This album's cover art features three watercolors of locations relevant to the music, specially commissioned from Juliet Pannett for the original Lyrita LP recordings.
Composer's Artistic Vision
John Ireland shared Arthur Machen's concept of 'racial memory', which found expression in many of his works, including orchestral pieces and piano compositions.
Composition History
John Ireland escaped Guernsey on one of the last boats before the German advance in 1940, carrying the incomplete manuscript of his piano suite Sarnia, named after the Latin name for Guernsey.
Composer Biography
John Ireland was a deeply committed Londoner, living there for about 55 years, and the city, as depicted in Arthur Machen's writings, was a significant protagonist in his own London-themed works.
Composer Biography
John Ireland, the composer, came from a literary family and was significantly influenced by the Welsh writer Arthur Machen.
Compositional Technique
John Ireland, though often considered a miniaturist, was capable of larger forms, and his Rhapsody is a symphonic poem for piano in modified sonata form.
Composition History
The publication of Debussy's piano Preludes in 1910, which introduced new expressive possibilities, directly inspired John Ireland to compose his suite Decorations two years later.
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