"”Lovely Souris River is the title of a new work for
pianoforte and violin by Professor Alfred Grainger of Souris City. The
com¬position will appear next month".
This local news item from an 1888 Brandon Sun, is one of the rare
mentions of the mysterious itinerant music teacher who gave dozens of
Oakland children a grounding in music that they would not have had
otherwise.
Residents of the municipality say the eccentric "professor" was
tight-lipped about his past. He travelled from farm to farm with his
practice piano keyboard in the 1890's, then dis¬appeared, and was not
seen again until the 1920's and 1930's, whereupon he suddenly left
never to return. He also is remembered as having been "as English as
all get out", and for his remark that he had walked “as far as twice
around the world and from here to Winnipeg besides”.
A visit from the musician often entailed extra chores for the woman of
the household. He tended to arrive just in time for a meal, stayed
several days to a week, and, before moving on, usually left some
article of clothing to be washed and mended before his next visit. At
first he gave only piano lessons, but later taught the violin to boys
who wanted to play at community dances.
Professor Grainger was the organist in St. Paul's Church Wawanesa,
beginning when it was built in 1900. Prior to that time he played the
organ in St. John's Church, Rounthwaite, and saw service during the
incumbencies of seventeen Rectors, three Arch¬bishops, and one Bishop.
Apart from his duties as a music teacher both of the piano and violin
he has written several anthems and songs of real merit.
In his 77th year he went back to England for the first time since he
left as a young man of twenty-nine.
Adapted from Sipiweski, page 194
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