 Percy Aldridge Grainger ( 8 July 1882 – 20 February 1961 ) was an Australian @-@ born composer , arranger and pianist . 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 . He also made many adaptations of other composers ' works . 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 " . 
