Lincolnshire Posy

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Lincolnshire Posy is a piece by Percy Grainger for concert band composed in 1937 for the American Bandmasters Association.[1] Considered Grainger's masterpiece, the 16-minute-long work is composed of six movements, each adapted from folk songs that Grainger had collected on a 1905–1906 trip to Lincolnshire, England.[2] The work debuted with three of the movements on March 7, 1937 by the Milwaukee Symphonic Band, a group composed of members from several bands including the Blatz Brewery and Pabst Blue Ribbon beer factory worker bands in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.




The piece is scored for piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn (ad libitum), 2 bassoons, contrabassoon (ad lib), E-flat clarinet, 3 B-flat clarinets, alto clarinet, bass clarinet, 6 saxophones (soprano, 2 altos, tenor, baritone and bass (ad lib)), 3 cornets or trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, baritone horn, euphonium, tuba, string bass, timpani, xylophone, glockenspiel, handbells, tubular bells (ad lib), snare drum, bass drum and cymbals.


I. "Lisbon"[edit]


II. "Horkstow Grange"[edit]


III. "Rufford Park Poachers"[edit]

Known as the most technically difficult setting, "Rufford Park Poachers" opens presenting an asymmetrical melody between B-flat clarinet and piccolo followed two eighth notes later by E-flat clarinet and bass clarinet. In the other version, the melody originates in the piccolo and alto clarinet and is followed in the oboe and bassoon.



IV. "The Brisk Young Sailor"[edit]



V. "Lord Melbourne"[edit]

A fierce and heavy war song, originally titled 'The Duke of Marlboro' that opens in free time, where the conductor motions for every beat in the first section (this portion tends to be memorized) and then moves into a trumpet solo followed by a heavy, repeating motif. This movement slides rapidly into different time signatures including unusual times such as "2.5/4" and "1.5/4" as well as having sections of "free time".

Many of the band members' range abilities are also tested in this movement, as the clarinets are forced to hit a high G, the flutes have to hit a high B, and on the final chord the top trumpet must hit a high C.

At the time of the work's premier, this movement was not performed because the professional wind band Grainger had chosen was unable to play the movement.

VI. "The Lost Lady Found"[edit]

A quick, jumpy, straight 3/4 melody with usual accompaniment patterns that is often conducted "in 1" rather than "in 3". This setting features a constantly repeating motif interrupted by one "bridge" section. Almost every section is featured with the melody in this fast paced finale.


  3. ^ "Untitled Document". Retrieved October 21, 2007. 

External links[edit]

Audio samples[edit]

University of North Texas College of Music Wind Symphony

  • Lincolnshire Posy
  1. Lisbon
  2. Horkstow Grange
  3. Rufford Park Poachers
  4. The Brisk Young Sailor
  5. Lord Melbourne
  6. The Lost Lady Found