Percy Grainger Piano Mini-Festival

World-famous Australian-born composer and pianist Percy Grainger (1882-1961) lived in White Plains for the last 40 years of his life. His home at 7 Cromwell Place is a landmark recognized by both the White Plains Historic Preservation Commission and the National Register of Historic Places. For this special event at the White Plains Library, rare 1943 and 1957 archival film footage of Percy Grainger playing the piano will be shown, and rare audio recordings of his speaking will also be played. There will be live performances of Grainger’s music by violist Vincent Lionti and pianists Juliana Han and Yoni Levyatov. The program will include such works as Grainger’s Sussex Mummers’ Christmas Carol, Handel in the Strand, Youthful Rapture, and Shepherd’s Hey, as well as Grainger’s piano arrangements of works by Gabriel Fauré and John Dowland. Remarks about Percy Grainger and the music will be delivered by Mark N. Grant, noted composer and author and Vice-President of the International Percy Grainger Society, and Mr. Lionti, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violist, musical director of the Downtown Sinfonietta at Grace Church, and Grainger Board member.

Coffee and tea will be served.