 The music writer Anthony Payne observes that Grieg's "airy texture and non-developing use of chromaticism showed [Delius] how to lighten the Wagnerian load".Early in his career Delius drew inspiration from Chopin, later from his own contemporaries Ravel and Richard Strauss, and from the much younger Percy Grainger, who first brought the tune of "Brigg Fair" to Delius's notice.According to Palmer, it is arguable that Delius gained his sense of direction as a composer from his French contemporary Claude Debussy.