Molly on the Shore

Percy Aldridge Grainger

Percy Aldridge Grainger (ed. R. Mark Rogers)

General Info

Year: 1907 / 1920 / 1998
Duration: c. 4:10
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: String Band
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $89.95   |   Score Only - $12.75

Instrumentation

Full Score
Condensed Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III (III doubling E-flat Soprano Clarinet)
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet/B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (doubling Contrabassoon)
E-flat Double Bass Sarrusophone
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
Special E-flat Alto Saxophone (doubling Soprano Saxophone)
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Celesta
Timpani
Percussion (4 players min.), including:

• Big Drum (Bass Drum)
• Crash Cymbals
• Glockenspiel
• Hammerwood (or Xylophone)
• Marimba
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Steel Marimba (or Vibraphone)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

In setting Molly on the Shore I strove to imbue the accompanying parts that made up the harmonic texture with a melodic character not too unlike that of the underlying reel tune. Melody seems to me to provide music with initiative, whereas rhythm appears to me to exert an enslaving influence. For that reason I have tried to avoid regular rhythmic domination in my music -- always excepting irregular rhythms, such as those of Gregorian chant, which seem to me to make for freedom. Equally with melody, I prize discordant harmony, because of the emotional and compassionate sway it exerts.

- Program Note by composer

Molly on the Shore receives frequent performances from high school and university ensembles, and it is certainly appropriate for a variety of concert programs. Although melodically straightforward, this brisk reel will provide several technical challenges, especially for younger players. For a successful performances, students must exhibit firm control over articulation and finger technique. Fast tonguing pervades the upper woodwind parts, and performers should approach the decorative triplet turns with care. Grainger's characteristically intricate tapestry of melodies and countermelodies is thoroughly enjoyed by audiences.

- Notes from Great Music for Wind Band

Based on two Cork Reel tunes, Molly on the Shore and Temple Hill, respectively, Molly on the Shore began as a string quartet and was later rescored by Grainger himself for full symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, and finally military band in 1920. In a 1959 letter to Frederick Fennell, Grainger wrote, “I strove to imbue the accompanying parts that made up the harmonic texture with a melodic character not too unlike that of the underlying reel tune ... Equally with melody, I prize discordant harmony, because of the emotional and compassionate sway it exerts.”

- Program Note from Kell High School Wind Ensemble concert program, 20 December 2017

Media

• Video: Chicago Wind Symphony (Michael McCain, conductor)
• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
• Audio CD Columbus State University Wind Ensemble (Robert Rumbelow, conductor)
• Audio CD London Wind Orchestra (Denis Wick, conductor)
• Audio CD Michigan State University Symphonic Band (Keith Brion, conductor)
• Audio CD Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra (Clark Rundell, conductor)
• Audio CD U.C.L.A. Wind Ensemble (James Westbrook, conductor)
• Audio CD University of Houston Wind Ensemble (Eddie Green, conductor)
• Audio CD University of Massachusetts Wind Ensemble (Malcolm Rowell, conductor)

State Ratings

• Alabama: Class A
• Arkansas: V
• California: V Class A
• Florida: V
• Georgia: V
• Massachusetts: V
• Michigan: AA
• Mississippi: IV-A, V-A, VI-A
• North Carolina: VI
• Oklahoma: V-A
• South Carolina: VI
• Texas: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Texas State University (San Marcos) Wind Symphony (Scott Coward, conductor) - 21 November 2025
• University of Oregon (Eugene) Wind Symphony (Shaina Natividad, conductor) - 24 October 2025
• United States Navy Band (Washington, D.C.) (Robert Coats, conductor) - 25 August 2025
• McKinney Community Band (Jeremy Kondrat, conductor) – 5 April 2025
• Ohlone Symphonic Band (Fremont, Calif.) (Tony Clements, conductor) - 23 March 2025
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Sarah McKoin, conductor) – 13 February 2025 (2025 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
• City High School (Iowa City, IA) Wind Ensemble (Mike Kowbel, conductor) - 11 May 2024 (Iowa Bandmasters Conference, Des Moines, IA)
• Spring Garden Band (York, PA) Jeffrey Shaull, conductor - 17 March 2024
• Stadacona Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (Halifax, N.S., Can.) (Brad Ritson, conductor) - 11 February 2024
• James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Concert Band (Amy Birdsong, conductor) - 30 October 2023
• San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (Jennifer Martin, conductor) – 30 April 2023
• Manhattan Wind Ensemble (New York City) (Sarah Fernandez, conductor) - 11 March 2023
• Texas Tech University (Lubbock, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Eric Allen, conductor) - 7 March 2023
• Broken Arrow (Okla.) High School Wind Ensemble (William Wakefield, conductor) - 1 March 2023 (88th Annual ABA National Convention)
• Chicago Wind Symphony (Chicago, Ill.) (Michael McCain, conductor) - 7 January 2023
• State University of New York, Fredonia, Symphonic Winds (Benjamin Kohn, conductor) - 10 November 2022
• Lamar University Wind Ensemble (Andrew McMahan, conductor) - 6 October 2022
• Oklahoma City (Okla) University Wind Philharmonic (Matthew Mailman, conductor) - 12 April 2022
• Carolina Forest High School (Myrtle Beach SC) Wind Ensemble (Mark Roddy, conductor) 22 March 2022
• Dallas (Tex.) Wind Symphony (Howard Dunn, conductor) - 18 August 1985 *Inaugural Concert*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• Irish Tune from County Derry (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Klarfeld) (1918/2014/2020)
• Molly on the Shore (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sheehan) (1920/2020)
• O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger; ed. Brand and Brion) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
• Prelude in the Dorian Mode (Flex instrumentation) (as scorer) (c.1550/1937-1941/1989)
• Shepherd's Hey (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Fisher) (1918/2020)
• Two Movements from "Lincolnshire Posy" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1937/2019)

All Wind Works

• Afterword (ed. Ould) (1910-11/1957)
• Angelus ad Virginem (as arranger) (13th Cent./1942/2007)
• The Annunciation Carol (Saxophone Choir) (tr. Grainger) (13th Cent./1942/1993)
• The Annunciation Carol. See also: Angelus ad Virginem
• Arrival Platform Humlet (arr. Eichenberger) (1912/)
• Arrival Platform Humlet (tr. Simpson) (1912/1916/1995)
• Arrival Platform Humlet (tr. Patterson). See: In a Nutshell
• Australian Up-Country Tune (arr. Bainum) (1930/1970)
• Bell Piece (ed. Duffy and Ould) (1935/1953/1991)
• Blithe Bells (1931)
• Blithe Bells (arr. Jager) (1931/1989)
• Blithe Bells (ed. Ould) (1931/2013)
• A Bridal Lullaby (arr. Hartley) (1916/)
• Brigg Fair (arr. Ballenger) (1905/1991)
• British Waterside (arr. Moss) (1921/)
• British Waterside (arr. Wilson) (1921/1998)
• Children's March (rev. Erickson) (1918/1971)
• Children's March (rev. Rogers) (1918/1995)
• Children's March (arr. Wagner) (1918/2000)
• Choral No 2 for Organ (as scorer; ed. Rogers) (1890/1941/20--?)
• Colonial Song (1911)
• Colonial Song (ed. Rogers) (1911/1997)
• Colonial Song (ed. Topolewski) (1911/2001)
• Colonial Song (arr. Wagner) (1911/2014)
• Country Gardens (1918/1950)
• Country Gardens (1918/1990)
• Country Gardens (arr. Clark) (1918/1931)
• Country Gardens (arr. Karrick) (1918/2013)
• Country Gardens (arr. Rogers) (1918/2024)
• Country Gardens (arr. Sousa, Brion and Schissel) (1918/1953)
• County Derry Air (ed. Ould)
• The Cutting of the Hay (arr. Wilson) (1908/1998)
• Danish Folk Music Suite (arr. Kreines) (1926-41/1950/)
  • Nightingale and the Two Sisters, The (1931/)
• Danny Deever (arr. Carpenter)
• Danny Deever (tr. Ragsdale). See: Three Tragic Ballads
• Died for Love (1912)
• Died for Love (arr. Conway) (1912/2011?)
• Down Longford Way & Shenandoah (as orchestrator; arr. Osmon) (1928/1935/1990)
• The Duke of Marlborough Fanfare (1939)
• The Duke of Marlborough Fanfare (ed. Hunsberger) (1939/2000)
• The Duke of Marlborough Fanfare (arr. Ragsdale) (1939/1995)
• Early One Morning (arr. Kreines). See: Two Grainger Melodies
• Eastern Intermezzo (arr. Warshaw) (1899/1922/)
• Faeroe Island Dance (1946/1954/1969)
• Father and Daughter. See: Three Tragic Ballads
• Folk Tune (as arranger) (1923/1942)
• Four Grainger Songs (arr. Svanoe) (2003)
• Gay but Wistful (tr. Patterson). See: In a Nutshell
• Gay but Wistful (arr. Rogers). See: Tune in a Popular London Style
• A Grainger Threesome (arr. Ragsdale) (2007)
• Green Bushes (tr. Pappajohn) (1906/2007)
• Green Bushes. See also: Themes from "Green Bushes"
• Gumsucker's March (arr. Rogers) (1914/1942/1996)
• Handel in the Strand (arr. Brion and Schissel) (1912/2001)
• Handel in the Strand (arr. Goldman) (1912/1961)
• Handel in the Strand (arr. Rohrer) (1912/2015)
• Harlem 125th Street Walkabout (arr. Hartley)
• Harvest Hymn (tr. Kreines) (1940/1983)
• Harvest Hymn (arr. Manville) (1940/1983)
• Hill Song No. 1 (1902)
• Hill Song No. 1 (adapt. Rogers) (1901/1922/1923/1997)
• Hill-Song Nr. 1 (trans. Clark) (1901/1922/1923/2019)
• Hill Song No. 2 (arr. Rogers) (1907/1929/1990)
• Horkstow Grange from "Lincolnshire Posy" (adapt. Sweeney) (1937/2008)
• The Hunter in His Career (arr. Robinson)
• The Immovable Do (1940)
• I'm Seventeen Come Sunday (tr. Daehn) (1905-12/1987)
• I'm Seventeen Come Sunday (arr. Wagner) (1905-12/1999)
• In a Nutshell (tr. Patterson) (1916/2011)
  • Arrival Platform Humlet (1916/2011)
  • Gay but Wistful (1916/2011)
• In Dahomey (arr. Miller) (1903-09/)
• Irish Tune (arr. Stotter) (1918/)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (1918)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (arr. Clark and Schmidt) (1918/2001)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (arr. Erickson) (1918/1970)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Klarfeld) (1918/2014/2020)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (arr. Kreines) (1918/1996)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (ed. Renshaw) (1918)
• Irish Tune from County Derry (ed. Rogers) (1918/1994)
• Irish Tune from County Derry/Shepherd's Hey (tr. Stamp) (1918/2021)
• The Jungle Book Suite (arr. Ragsdale) (2011)
• Jutish Medley (arr. Kreines) (1923-1929/)
• Lads of Wamphray March (1905/1941)
• Lads of Wamphray March (ed. Kreines) (1905/1937/2003)
• Lads of Wamphray Ballad (arr. Ragsdale) (1905/2018)
• Lincolnshire Posy (1937/1940)
• Lincolnshire Posy (ed. Fennell) (1937/1987/2010)
• Lincolnshire Posy (ed. Fennell; rev. Rogers) (1937/1987/2010/2020)
• Lincolnshire Posy (arr. Higgins) (1937/2008)
• Lincolnshire Posy (arr. Osika) (1937/)
• Lisbon from "Lincolnshire Posy" (adapt. Sweeney) (1937/2017)
• Lord Maxwell's Goodnight (orch. Wilson) (1904/)
• Lord Peter's Stable Boy (1925/1930)
• Lord Peter's Stable Boy (arr. Kreines)
• Lost Lady Found (arr. Sweeney) (1937/2011)
• March (as arranger) (1725/1946)
• Marching Song of Democracy (1917/1948/1991)
• Marching Song of Democracy (ed. Brion) (1917/1948/1991)
• Marching Tune (arr. Story) (2013)
• Melody from "Colonial Song" (arr. Patterson) (1911/2022)
• The Merry King (ed. Schissel) (1905/2006)
• Mock Morris (arr. Kreines) (1910/1991)
• Mock Morris (arr. Patterson) (1910/)
• Mock Morris (arr. Perna) (1910/2010/2016)
• Mock Morris (arr. Simpson) (2010/1993)
• Molly on the Shore (ed. Clark and Schmidt) (1907/1920/2002)
• Molly on the Shore (ed. Rogers) (1920/1998)
• Molly on the Shore (arr. Johnston) (1907/1920/2011)
• Molly on the Shore (tr. Ragsdale) (1907/1920/1978)
• My Dark-Haired Maid (ed. Ragsdale) (1899/2011)
• My Robin Is to the Greenwood Gone (arr. Strum) (1912/1999)
• Near Woodstock Town (arr. Cramer) (1903/2004)
• The Nightingale and the Two Sisters (arr. Kreines). See:Danish Folk Song Suite
• Northern March. See: Youthful Suite
• O Mensch, Bewein' Dein Sünde Gross (Flex instrumentation) (setting) (1724?/1937-1942/1987)
• Pagodes from "Estampes" (as arranger) (1903/1928/1996)
• A Percy Grainger Portrait (arr. Wagner) (2010)
• Percy Grainger Suite (arr. Kreines) (1983)
• A Percy Grainger Suite (arr. Erickson) (1996)
• The Power of Rome and the Christian Heart (1947/1953)
• Prelude in the Dorian Mode (Flex instrumentation) (as scorer) (c.1550/1937-1941/1989)
• Scotch Strathspey and Reel (arr. Osmon) (1901-1911/1982)
• Sehet was die liebe tut (as arranger) (1725/1937)
• Sheep Shearing Song (as arranger) (1904/1923/1942/2017)
• Shenandoah (arr. Osmon) (1907/1992)
• Shepherd's Hey (1918)
• Shepherd's Hey (arr. Clark) (1918/2001)
• Shepherd's Hey (ed. Rogers) (1918/1994)
• Shepherd's Hey (arr. De Stefano) (1918/2012)
• Shepherd's Hey (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Fisher) (1918/2020)
• Six Dukes Went A-Fishin'. See:Two Grainger Melodies
• Skye Boat Song (as arranger, with Stanhope) (1900/1922)
• Spoon River (1919-29/1940s)
• Spoon River (arr. Bainum) (1922/1967/2009)
• Spoon River (ed. Carson & Naylor) (1922/2010)
• Spoon River (arr. Sheldon) (1922/1999)
• Spoon River (arr. Story) (1922/2014)
• Suite from "Lincolnshire Posy" (arr. Vinson) (1937/1993)
• The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol (scored Goldman) (1916/1965)
• The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol (arr. Clark) (1916/1996)
• The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol (arr. Simpson) (1916/1988)
• The Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol (arr. Stotter) (1911/1916/2006)
• Themes from "Green Bushes" (arr. L. Daehn) (1906/1987)
• This is Not My Plaid (arr. Ragsdale) (1900/2014)
• The Three Ravens. see: Three Tragic Ballads
• Three Tragic Ballads (arr. Ragsdale) (1924, 1902, 1909/2016)
  • Danny Deever (1902/1909/2016)
  • The Three Ravens (1902/2000)
  • Father and Daughter (1902/2004)
• A Tribute to Grainger (arr. Ragsdale) (1999)
• Tune in a Popular London Style (arr. Kopetz) (1916/2004)
• Tune in a Popular London Style (arr. Rogers) (1916/2005)
• Tuscan Serenade (as arranger) (1865/1937/1994)
• Two Grainger Melodies (trans. Kreines) (1912/1988)
• Two Grainger Sweets - Harvest Hymn and Mock Morris (arr. Krienes)
• Two Movements from "Lincolnshire Posy" (arr. Ryan) (1937/2019)
• Two Movements from "Lincolnshire Posy" (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1937/2019)
• Walking Tune (Woodwind Quintet) (1900/1905/1912)
• Walking Tune (arr. Daehn) (1900/1940/1988)
• Walking Tune (arr. Kreines) (1900/1904/1940)
• Walking Tune (arr. Sheldon) (1900/1904/1940/2022)
• Walking Tune (arr. Simpson) (1900/)
• The Warriors (tr. Pappajohn) (1916/1998)
• We Have Fed Our Sea for a Thousand Years (1911)
• The Widow's Party (arr. Moon) (1923/1929/2011)
• The Widow's Party (arr. Osmon) (1923/1929/2009)
• Willow, Willow (orch. Simpson) (1911/1992)
• Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon (1903/1949)
• Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon (arr. Erickson) (1901/)
• Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon (arr. Ragsdale) (1901/1936/2008)
• Ye Banks and Braes O' Bonnie Doon (arr. Sweeney) (1901/1949/2006)
• Youthful Suite (tr. Rogers) (1899-1901/1950)
  • Northern March (1899-1901/2010)
  • Rustic Dance (1899-1901/1950/2010)
  • Eastern Intermezzo
  • English Waltz (1899-1901/1940-1947/1999)
• Zanzibar Boat Song (arr. Hazzard) (1902/2013)

Resources

• Fennell, Frederick. (1983) "Molly on the Shore by Percy Aldridge Grainger." The Instrumentalist 38 (October 1983): 24-29
• Goza, David. Molly on the Shore: A Conductor's Guide to a Minor Miracle
• Grainger, P.A. (ed. Rogers, R.M.) (1998). Molly on the shore [full score]. Southern Music Company: San Antonio, TX.
• Lourens, Alan. "Molly on the Shore. MBM Times, Issue 6 (2012), 59.
• Miles, Richard B. 2000. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Volume 3. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 389-393.
• Nicholson, Chad. (2009). Great Music for Wind Band: A Guide to the Top 100 Works in Grades IV, V, VI. Galesville, MD: Meredith Music Publications. pp 7-8.
• Shipes, Matthew. (2018) "Experts' Excerpts: Molly on the Shore by Percy Aldridge Grainger." ITEA Journal [International Tuba Euphonium Association] 45, no. 2 (Winter 2018): 52-55.