Begun in 1905, Percy Grainger completed his Colonial Song (Sentimentals No. 1) as a yule gift to his mother in 1911. Originally composed for violin, cello & piano with two optional wordless singers, he rescored it in 1912 for solo piano (also as a yule-gift to mother) and later in its more famous version for military band in 1918, receving its public premier by the Edwin Franko Goldman Band with Grainger conducting in 1919. There is also a version for symphony orchestra.
 
Grainger writes "In this composition, the composer wished to express feelings aroused by the scenery of his native country, Australia." Colonial Song is one of the very few Grainger works that does not use folk music as its source material - it is an original composition. Expertly arranged here for large brass ensemble by Michael Allen.