Ireland, John (1879-1962)

[EdgeleyRob]

I'd start off with the violin sonata.

The second one ? the finer of the two although I love them both.

This is a nice record

[Serial_Apologist]

The second one ? the finer of the two although I love them both.

Yes the second. I must have been under a misapprehension that the first was withdrawn by the composer, though I seem to remember a recent broadcast, and noting its more Brahmsian language. The second is from the same period which produced the wonderful, sumptuous Piano Sonata, also a favourite of mine.

[EdgeleyRob]

Oh yes the Piano Sonata is brilliant.

[BBMmk2]

I played the two Cd setby Chandos on Spotify Premium yesterday. So far the first CD, which contained the two violin sonatas and the Fantasy-Sonata with Lydia Mordkovich(violin)and Ian Brown((piano).

[peterthekeys]

I've just been reading through this thread for the first time - I can't believe that I missed it before now. Ireland is simply my favourite composer - I discovered his music in my teens, and found that it just spoke to me in a way that no other music had quite done previously or has done since. And then discovering the extraordinary neglect of it (in the mid-70s) started me on what seems to have become my "life's work" of digging out neglected music, re-evaluating it, and performing it if possible and if it seems worthwhile.

I'm delighted to see that so many other people on here rate his music highly. I have to admit that, as much as I love the piano music, I think the chamber music contains his best work: the cello sonata is my favourite (I also think I couldn't live without it), followed by the first violin sonata (which I find marginally better than the second) and the second trio. I'd also agree that the quality of his output seemed to drop off a bit after 1930 (I love "Song of the Springtides", the third movement of "Sarnia", but I don't find that the first two movements are as good.) One work which bucks this trend is the Fantasy-sonata for clarinet and piano, which IMHO is definitely up there with his finest work.

[Serial_Apologist]

I've just been reading through this thread for the first time - I can't believe that I missed it before now. Ireland is simply my favourite composer - I discovered his music in my teens, and found that it just spoke to me in a way that no other music had quite done previously or has done since. And then discovering the extraordinary neglect of it (in the mid-70s) started me on what seems to have become my "life's work" of digging out neglected music, re-evaluating it, and performing it if possible and if it seems worthwhile.

I'm delighted to see that so many other people on here rate his music highly. I have to admit that, as much as I love the piano music, I think the chamber music contains his best work: the cello sonata is my favourite (I also think I couldn't live without it), followed by the first violin sonata (which I find marginally better than the second) and the second trio. I'd also agree that the quality of his output seemed to drop off a bit after 1930 (I love "Song of the Springtides", the third movement of "Sarnia", but I don't find that the first two movements are as good.) One work which bucks this trend is the Fantasy-sonata for clarinet and piano, which IMHO is definitely up there with his finest work.

Yes, yes!

[Hornspieler]

I've just been reading through this thread for the first time - I can't believe that I missed it before now. Ireland is simply my favourite composer - I discovered his music in my teens, and found that it just spoke to me in a way that no other music had quite done previously or has done since. And then discovering the extraordinary neglect of it (in the mid-70s) started me on what seems to have become my "life's work" of digging out neglected music, re-evaluating it, and performing it if possible and if it seems worthwhile.

I'm delighted to see that so many other people on here rate his music highly. I have to admit that, as much as I love the piano music, I think the chamber music contains his best work: the cello sonata is my favourite (I also think I couldn't live without it), followed by the first violin sonata (which I find marginally better than the second) and the second trio. I'd also agree that the quality of his output seemed to drop off a bit after 1930 (I love "Song of the Springtides", the third movement of "Sarnia", but I don't find that the first two movements are as good.) One work which bucks this trend is the Fantasy-sonata for clarinet and piano, which IMHO is definitely up there with his finest work.

On my first day at the Royal Academy of Music, I found myself sitting in the 1st orchestra (4th Horn) conducted by Dr Clarence Raybould.

I will always remember what was played through on that day:

Jan Sibelius "Return of Lemminkeinen"*
Gustav Holst: .Oriental Fantasy "Beni Moira"
and
John Ireland "The Forgotten Rite"

* Please forgive the spelling. After all, it was sixty-eight years ago!

HS

[BBMmk2]

That's the right spelling, HS!

I love his orchestral music, but when I hear a brass band work played by any orchestra, doesn't seem to work! I remember seeing this in an penguin guide review, as well.

[Stanfordian]

On my first day at the Royal Academy of Music, I found myself sitting in the 1st orchestra (4th Horn) conducted by Dr Clarence Raybould.

I will always remember what was played through on that day:

Jan Sibelius "Return of Lemminkeinen"*
Gustav Holst: .Oriental Fantasy "Beni Moira"
and
John Ireland "The Forgotten Rite"

* Please forgive the spelling. After all, it was sixty-eight years ago!

HS

'The Forgotten Rite' one of his finest works.

[Serial_Apologist]

That's the right spelling, HS!

I love his orchestral music, but when I hear a brass band work played by any orchestra, doesn't seem to work! I remember seeing this in an penguin guide review, as well.

Holst's Hammersmith?

[BBMmk2]

Holst's Hammersmith?

That doesn't work either!

[Serial_Apologist]

That doesn't work either!

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one, Bbm!

[BBMmk2]

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one, Bbm!

Indeed. The old Black Dyke Mills Band has done a very good recording, entitled, "Elgar, Delius & Holst" on Chandos Records

[Lat-Literal]

My second Belloc reference of the day. Quote: "John Ireland rests in the tiny village of Shipley which has a windmill that was mentioned in the writings of Hilaire Belloc". This seems fitting to me because while it was Warlock who was mostly known for setting Belloc to music. I would see both Warlock and Ireland as being a part of the awkward squad, that is, not only temperamentally but in not complying with the most likely assumptions around which their music might well be approached. See also Lambert and possibly even Holbrooke but not Grainger who generally does comply musically if not personally or Cardew and Brian who were out on their own distinctively splendid limbs. Moeran and Butterworth these people are not and each is different in his own way although joined by a refusal to automatically produce blended countrysides. I haven't bothered to check their dates, variable yes, nor do I know the full extent of any of them but such things would ruin the accent on impressionism. Some were "groups", possibly with ouija board and absinthe, while others were unconventional men in the bedroom department. I would be happy to proven wrong but I sense JI was a solitary grump with an insistence on structure. None of these things is, in essence, a bad thing.

[Gary Freer]

there is some terrific Choral music from his early career. His Te Deum in F is a corker. Had it at my wedding.

Fond of his dram, I understand.