Children's March: Over the Hills and Far Away

Children's March: Over the Hills and Far Away was written by Percy Grainger as his first original work for band.^[1]

It was originally written between 1916 and 1918 as a piano showpiece for World War I relief efforts.^[2] However, after enlisting as a bandsman in the United States Army, he quickly orchestrated it for the 15th Coast Artillery Band stationed at Fort Hamilton. However, Grainger was discharged in January 1919 before he had a chance to play the piece with the band. The premiere of the piece occurred 6 June 1919 at Columbia University with the Goldman Band, Ralph Leopold on the piano, and Grainger conducting.^[3] An arrangement by Grainger for two pianos was later published in 1920 after a performance by Leopold and Grainger for the Red Cross on 2 December 1919.^[4]

The title is a reference to Over the Hills and Far Away by Frederick Delius, who was a close friend of Grainger.^[5]