John Ireland Companion

Published to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his death this book presents new articles by leading authorities on John Ireland and his music together with transcriptions of his broadcast talks and of interviews with the composer. <p/>John Ireland [1879-1962] was one of the most distinctive and distinguished of a generation of exceptional British composers that included Vaughan Williams Gustav Holst Frank Bridge and Arnold Bax. They emerged in the decade before the First World War and in the inter-war years produced a remarkable body of music. In Ireland's case his was not only the most popular British Piano Concerto of its time but he also composed a splendid repertoire of songs piano music chamber music and orchestral and choral scores.<br> This richly illustrated Companion will be essential for all admirers of the composer. Not only for the performer - pianist singer conductor - but for thewider musical public record collectors and music historians academics and anyone interested in British music of the earlier twentieth century.<br> Lewis Foreman has drawn on his extensive research into Ireland's life and letters over many years and in association with the John Ireland Charitable Trust has not only commissioned a wide range of chapters from leading performers and writers of today but has brought together in one convenient format Ireland's own writings on music the memories of his friends and students (including Britten Moeran and Arnell) and a selection of important earlier articles. <br> The Companion also includes a complete list of works and themost comprehensive discography of Ireland ever compiled. The accompanying CD contains historical recordings featuring the voice of John Ireland with two of his broadcast talks as well as otherwise unobtainable performances of Ireland's music from the composer himself and from other well-known performers of the past. <p/> LEWIS FOREMAN is author of Bax: A Composer and His Time [Boydell 2007] and London: a Musical Gazetteer [Yale 2005]. <p/> Contributors: FELIX APRAHAMIAN RICHARD ARNELL BENJAMIN BRITTEN JOCELYN BROOKE ALAN BUSH GEOFFREY BUSH GEORGE DANNATT JULIE DELLER JEREMY DIBBLE EDWIN EVANS LEWIS FOREMAN NORAH KIRBY FREDERICK LAMOND PHILIP LANCASTER STEPHEN LE PROVOST STEPHEN LLOYD CHARLES MARKES ROBERT MATTHEW-WALKER E.J. MOERAN ANGUS MORRISON ERIC PARKIN BRUCE PHILLIPS C. B. REES FIONA RICHARDS ALAN ROWLANDS R. MURRAY SCHAFER MARION SCOTT COLIN SCOTT-SUTHERLAND HUMPHREY SEARLE FREDA SWAIN KENNETH THOMPSON RODERICK WILLIAMS KENNETH A. WRIGHT