Both technically and lyrically demanding, Percy Grainger’s “Molly on the Shore” is one of the standards of wind band literature. Although originally composed for string quartet in 1907, the band arrangement (1920) of this jaunty Irish reel highlights the dexterity of the woodwind instruments, specifically the clarinet section. Concertmaster clarinetist Technical Sgt. Jeremy Klenke comments, “It’s an extremely challenging piece to play well as a clarinet section. Technique, intonation, matching style of articulation, rhythmic integrity, and most importantly having the endurance required to maintain these things throughout the entire four-minute piece are all extremely important.”

In this work, Grainger combined two differing fiddle tunes, “Molly on the Shore” and “Temple Hill”. These themes weave throughout the short work, creating a delightful musical conversation between the melody and countermelody. In his program notes, Grainger writes, “In setting Molly on the Shore I strove to imbue the accompanying parts that made up the harmonic texture with a melodic character not too unlike that of the underlying reel tune…Equally with melody, I prize discordant harmony, because of the emotional and compassionate sway it exerts.”

Please enjoy this selection from our "Elevating the Classics" series, which will be released in full at this year's Midwest Clinic.

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