Today is Percy Grainger’s birthday. I played a lot of his music back in high school and college, when I was in a wind ensemble (we used to call them bands, but that doesn’t sound nearly as good, right?). It was, well, I suppose charming might describe some of it. Innocent in a way.

He was one … um … interesting guy.

I used to think the way a musician played, or the music a composer composed, would be congruent with the person. I’ve learned that is not always the case.

Anyway … just a snippet for you: