Percy Grainger /

This welcome addition to an already distinguished body of literature on Grainger is remarkable for its strong focus on the composer's music. Unlike the outstanding biographies by John Bird (Percy Grainger, CH, Jun'77), Thomas Slattery (Percy Grainger: The Inveterate Innovator, 1974), and Eileen Dorum (Percy Grainger: The Man Behind the Music, CH, Oct'89) which dwell primarily on their subject's extraordinary and colorful life, Mellers's study views Grainger through his music. Therefore, for a well-rounded, thorough treatment of the composer's life with some discussion of the music, Bird and Slattery are necessary; for a strictly biographical account with more on Grainger's Australian background than the other works, Dorum is an excellent addition for libraries with strong music collections; for a detailed, analytical look at the music and an insightful assessment of Grainger's hard-to-classify contribution, Mellers is indispensable. In his analyses of specific compositions, Mellers penetrates to the heart of Grainger's contribution and demonstrates the powerful link between Grainger the man and his music. Highly recommended. General; undergraduate; graduate; faculty.