Walking Tune by Grainger arr. Brian Monroe

Walking Tune is based on a short melody which Australian-born and American composer Percy Grainger (1882-1961) hummed to himself on a three-day journey tramping through the Scottish Highlands in 1900. Walking Tune was scored for various groups of instruments over the years including solo piano. This orchestration is based on two of his arrangements: one for “wind five-some” (woodwind quintet) which he scored for flute, oboe, clarinet, french horn and bassoon, and the second for solo piano. Both were scored and published in 1905. Even in the early 1900’s, Grainger was a strong proponent of “tuneful percussion” and used many Deagan instruments (no longer produced) such staff bells, song bells, steel marimba, crystal glasses, and the Nabimba in his compositions. This version has been orchestrated for the modern percussion ensemble keeping in mind how Grainger scored his “tuneful percussion.”