'I ought to tell you something about the odd jobs... I was invited around to Percy and Ella's place in White Plains one evening, and it turned out to be a kind of party. There were two or three dozen people there, they were talking and chatting, and this was a rather strange thing because Percy was not the party-giving kind. But about halfway through this occasion everything was made clear.
Percy arrived with an armful of steel marimba bars and mallets, and started passing them out. He must have had ten or a dozen single bars of different pitches distributed among the group. Then he said: "Now, somebody here will say 'one, two, three, hit!' and you will all strike the marimba bars with your mallets. But first let me go up the stairs into the top of the house." There he could get a proper sonic perspective. Someone said 'one, two, three, hit!' and we all struck our marimba bars – and a most tremendous chord swelled out! Filled the house, surged out of the house – filled White Plains for all I know. Percy came leaping down the stairs, two or three at a time, and said: "Now, you take this bar, you take this one, play a little more softly over here, you play louder". He rearranged the whole thing. Up he went again, one, two, three, bang!, another giant chord! So that explained that pseudo-social occasion.' [Burnett Cross, on collaborating with Percy Grainger, NMA 7 magazine (1989)]
Join us for the inaugural event of our three-part series, Sanctuary, Shelter: Exploring the Percy Grainger Home & Studio, where you’ll hear about our recent effort to honor Percy's spirit of innovation with sound, via the Grainger Library of Sampled Sound. As you may recall, this project began several years ago, and is now being updated and extended in further directions.
The discussion will be led by Curt Ebersole, one of our most active house tour guides, and Conductor and Music Director of the Westchester Symphonic Winds since 2008. He will share some of his experiences with visitors, introducing us to recent updates in the house, and sharing fascinating anecdotes and insights along the way.
Board member emeritus, and originator of GLOSS, Mathew McGarrell, Director of Bands Emeritus at Brown University, will introduce the GLOSS program, talk about its early years and the vision behind this groundbreaking initiative.
Prepare to be captivated by Professor Andrew Hugill’s presentation, showcasing exciting updates to the GLOSS. This unique resource is a treasure trove for musicians and sound enthusiasts, and its new additions will make it easier and more accessible.
As part of the GLOSS evaluation, Andrew Hugill has made several sample compositions using material from GLOSS. They can be accessed, together with short descriptions, at the link below.
https://andrewhugill.com/music/GLOSSworks.html
The event also features an interactive demonstration of GLOSS program features, allowing attendees to explore this innovative technology on their own devices. A Q&A session with Curt, Matt, and Andrew will provide you with the opportunity to delve deeper into the topics that inspire you.
As we wrap up, we’ll invite your feedback through a follow-up survey, ensuring that we continuously improve our programs. Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with your passion for music and art. Join us at the Percy Grainger Home and Studio – your own sanctuary for creativity, learning, and inspiration. Stay tuned for upcoming events in this remarkable series!