Grainger Gamelan
Recording
- Grainger Gamelan Listen
Notes
This original composition was created using the samples at the Grainger Library of Sampled Sound as part of a consultancy project undertaken for the Percy Grainger Society. It treats various samples and sounds of musical instruments at Grainger's house in White Plains as a potential gamelan orchestra (Grainger himself made some gamelan transcriptions) and imitates the style of Javanese traditional music. The sounds are not processed at all, apart from one of the Chinese Gongs which is dropped a couple of octaves to create the big gong sound. The main tune is played on piano and harmonium, accompanied by staff bells and right hand piano, with fast decoration on xylophone. Percussive sounds and interjections are provided by lighting and pieces of furniture. The piece opens with the sound of a tap running in the bathroom.