments that shaped early 20th-century musical experimentation.