ArchivesSpace at the University of Iowa

Scope and Contents The Sackner Archive holds Grainger's "Tips" a book that was published by Coracle press in 1981. George Percy Grainger (8 July 1882 "“ 20 February 1961), known as Percy Grainger, was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist. In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. He also made many adaptations of other composers' works. Although much of his work was experimental and unusual, the piece with which he is most generally associated is his piano arrangement of the folk-dance tune "Country Gardens." Grainger's attempts to produce "free music" by mechanical and later electronic means, which he considered his most important work, produced no follow-up; they were quickly overtaken and nullified by new technological advances. This card depicts one of those machines. Covell nevertheless remarks that in this endeavour, Grainger's dogged resourcefulness and ingenious...