Grainger and Gershwin: A Meeting of Musical Minds

Hoff-Barthelson Music School is less than two miles from the Percy Grainger Home & Studio. The well-known music school began in 1944, in the latter part of Grainger’s life. Still, Percy himself would have been very much in sync with it’s mission of private lessons, ensemble programs, musicianship classes, and performance opportunities. On April 11, at 7:30 PM, the HB Artist Series is presenting a concert that features George Gershwin, including Percy Grainger’s Porgy and Bess Fantasy and The Man I Love. The program will also include works by Poulenc, Milhaud, and Boccherini.

This arrangement highlights Grainger’s unique ability to bridge classical and popular traditions, while showcasing the talents of Hoff-Barthelson faculty pianists Tomoko Uchino and Katsura Tanikawa.

Percy Grainger was a man of many talents and interests. From Free Music to wind band and orchestral compositions, when something caught his interest, he pursued it with deep interest and an explorer’s mind. So it was when he heard the music of George Gershwin. Below, we explore Grainger’s fascination with Gershwin’s music and the artists who are still bringing these arrangements to life.

Grainger’s Interest in Gershwin's Work

Percy Grainger’s 1944 solo piano arrangement of The Man I Love exemplifies his reverence for George Gershwin’s genius. Originally written in 1924 for the musical Lady, Be Good, the song was cut from the show but later became a jazz standard. Grainger’s transcription retains Gershwin’s lush harmonies while enhancing the piano texture with arpeggiated flourishes, doubled countermelodies, and a brief introductory section borrowed from the vocal score. His edits reflect a meticulous approach—subtle yet impactful—aimed at maximizing the piano’s expressive range. Notably, Grainger drew parallels between Gershwin’s melancholic theme and Edvard Grieg’s Violin Sonata in C Minor, a comparison underscoring his belief in Gershwin’s place within the classical canon.

Grainger’s affinity for Gershwin extended beyond solo works. In 1951, he composed the Porgy and Bess Fantasy for Two Pianos, a virtuosic medley premiered at New York’s Town Hall. Collaborator W. Norman Grayson recalled Grainger’s iterative creative process, revising the piece based on rehearsal recordings and feedback until it achieved its final form. This dedication to refinement mirrored Gershwin’s own compositional rigor, cementing a mutual respect between the two innovators. There is a recording of the 1951 rehearsal here.

The Arrangement is Facinating for Today’s Performers

“I was looking for two piano/four hands arrangements of Gershin’s works,” noted piano faculty member Tomoko Uchino, “when I found the Grainger arrangement. I have long been interested in the intersection of jazz and classical music, and this arrangement seemed so interesting.” Dr. Uchino noted that she visited the Percy Grainger Home & Studio years ago and was aware of Grainger’s long-time residence in the New York City area. She is looking forward to starting rehearsals for the concert in a few weeks.

We are so pleased to have our faculty perform this selection, we are thrilled to have two New York-based colleagues like George Gershwin and Percy Grainger represented in our Artist Series this year,” says Christopher Kenniff, Dean, Hoff-Barthelson Music School. The HB Artist Series features the exceptional talents of Hoff-Barthelson’s distinguished faculty. The concerts offer riveting music-making in an intimate setting at affordable prices, showcasing Hoff-Barthelson’s commitment to excellence in music education and performance in Westchester County.

This concert not only honors Grainger’s legacy but also underscores the timeless appeal of Gershwin’s melodies, reimagined through the lens of a 20th-century visionary.

Hoff Barthelson Faculty to Perform

Among the performers at the April 11 HB Artist series are pianist Tomoke Uchino and Katsura Tanikawa, who will be presenting the Gershwin arrangement.

Tomoko Uchino, Coordinator of HBMS’s Piano Ensemble program, brings decades of collaborative expertise. A top prizewinner at the Ettlingen International Piano Competition and Takahiro Sonoda Piano Award, she holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Peabody Conservatory, and Juilliard. Her career spans performances across the U.S., Europe, and Asia, alongside roles at festivals like Aspen and Heifetz International Music Institute

Katsura Tanikawa, a Juilliard and Yale-trained pianist, has graced stages at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and Prague’s Villa Bertramka. Critics laud her “vibrant and thoughtful” interpretations, showcased in solo recitals and collaborations with ensembles like the Vienna Philharmonic Wind Ensemble. Her discography includes acclaimed recordings of Liszt and Beethoven, reflecting her versatility across genres.

Together, Uchino and Tanikawa embody Hoff-Barthelson’s commitment to artistic excellence, making them ideal interpreters of Grainger’s intricate, dialogue-driven two-piano works.

The Percy Grainger Home & Studio

Percy Grainger Home and Studio is a historic home located at White Plains, Westchester County, New York. It was built in 1893 and is a two-story, three-bay-wide dwelling with a pyramidal hipped roof in the American Foursquare style. It was the home of musician Percy Grainger from 1921 to his death in 1961. It is owned and managed by the Percy Grainger Society.