Percy Brier - Case study of a complete musician in the pre-digital age

Abstract

Percy Brier (1885-1970) was certainly a 'complete musician in the pre-digital age'. As one of Queensland's most successful and productive musicians, he excelled in the diverse roles of solo pianist, chamber music collaborator, composer, teacher, conductor, adjudicator, examiner and organisational leader. This paper highlights various aspects of his long career spanning more than 60 years, and critiques his contributions with the assistance of recordings and excerpts from his writings. His legacy as a pioneering role model, which is now benefitting in part from the recent advances in digital technologies, will also be discussed.