Percy Aldridge Grainger (born George Percy Grainger: 8 July 1882 – 20 February 1961 was an Australian-born composer, arranger and pianist who lived in the United States from 1914 and became an American citizen in 1918.

In the course of a long and innovative career he played a prominent role in the revival of interest in British folk music in the early years of the 20th century. Although much of his work was experimental and unusual, the piece with which he is most generally associated is his piano arrangement of the folk-dance tune ‘Country Gardens.

After fulfilling a hectic schedule of concert engagements in Britain and continental Europe, in August 1908 Grainger accompanied Ada Crossley on a second Australasian tour, during which he added several cylinders of Maori and Polynesian music to his collection of recordings.

He had resolved to establish himself as a top-ranking pianist before promoting himself as a composer, though he continued to compose both original works and folk-song settings. Some of his most successful and most characteristic pieces, such as ‘Mock Morris’ ‘Handel in the Strand’, ‘Shepherd's Hey’ and ‘’ date from this period.

On this week’s show the first half is centred on Light Music and ‘Shepherd Hey’ is on our programme.