Percy Grainger - Handel in the Strand

Dished up for 4 pianos 8 hands (2000)

Grainger achieved the first version of Handel in the Strand for piano and strings in 1912. The work was dished-up for 2 pianos, 4 hands in 1947. He also made a solo piano version in 1930, but shorter in length (80 bars instead of 110) and transposed it a fourth down (in D instead of G).

This version for 4 pianos 8 hands, made in 2000, is close to Grainger's 2 pianos version, the difficulties of this very demanding score being spread among the 8 hands of the four pianists. It was first performed during the Brussels Pianofolies in 2000 and was also played in 2001 and 2002 by 8 pianists on 8 pianos (each part being doubled).

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