Preludes for Piano (John Ireland)

Preludes for Piano is a set of four short pieces for piano solo composed by John Ireland (1879–1962) between 1913 and 1915. They were published in the latter year.^[1][2][3]

The pieces, with typical timings, are:

1. The Undertone (3 minutes) ^[4]
2. Obsession (3 minutes) ^[5]
3. The Holy Boy (composed on Christmas Day 1913; subtitled A Carol of the Nativity; 4 minutes) ^[6]
4. Fire of Spring (2 minutes) ^[7]

The Holy Boy is one of Ireland's best-known works, along with his setting of the hymn "My Song Is Love Unknown". It has been arranged for a variety of forces. One version is the Christmas carol "Lowly, laid in a manger / With oxen brooding nigh" with words by Herbert S. Brown.^[8]

References

1. "List of works - N to P". The John Ireland Trust. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
2. John Ireland: Preludes, pieces (4) for piano at AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
3. Preludes for Piano (John Ireland): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project
4. John Ireland: The Undertone, for piano (from Preludes (4)) at AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
5. John Ireland: Obsession, for piano (from Preludes (4)) at AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
6. John Ireland: The Holy Boy, prelude for piano (from Preludes (4)) at AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
7. John Ireland: Fire of Spring, for piano (from Preludes (4)) at AllMusic. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
8. "The Holy Boy: a Carol of the Nativity". recmusic.org. Retrieved 1 May 2015.

External links

• Preludes (Ireland, John): Scores at the International Music Score Library Project