 Grainger was known for his musical experimentation and did not hesitate to exploit the capabilities of the orchestra . One early ambitious work was The Warriors ( 1913 ) , an 18 @-@ minute suite which he dedicated to Delius . The music , which mixes elements of other Grainger works with references to Arnold Bax , Arnold Schönberg and Richard Strauss , requires a huge orchestral ensemble alongside at least three pianos – in one performance , Grainger used nineteen pianos with thirty pianists – to be played by " exceptionally strong vigorous players " . Critics were undecided as to whether the work was " magnificent " , or merely " a magnificent failure " . 
