Spoon River

Percy Grainger (arranged by Robert Sheldon)

Background Information
Started as a piano work,
composed by Grainger
Multiple wind band arrangements
of the piece
The most popular/commonly
performed version is by William
Carson
This version is by Robert Sheldon
More true to the original tune
Maintains same harmonic structure
with the exception of the ending.

History
Tribute to Edgar Lee Masters
Collection of poems called Spoon
River Anthology.
Published in 1915

Original folk tune transcribed first by

Charles Robinson.
Originally performed on the fiddle (no
lyrics).
Spoon River composed in 1922, by
Grainger after reading a note written
by Masters.
Original Tune not called Spoon River.
Unclear how Grainger
discovered melody
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?
curid=20162956
http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/5/52/
IMSLP105095-PMLP214610-Grainger--Spoon-River-Piano-Solo.pdf

History Continued

History Continued
Originally heard near
Bradford, IL in 1857
(not by Grainger).
Originally performed
on the fiddle (no
lyrics).
Coopers Defeat Creek

 Actual Spoon River only six miles away.

Spoon River

r
Riv
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o is
Illin

Peoria, IL

i
Ill

s
oi

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iv

Structure and Form

The piece follows a
repeated binary form.
The original tune was
comprised of two melodies,
each only eight measures
long.
In Graingers adaptation,
the two melodies repeat
through the entire, without
alteration.
The only changes are
dynamics, articulations, and

http://javanese.imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/5/52/
IMSLP105095-PMLP214610-Grainger--Spoon-River-Piano-Solo.pdf

Structure and Form Continued

Sheldon maintains this
concept, but with several
instruments to pass
around the melody
and it shows up in a lot
of instruments.

http://www.barnhouse.com/~barnhous/samples/pdf
/012-2970-00.pdf

Important Musical Concepts

The melody rarely occurs in more
than one instrument at a time.
Students will have to listen
throughout the ensemble and
identify who has the melody.

The melody never changes, but

everything else does.
Despite persistent tempo, time
signature, and key signature,
each section is very different.
This is achieved through reharmonization and style changes.

Musical Concepts Continued

Dynamic contrast is very
important to the structure of
this piece.
Students should be able to
structure the piece in a way
that builds to the climax.

Stylistically, this piece should

mimic the original style of
the folk transcription, by
Grainger.
Students can research other
folk music comparable to this

Its chart time

Categor A. M1-19
y

B. M20-35

C. M36-51

D. M5267

E. 68-84

F. M85End

Where
is the
melody/
theme?

A- Baritone,
English Horn
B- Woodwinds

ATrumpet/Tuba
BTrumpet/Flute/
Piccolo

A- Woodwinds
B- Brass

APiccolo/Oboe
BFlute/Piccolo/
oboe/
trumpet

A- Trumpet, WW,
B- Trumpet
(occasional WW)

Passes
through score

Harmon
ic
Structu
re

Thin, dissonant
cadences,
Impressionistic

Thinly
orchestrated

Consonant,
StandardWestern
Harmony

Piano
arpeggios

Consonant,
StandardWestern
Harmony

Everything

Dynami
c

pp, mf

mf, f

ff, ff

pp

ff

mp-fff

Style

light

Light,
separated

A. Light,
growing
B. Bigger,
heavier

Legato piano.
Melody still
separated

Climactic

Growing