The English composer John Ireland lived most of his life in London and was a frequent visitor to the Channel Islands and the Sussex Downs. These were a principal source of inspiration for his music but it would be a mistake to associate him with the so-called “English Pastoral School”. Influenced by Ravel, Stravinsky and Gerswin, his music demonstrates a great deal of originality and is deserving of greater international recognition.

Ireland’s piano music, some of the most appealing British piano music written this century, reflects the composer’s many interests: his love of literature, his interest in fatalism and Celtic mysticism as well as the bitter-sweet regret of the passing of love.