Monday, July 8, 2024

July 8 - Percy Grainger; Benjamin Grosvenor (The Musical Birthday Series, 6th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for July 8th are found here: Steve Lawrence; Percy Grainger (2019), Raffi (2020), Billy Eckstine (2021), George Antheil (2022), and Beck and Percy Grainger (2023)

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Percy Grainger (8 July 1882 – 20 February 1961) was a pianist and composer chiefly remembered for his folk song arrangements.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just a Gigolo


"One evening, driving home to Queen’s House in a taxi from some party, she told me that if I didn’t become her lover she would do nothing more for me. I had no such inclination; on the other hand, I had nothing against [playing] the role of a male whore." – Grainger on his relationship with socialite Mrs. Lilith Lowrey


Lilith Lowrey could exchange her

  Patronage and social ins

For carnal pleasure with young Grainger,

  Who took in stride adulterous sins.


And Grainger, who thus gained advancement,

  Using youth and looks and such,

Admitted later this romance meant,

  In retrospect, not very much.


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Finicky


In 1924, Grainger became a vegetarian, although he hated vegetables; his diet comprised primarily dairy, pastry, fruit, and nuts. – Wikipedia


It may seem odd that he embraced

  A vegetarian dinner table,

Since Grainger couldn’t stand the taste

  Of vegetables, but was able


To eat enough to fill his guts

With dairy, pastry, fruits, and nuts.

 

 

 

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Benjamin Grosvenor (b. 8 July 1992) is a British classical pianist.

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Silently, How Silently 

English (of Norman origin): from French gros ‘big, great’ + veneur ‘hunter’. – familysearch.org

Americans would never guess 

That Grosvenor has a silent “s”.

Anomalies like this abound

Between the spelling and the sound

Of British names, although the mystery

Can usually be explained by history.

 

 

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