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John Ireland
Person · male · United Kingdom · Bowdon · born 1879 · died 1962 · recording since 1989
British composer and teacher of music (1879-1962)
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Also known as 约翰·艾尔兰
Timeline
30 events▣ Album 26◦ Birth 1✦ Award 1† Death 1★ Debut release 1
1870s
1930s
1960s
1980s
· Debut release
Debut release: A London Symphony
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1990s
· Album
Album: Chamber Works: Violin Sonatas 1 & 2 / Cello Sonata / Piano Trios 2 & 3 / Fantasy Sonata
Album
source: musicbrainz
· Album
Album: A Downland Suite / Concertino Pastorale / Two Symphonic Studies / Orchestral Poem
Album
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
· Album
Album: Music for String Orchestra: Sonata in G minor / A Downland Suite / In a May Morning
Album
source: musicbrainz
2020s
Biography
English biography1,229 words · 5 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1372400907
Biography
John Nicholson Ireland (13 August 1879 – 12 June 1962) was an English composer and teacher of music. The majority of his output consists of piano miniatures and of songs with piano. His best-known works include the short instrumental or orchestral work "The Holy Boy", a setting of the poem "Sea-Fever" by John Masefield, a formerly much-played Piano Concerto, the hymn tune Love Unknown and the choral motet "Greater Love Hath No Man
Greater Love Hath No ManSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Vexilla Regis12:032Greater Love Hath No Man6:593These Things Shall Be22:204A London Overture13:445The Holy Boy2:496Epic March9:15".
Life
John Nicholson Ireland was born on 13 August 1879 in Bowdon, near Altrincham, Cheshire, into a family of English and Scottish descent and some cultural distinction. His father, Alexander Ireland, a publisher and newspaper proprietor, was aged 69 at John's birth. John was the youngest of the five children from Alexander's second marriage (his first wife had died). His mother, Annie Elizabeth Nicholson Ireland, was a biographer and 30 years younger than Alexander. She died in October 1893, when John was 14, and Alexander died the following year, when John was 15.
Ireland entered the Royal College of Music in 1893, studying piano with Frederic Cliffe, and organ, his second study, under Walter Parratt. From 1897 he studied composition under Charles Villiers Stanford. In 1896 Ireland was appointed sub-organist at Holy Trinity, Sloane Street, London SW1, and later, from 1904 until 1926, was organist and choirmaster at St Luke's Church, Chelsea.
Ireland began to make his name in the early 1900s as a composer of songs and chamber music. His Violin Sonata No. 1 of 1909 won first prize in the Cobbett Competition. Even more successful was his Violin Sonata No. 2: completed in January 1917, he submitted this to a competition organised to assist musicians in wartime. The jury included the violinist Albert Sammons and the pianist William Murdoch, who together gave the work its first performance at Aeolian Hall in New Bond Street on 6 March that year. As Ireland recalled, "It was probably the first and only occasion when a British composer was lifted from relative obscurity in a single night by a work cast in a chamber-music medium." The work was enthusiastically reviewed, and the publisher Winthrop Rogers offered immediate publication (the first edition was sold out even before it had been processed by the printers). A subsequent performance of the Violin Sonata by Ireland and the violinist Désiré Defauw drew a packed audience to the Wigmore Hall in London.
Ireland frequently visited the Channel Islands and was inspired by the landscape and the ambience. In 1912 he composed the piano piece The Island Spell (the first of the three pieces in his set Decorations) while staying in Jersey, and his set of three pieces for piano Sarnia: An Island Sequence was written while living in Guernsey in 1939 to 1940. He returned from Guernsey to Britain in 1940 just before the German invasion of the Channel Islands during World War II.
From 1923 he taught at the Royal College of Music. His pupils there included Richard Arnell, Ernest John Moeran, Benjamin Britten (who later described Ireland as possessing "a strong personality but a weak character"), the composer Alan Bush, Geoffrey Bush (no relation to Alan), who subsequently edited or arranged many of Ireland's works for publication, Anthony Bernard and Percy Turnbull (who became a lifelong friend).
Ireland was a lifelong bachelor, except for a brief interlude when, in quick succession, he married, separated, and divorced. On 17 December 1926, aged 47, he married a 17-year old pupil, Dorothy Phillips. This marriage was dissolved on 18 September 1928, and it is believed not to have been consummated. He took a similar interest in another young student, Helen Perkin, a pianist and composer, to whom he dedicated both the Piano Concerto in E-flat major and the Legend for piano and orchestra (which began life as a second concerto). She gave the premiere performance of both works, but any thoughts he had for a deeper relationship with her came to nothing when she married George Mountford Adie, a disciple of George Gurdjieff, and she later moved with Adie to Australia. Subsequently, Ireland withdrew the dedications. In 1947 Ireland acquired a personal assistant and companion, a woman named Norah Kirkby, who remained with him until his death. Despite these associations with women, it is clear from his private papers that he was a closeted homosexual; several commentators support this view.
On 10 September 1949, his 70th birthday was celebrated in a special Prom concert, at which his Piano Concerto was played by Eileen Joyce, who was also the first pianist to record the concerto, in 1942.
Ireland retired in 1953, settling in the hamlet of Rock in Sussex, where he lived in a converted windmill, Rock Mill, Washington, for the rest of his life. It was there he met the young pianist Alan Rowlands, who would be Ireland's choice to record his complete piano music.
Ireland died of heart failure on 12 June 1962 at Rock Mill. He was 82. He is buried at St Mary's Church in Shipley, near his home. His epitaph reads "Many waters cannot quench love" and "One of God's noblest works lies here."
Music
From Charles Villiers Stanford, Ireland inherited a thorough knowledge of the music of Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms and other German classical composers, but as a young man he was also strongly influenced by Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel as well as by the earlier works of Igor Stravinsky and Béla Bartók. From these influences, he developed his own brand of "English Impressionism", related more closely to French and Russian models than to the folk-song style then prevailing in English music.
Like most other Impressionist composers, Ireland favoured small forms and wrote neither symphonies nor operas, although his Piano Concerto is considered among the best composed by an Englishman. His output includes some chamber music and a substantial body of piano works, including his best-known piece The Holy Boy, known in numerous arrangements. He wrote songs to poems by A. E. Housman, Thomas Hardy, Christina Rossetti, John Masefield, Rupert Brooke and others. Due to his job at St Luke's Church, he also wrote hymns, carols, and other sacred choral music; among choirs he is probably best known for the anthem Greater love hath no man, often sung in services that commemorate the victims of war. The hymn tune Love Unknown is sung in churches throughout the English-speaking world, as is his Communion Service in C major.
His works have been recorded and performed by the choir of Westminster Abbey, the choir of Wells Cathedral and many others.
He appears as pianist in a recording of his Fantasy-Sonata for Clarinet and Piano with Frederick Thurston, his Cello Sonata (1923) with cellist Antoni Sala and his Violin Sonata No. 1 (1909) with Frederick Grinke, who performed and recorded several of his chamber works. His Piano Sonatina (1926–27) and a number from his cycle Songs Sacred and Profane (1929) were dedicated to his friend the conductor and BBC music producer Edward Clark.
Ireland wrote his only film score for the 1946 Australian film The Overlanders, from which an orchestral suite was extracted posthumously by Charles Mackerras. Some of his pieces, such as the popular A Downland Suite and Themes from Julius Caesar, were completed or re-transcribed after his death by his student Geoffrey Bush.
Piano and orchestra
Legend (1933)
Piano Concerto in E-flat major (1930)
Other (unclassified)
Brooks Equinox
Elegiac Meditation
Scherzo & Cortege (1942)
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 24 | 85.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 31 | 90.7th |
| Studio albums | 26 | 97.7th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 30 | 96.8th |
| Recording span (years) | -27 | 7.7th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (31 release groups · 26 studio albums)
Albums · 26
1992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:10:40
1Decorations: I. The Island Spell: Allegretto4:122Decorations: II. Moonglade: Poco lento3:273Decorations: III. The Scarlet Ceremonies: Con moto3:014The Almond Tree: Allegretto3:345Preludes: I. The Undertone: Poco sostenuto4:306Preludes: II. Obsession: Allegretto con moto2:357Preludes: III. The Holy Boy: Andante tranquillo2:478Preludes: IV. Fire of Spring: Animato1:599Rhapsody: Allegro risoluto8:1710The Towing-Path: Allegretto sostenuto3:4911Merry Andrew: Con moto ma non troppo allegro3:0112Summer Evening: Andantino4:4313Piano Sonata in E minor: I. Allegro moderato6:3014Piano Sonata in E minor: II. Non troppo lento10:5815Piano Sonata in E minor: III. Con moto moderato7:171993 · studio album
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Tracklist · 20 tracks · 1:10:50
1In Those Days: I. Daydream3:522In Those Days: II. Meridian3:573London Pieces: I. Chelsea Reach6:504London Pieces: II. Ragamuffin2:235London Pieces: III. Soho Forenoons3:066Leaves From a Child’s Sketchbook: I. By the Mere1:197Leaves From a Child’s Sketchbook: II. In the Meadow1:308Leaves From a Child’s Sketchbook: III. The Hunt’s Up0:599The Darkened Valley4:0310Two Pieces: I. For Rememberance3:4411Two Pieces: II. Amberley Wild Brooks3:1912Equinox2:2213Sonatina: I. Moderato4:1114Sonatina: II. Quasi lento3:3015Sonatina: III. Rondo: Ritmico, non troppo allegro2:2616Prelude in E-flat5:1517Ballade9:2318Greenways: I. The Cherry Tree2:4119Greenways: II. Cypress3:0620Greenways: III. The Palm and May2:541994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:13:38
1A Sea Idyll: Poco andante4:022On a Birthday Morning3:163Soliloquy3:214Two Pieces: I. April4:425Two Pieces: II. Bergomask3:216Spring Will not Wait4:187Two Pieces: I. February’s Child4:548Two Pieces: II. Aubade3:009Ballade of London Nights7:2710Month’s Mind4:1011Three Pastels: I. A Grecian Lad2:5512Three Pastels: II. The Boy Bishop4:2813Three Pastels: III. Puck’s Birthday1:3814Columbine3:4415Sarnia: I. Le Catioroc7:3016Sarnia: II. In a May Morning4:1117Sarnia: III. Song of the Springtides6:41Chamber Works: Violin Sonatas 1 & 2 / Cello Sonata / Piano Trios 2 & 3 / Fantasy Sonata
1995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 2:27:26
Disc 11Violin Sonata no. 1 in D minor: I. Allegro leggiadro13:232Violin Sonata no. 1 in D minor: II. Romance11:203Violin Sonata no. 1 in D minor: III. Rondo6:194Violin Sonata no. 2 in A minor: I. Allegro10:315Violin Sonata no. 2 in A minor: II. Poco lento quasi adagio11:576Violin Sonata no. 2 in A minor: III. In tempo moderato7:097Fantasy Sonata for Clarinet and Piano in E-flat12:54Disc 21Cello Sonata in G minor: I. Moderato e sostenuo9:342Cello Sonata in G minor: II. Poco largamente6:233Cello Sonata in G minor: III. Con moto e marcato5:084The Holy Boy for cello and piano2:445Phantasie Trio in A minor11:146Trio no. 2 in E major13:297Trio no. 3 in E major: I. Allegro moderato8:238Trio no. 3 in E major: II. Scherzo: Vivace3:579Trio no. 3 in E major: III. Andante cantabile8:2510Trio no. 3 in E major: IV. Finale: Con moto4:36A Downland Suite / Concertino Pastorale / Two Symphonic Studies / Orchestral Poem
1995 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:03:36
1A Downland Suite: I. Prelude. Allegro energico4:192A Downland Suite: II. Elegy. Lento espressivo6:043A Downland Suite: III. Minuet. Allegretto grazioso4:214A Downland Suite: IV. Rondo. Poco allegro3:395Orchestral Poem13:366Concertino Pastorale: I. Eclogue. Sostenuto9:177Concertino Pastorale: II. Threnody. Lento espressivo6:088Concertino Pastorale: III. Toccata. Allegro molto ma non troppo presto4:339Two Symphonic Studies: I. Fugue. Pesante6:3510Two Symphonic Studies: II. Toccata. Lento5:04The Complete Music for Violin and Piano
1996 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:05:09
1Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor: I. Allegro leggiadro11:492Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor: II. Romance: In tempo sostenuto, quasi adagio10:133Violin Sonata No. 1 in D minor: III. Rondo: Allegro sciolto assai6:014Berceuse3:235Cavatina2:256Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor: I. Allegro9:137Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor: II. Poco lento quasi adagio9:328Violin Sonata No. 2 in A minor: III. In tempo moderato - Con brio6:449Bagatelle2:3210The Holy Boy3:171997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 59:41
1In Those Days: I. Daydream3:582In Those Days: II. Meridian3:143Sarnia: I. Le Catioroc7:464Sarnia: II. In a May morning5:245Sarnia: III. Songs of the Spring Tides6:236Prelude in E flat5:257London Pieces: I. Chelsea Reach6:078London Pieces: II. Ragamuffin1:589London Pieces: III. Soho Forenoons2:3810London Pieces: IV. Month's Mind4:0111Ballade9:2712Columbine3:201999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 21 tracks · 1:09:04
1Merry Andrew2:492The Towing Path3:403Rhapsody7:314Two Pieces: April3:565Two Pieces: Bergomask3:046Decorations: The Island Spell3:447Decorations: Moon-Glade3:208Decorations: The Scarlet Ceremonies2:509Leaves From a Child’s Sketchbook: By the Mere1:3410Leaves From a Child’s Sketchbook: In the Meadows1:2811Leaves From a Child’s Sketchbook: The Hunt’s Up0:5712Leaves From a Child’s Sketchbook: The Darkened Valley3:3613Sonatina: I. Moderato4:4714Sonatina: II. Quasi lento -3:3115Sonatina: III. Rondo: Ritmico, non troppo allegro2:2216Three Pastels: A Grecian Lad3:0617Three Pastels: The Boy Bishop4:0318Three Pastels: Puck’s Birthday1:4519Two Pieces: February’s Child4:1720Two Pieces: Aubade2:5421Summer Evening3:501999 · studio album
2000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 59:03
1Sonata in G Minor: 1. Andante moderato6:562Sonata in G Minor: 2. Vivace flessibile3:073Sonata in G Minor: 3. Adagio8:264Sonata in A Minor: 1. Tempo moderato7:565Sonata in A Minor: 2. Adagio5:016Sonata in A Minor: 3. Allegro7:237Sonata in G Minor: 1. Moderato e sostenuto9:048Sonata in G Minor: 2. Poco largamente5:549Sonata in G Minor: 3. Con moto e marcato5:16Piano Concerto / Mai-Dun / Legend
2002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 52:52
1Piano Concerto in E-flat major: I. In tempo moderato9:192Piano Concerto in E-flat major: II. Lento espressivo7:383Piano Concerto in E-flat major: III. Allegro8:514Legend for Piano and Orchestra13:225Mai-Dun, Symphonic Rhapsody13:422003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 1:07:10
1Vexilla Regis12:032Greater Love Hath No Man6:593These Things Shall Be22:204A London Overture13:445The Holy Boy2:496Epic March9:15String Quartets / The Holy Boy
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 57:30
1String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: I. Allegro7:592String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: II. Molto allegro4:323String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: III. Andante moderato4:434String Quartet no. 1 in D minor: IV. Finale: Vivace5:035The Holy Boy3:186String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: I. Allegro moderato9:177String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: II. Nocturne: Andante7:248String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: III. Scherzo: Presto5:039String Quartet no. 2 in C minor: IV. Poco allegro – Grazioso – Meno mosso – Allegretto – Allegretto semplice – L’istesso tempo – Vivace10:11English String Miniatures, Volume 5
2006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 22 tracks · 1:15:41
1Suite for Timothy: I. Allegretto2:442Suite for Timothy: II. Tempo di valse2:423Suite for Timothy: III. Presto3:264Suite for Timothy: IV. Lento5:425Suite for Timothy: V. Allegro vivace3:406Renaissance Suite: I. Intrada marziale1:017Renaissance Suite: II. Pavana e gagliarda2:448Renaissance Suite: III. Canzona lamentevole1:379Renaissance Suite: IV. Rondo giocoso1:4110Folksong and Fiddle Dance: I. Folksong5:2111Folksong and Fiddle Dance: II. Fiddle Dance3:4012Suite navarraise: I. Arrive à Pau3:3213Suite navarraise: II. Berceau d'un prince4:1414Suite navarraise: III. Le vert gallant3:0915Giocoso2:5716Three Pieces arranged by Humphrey Searle: I. Fugue I4:2217Three Pieces arranged by Humphrey Searle: II. Voluntary IV2:4918Three Pieces arranged by Humphrey Searle: III. Fugue III2:3319A Downland Suite: I. Prelude4:2820A Downland Suite: II. Elegy4:5821A Downland Suite: III. Minuet4:4322A Downland Suite: IV. Rondo3:38John Ireland: The Complete Songs
2007 · studio album
The English Song Series, Volume 18: Songs
2008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 27 tracks · 1:05:31
1Great Things2:202Three Songs to Poems by Thomas Hardy: I. Summer Schemes2:073Three Songs to Poems by Thomas Hardy: II. Her Song2:174Three Songs to Poems by Thomas Hardy: III. Weathers2:075Sea Fever2:356The Bells of San Marie2:217Vagabond2:038Santa Chiara (Palm Sunday: Naples)2:259Tryst (In Fountain Court)4:0510During Music2:1611Youth’s Spring-Tribute3:5412Penumbra4:1013Spleen3:0314I Have Twelve Oxen2:0115We’ll to the Woods: I. We’ll to the Woods2:4416We’ll to the Woods: II. In Boyhood1:5017We’ll to the Woods: Spring Will Not Wait3:0018Five Poems by Thomas Hardy: I. Beckon to Me1:4419Five Poems by Thomas Hardy: II. In My Sage Moments2:4820Five Poems by Thomas Hardy: III. It Was What You Bore With You1:1821Five Poems by Thomas Hardy: IV. The Tragedy of That Moment1:5422Five Poems by Thomas Hardy: V. Dear, Think Not2:1623The Cost1:4724When I Am Dead1:5025The Salley Gardens2:1026Tutto è sciolto1:5327If There Were Dreams to Sell2:332008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:13:14
1Piano Sonata: I. Allegro moderato6:242Piano Sonata: II. Non troppo lento9:553Piano Sonata: III. Con moto moderato7:064Soliloquy3:105Preludes: The Undertone4:036Preludes: Obsession2:377Preludes: The Holy Boy2:498Preludes: Fire of Spring1:499The Almond Trees4:0610On a Birthday Morning3:0511Green Ways: The Cherry Tree2:1012Green Ways: Cypress2:5113Green Ways: The Palm and May2:4614Two Pieces: For Rememberance3:4015Two Pieces: Amberley Wild Brooks3:3516Equinox2:1617Spring Will Not Wait3:4118Ballade of London Nights7:112010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:06:41
1Marcia popolare6:282Elegy3:263Sursum corda4:434Alla marcia2:575Elegiac Romance10:186Capriccio5:287Holy Boy (A Carol of the Nativity)2:568Miniature Suite: Intrada3:099Miniature Suite: Villanella3:2610Miniature Suite: Menuetto4:3111Meditation on John Keble’s Rogationtide Hymn5:4312Cavatina6:2613Epic March7:10Piano Concerto / Legend / First Rhapsody / A Sea Idyll
2011 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:17:00
1Piano Concerto in E-flat: I. In tempo moderato -9:092Piano Concerto in E-flat: II. Lento espressivo -7:363Piano Concerto in E-flat: III. Allegretto giocoso8:054Legend for Piano and Orchestra13:145First Rhapsody in F-sharp minor12:076Pastoral4:457Indian Summer2:178A Sea Idyll: I. Poco andante4:099A Sea Idyll: II. Allegro appassionato4:4110A Sea Idyll: III. Mesto3:3911Three Dances: Gipsy Dance1:5912Three Dances: Country Dance3:2713Three Dances: Reapers’ Dance1:522012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 25 tracks · 1:16:32
1Te Deum in F6:452Benedictus4:543Communion Service In C: I. Kyrie1:054Communion Service In C: II. Credo3:475Communion Service In C: III. Sanctus1:276Communion Service In C: Iv. Benedictus1:197Communion Service In C: V. Agnus Dei2:098Communion Service In C: VI. Pater Noster1:329Communion Service In C: VII. Gloria In Excelsis3:0910My Song Is A Love Unknown2:5611Elegaic Romance (Organ Solo)8:2712Evening Service In C: I. Magnificat2:3313Evening Service In C: II. Nunc Dimittis2:0514Christ The Lord Is Risen Today (Sampford)2:0515Four Unaccompanied Carols: I. Adam Lay Ybounden1:3616Four Unaccompanied Carols: IV. New Prince, New Pomp2:2517Four Unaccompanied Carols: III. The Holy Boy2:3518Four Unaccompanied Carols: IV. A New Year Carol1:2719Greater Love Hath No Man5:2920I Am Trusting (Eastergate)2:3521Ex Ore Innocentium3:2422Capriccio (Organ Solo)5:0323Island Praise1:5324Evening Service In F: I. Magnificat3:2125Evening Service In F: II. Nunc Dimittis2:312014 · studio album
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Tracklist · 28 tracks · 1:19:11
1In Summer Woods1:232There Is a Garden in Her Face2:593Full Fathom Five1:174Over the Rim of the Moon: The ships of Arcady3:355Over the Rim of the Moon: Beloved2:116Over the Rim of the Moon: A blackbird singing2:327Over the Rim of the Moon: Nocturne4:008Moore’s Irish Melodies: Rich and rare2:469Moore’s Irish Melodies: At the mid hour of night3:0510Moore’s Irish Melodies: Avenging and bright1:4811Moore’s Irish Melodies: How sweet the answer1:5912Moore’s Irish Melodies: The Last Rose of Summer3:5013Aubade1:3614The Echoing Green2:0315See How the Morning Smiles2:3416Three Songs of Venice: The Gondolier4:5017Three Songs of Venice: St Mark’s Square2:3718Three Songs of Venice: Rainstorm4:0119British Isles, Vol. 1: The Salley Gardens2:5520British Isles, Vol. 3: The Miller of Dee2:0021British Isles, Vol. 3: O Waly, Waly3:5222British Isles, Vol. 1: The trees they grow so high3:2923Three Sacred Songs: Ave Maria3:4924A Slumber Song of the Madonna3:0625A Green Cornfield2:4926Tom Bowling and Other Song Arrangements: Greensleeves1:4027Tom Bowling and Other Song Arrangements: I wonder as I wander3:3628Tom Bowling and Other Song Arrangements: The Stream in the Valley2:49Music for String Orchestra: Sonata in G minor / A Downland Suite / In a May Morning
2016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:03:32
1Sonata in G minor: I. Moderato e sostenuto9:102Sonata in G minor: II. Poco largamente5:443Sonata in G minor: III. Con moto e marcato5:334Summer Evening4:255In a May Morning6:596Soliloquy3:317Bagatelle2:368Berceuse3:089Cavatina5:0910A Downland Suite: I. Prelude – Allegro energico4:0011A Downland Suite: II. Elegy – Lento espressivo5:3212A Downland Suite: III. Minuet – Allegretto grazioso4:2113A Downland Suite: IV. Rondo – Poco allegro3:242016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 33 tracks · 1:17:47
1A Cradle Song2:332Weep you no more, sad fountains2:083Laughing Song1:004The Peaceful Western Wind2:025Spring, the sweet Spring1:396When May is in his prime2:587Cupid1:058Fain would I change that note2:159Twilight Night2:5610These things shall be2:4811The Hills2:4612Immortality3:4613They told me, Heraclitus2:4414Sea Fever2:4115In praise of Neptune1:5416Songs of Springtime: I. Under the greenwood tree1:0617Songs of Springtime: II. The River-God’s Song1:4918Songs of Springtime: III. Spring, the sweet Spring1:2719Songs of Springtime: IV. Love is a sickness3:2620Songs of Springtime: V. Sigh no more, ladies1:3621Songs of Springtime: VI. Good Wine1:1722Songs of Springtime: VII. To Daffodils2:3823Blue Eyed Spring1:0524Weep you no more, sad fountains2:0425Phyllida and Corydon: I. Phyllida and Corydon – Madrigal3:1426Phyllida and Corydon: II. Beauty sat bathing by a spring – Madrigal4:3827Phyllida and Corydon: III. On a hill the grows a flower – Pastoral3:0528Phyllida and Corydon: IV. Phyllis inamorata – Air0:5829Phyllida and Corydon: V. Said I that Amaryllis – Ballet1:3430Phyllida and Corydon: VI. The treasure of my heart – Conzonet2:4631Phyllida and Corydon: VII. While she lies sleeping – Air3:1032Phyllida and Corydon: VIII. Corydon, arise – Pastoral2:5233Phyllida and Corydon: IX. To meadows – Madrigal3:47British Violin Sonatas, Volume Three
2020 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:10:04
1Violin Sonata in E minor, op. 112: I. Maestoso con fuoco – Allegro commodo8:442Violin Sonata in E minor, op. 112: II. Lento – Tempo poco lento5:593Violin Sonata in E minor, op. 112: III. Finale. Allegro con fuoco5:274Violin Sonata no. 2 in A minor: I. Allegro – Tranquillo – Tempo I8:565Violin Sonata no. 2 in A minor: II. Poco lento quasi adagio9:276Violin Sonata no. 2 in A minor: III. In tempo moderato – Con brio6:457The Hart’s Grace6:558Sonatina for Violin and Piano: I. Allegro e grazioso3:529Sonatina for Violin and Piano: II. Adagio4:0910Sonatina for Violin and Piano: III. Vivace3:1511First Meeting6:352022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:07:15
1Satyricon8:322A Downland Suite: I. Prelude4:153A Downland Suite: II. Elegy4:354A Downland Suite: III. Minuet4:325A Downland Suite: IV. Rondo3:386Mai-Dun10:477The Forgotten Rite7:098A London Overture12:029The Holy Boy2:5910Epic March8:46Boyle - Moeran - Ireland - Vaughan Williams
2023 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks
1Ralph Vaughan Williams; Household Music : Three Preludes On Welsh Hymn Tunes: Crug-y-bar (Fantasia: Andante Sostenuto)2Ralph Vaughan Williams; Household Music : Three Preludes On Welsh Hymn Tunes: St Denio (Scherzo: Allegro Vivace)3Ralph Vaughan Williams; Household Music : Three Preludes On Welsh Hymn Tunes: Aberystwyth (Variations)4Ina Boyle; String Quartet In E Minor : I Allegro Moderato5Ina Boyle; String Quartet In E Minor : II Adagio6Ina Boyle; String Quartet In E Minor : III Allegro Molto7John Ireland : The Holy Boy (Version For String Quartet, 1941)8E.J. Moeran; String Quartet No. 2 In E Flat (Op. Posth.): I Allegro Moderato Ma Ben Animato9E.J. Moeran; String Quartet No. 2 In E Flat (Op. Posth.): II Lento - Andante - Vivace - Allegretto - Andante - Allegro - Vivace - Presto
Album · 5
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | A London SymphonySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 1:22:08Disc 1 1A London Overture13:03 2Symphony No. 2 "A London Symphony": I. Lento - Allegro Risoluto15:25 3Symphony No. 2 "A London Symphony": II. Lento13:27 4Symphony No. 2 "A London Symphony": III. Scherzo (Nocturne): Allegro Vivace8:38 5Symphony No. 2 "A London Symphony": IV. Finale and Epilogue: Andante Con Moto - Maestoso Alla Marcia14:55 Disc 21Cockaigne (In London Town) - Overture, Opus 4016:40 | Compilation | 1989 | |
| 1993 | Piano Concerto / A London Overture / Mai-DunSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 9 tracks · 1:12:421Piano Concerto in E-flat: I. In tempo moderato9:48 2Piano Concerto in E-flat: II. Lento espressivo-7:56 3Piano Concerto in E-flat: III. Allegro giocoso9:06 4A London Overture12:20 5Mai-Dun12:00 6Greater love hath no man6:16 7Sea Fever1:57 8The Salley Gardens (Songs Sacred and Profane, no. 4)2:22 9Comedy Overture10:57 | Compilation | 1993 | |
| 1993 | The 4 Seasons: Volume 4 - WinterSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 19 tracks · 1:12:271The Four Seasons - Winter: Allegro non molto3:41 2The Four Seasons - Winter: Largo2:28 3The Four Seasons - Winter: Allegro3:48 4Winter Bonfire: Departure2:40 5Winter Bonfire: Snow outside the window2:56 6Winter Bonfire: Waltz on ice3:28 7Winter Bonfire: The bonfire & pioneer gathering4:37 8Winter Bonfire: Winter evening2:25 9Winter Bonfire: Marching song and return2:26 10Preludes book 1 : Footprints in the snow4:27 11Children's Corner: Snowflakes are dancing2:45 12Messiah: Pastoral Symphony3:05 13The Childhold of Christ: Shepherds' Farewell4:45 14The Holy Boy2:51 15Wexford Carol2:40 16A Ceremony of Carols: In Freezing Winter Night4:15 17The Christmas Eve Suite: Holy Night5:47 18The Christmas Eve Suite: Polonaise7:16 19The Christmas Eve Suite: Procession to Midnight Mass and carols6:07 | Compilation | 1993 | |
| 1994 | Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony / Ireland: A London OvertureSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracks · 59:391A London Overture12:16 2A London Symphony: I. Lento - Allegro risoluto (Molto Pesante)14:55 3A London Symphony: II. Lento10:35 4A London Symphony: III. Scherzo (Nocturne): Allegro Vivace8:11 5A London Symphony: IV. Andante con moto13:42 | Compilation | 15 August 1994 | |
| 2007 | The Piano MusicSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 40 tracks · 2:51:58Disc 1 1Decorations: The Island Spell4:10 2Decorations: Moonglade3:03 3Decorations: The Scarlet Ceremonies3:02 4The Almond Trees3:33 5Four Preludes: The Undertone4:00 6Four Preludes: Obsession2:32 7Four Preludes: The Holy Boy2:37 8Four Preludes: Fire of Spring1:54 9Prelude in E-flat5:14 10Rhapsody7:50 11The Towing-Path3:40 12Merry Andrew3:02 13London Pieces: Chelsea Reach6:08 14London Pieces: Ragamuffin2:16 15London Pieces: Soho Forenoons3:08 Disc 21Summer Evening4:15 2Piano Sonata: I. Allegro moderato6:26 3Piano Sonata: II. Non troppo lento10:23 4Piano Sonata: III. Con moto moderato7:16 5Two Pieces: For Rememberance3:43 6Two Pieces: Amberley Wild Brooks3:18 7The Darkened Valley3:42 8Equinox2:22 9On a Birthday Morning3:19 10Soliloquy3:13 11Two Pieces: April4:16 12Two Pieces: Bergomask3:32 Disc 31Sonatina: I. Moderato4:15 2Sonatina: II. Quasi lento3:07 3Sonatina: III. Rondo. Ritmico, non troppo allegro2:28 4Ballade9:26 5Two Pieces: February’s Child4:37 6Two Pieces: Aubade3:15 7Month’s Mind4:25 8Greenways, Three Lyric Pieces: The Cherry Trees2:34 9Greenways, Three Lyric Pieces: Cypress2:45 10Greenways, Three Lyric Pieces: The Palm and May2:42 11Sarnia, An Island Sequence: Le Catioroc7:21 12Sarnia, An Island Sequence: In a May Morning6:33 13Sarnia, An Island Sequence: Song of the Springtides6:36 | Compilation | 2007 |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put John Ireland head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 24 | 85.8th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 31 | 90.7th |
| Studio albums | 26 | 97.7th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 30 | 96.8th |
| Recording span (years) | -27 | 7.7th |
| Genres | 5 | 88.3th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Walter Willson Cobbett Medal | won |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · Public domain · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Nicholson_Ireland_%28circa_1920%29.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9f7aa025-0554-4783-bd08-10481ca8ee73discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/9f7aa025-0554-4783-bd08-10481ca8ee73core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q505910seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ireland_%28composer%29biography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Ireland_%28composer%29
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: curated genre/region list
Image: Herbert Lambert · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q505910 · MusicBrainz: 9f7aa025-0554-4783-bd08-10481ca8ee73
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