Select Genre

Classical Music

Jazz and Blues

Nostalgia

Contemporary Instrumental

World Music

AudioBooks

Relaxation Music

Essentials

New Releases

Featured Label

Recently Added

Critics' Picks

Composers

Artists

Exclusive Samplers

Highlights

Audiophile Albums

Listening Guides

Lifestyle Compilations

200 Naxos Essentials

Featured Series

Most Downloaded

New Labels

Podcasts

Search Options

Music Browser

Advanced Search

Subscribe to our
Newsletter

Your feedback, please.
Please feel free to send your comments or suggestions to our Customer Service.

Classiscsonline Home » Composers » I » Ireland, John

John Ireland (1879 - 1962)

A pupil of Stanford at the Royal College of Music in London, John Ireland later taught composition at the Royal College, while earning his living for many years as an organist and choirmaster. His music belongs to the 20th-century English musical tradition, demonstrating some lyrical affinity with Elgar while admitting contemporary influences from abroad into a very personal idiom.

Orchestral Music

Ireland’s Piano Concerto and his Concertino pastorale for strings are notable works, with his once very popular A London Overture. Other orchestral music includes the prelude The Forgotten Rite and the symphonic rhapsody Mai-Dun. He provided a very competent score for the film The Overlanders.

Chamber Music

Ireland’s chamber music, well crafted as always, includes two violin sonatas, the second particularly worthy of attention, followed by a fine Cello Sonata. He left three piano trios and a Fantasy Sonata for clarinet and piano. His two string quartets are early works, the first written to persuade Stanford to accept him as a composition student at the Royal College.

Piano Music

Ireland wrote one Piano Sonata and a Sonatina, in addition to a large number of lyrical shorter pieces, many with characteristic titles. Among these The Holy Boy won continuing popularity, in various arrangements.

Organ Music

Organ music by Ireland includes a Capriccio and a Miniature Suite, among other pieces.

more....

Discography