JOHN IRELAND (1879–1962)

The English Song Series 18

 

Great Things

Three Songs to Poems by Thomas Hardy

Sea Fever

The Bells of San Marie

Vagabond Santa Chiara (Palm Sunday: Naples)

Tryst (in Fountain Court)

During Music

Youth’s Spring-Tribute

Penumbra

Spleen

I have Twelve Oxen

We’ll to the Woods

Five Poems by Thomas Hardy

The Cost

When I am dead

The Salley Gardens

Tutto è sciolto

If there were dreams to sell

 

Roderick Williams (baritone), Iain Burnside (piano)

 

Although John Ireland is best remembered for his orchestral works, his 91 songs convey a peculiarly English quality of emotion expressed through reserve.

 

The many gems on this recording include the bitter-sweet Sea Fever (1913), with its yearning strophic melody sailing on an accompaniment that is varied with each verse, the dark, fatalistic Three Songs to Poems by Thomas Hardy and the heart-rending Her Song, one of Ireland’s most beautiful.

 

Ireland’s failure to find love is perhaps best expressed in the bleak cycle Two Poems of A.E. Housman.

 

“Roderick Williams’ elegant and delicate performances reveal the heart of this music…and lain Burnside is an excellent partner.” BBC Music Magazine on Naxos 8557963

 

Naxos 8570467