The great flowering of English song in the 20th century was not (as once thought) an isolated phenomenon, but part of a tradition which can be traced back through at least four centuries. John Ireland reacted positively to the poets of his time; and he was fortunate that two of them, Thomas Hardy and A. E. Housman, wrote lyrics which were not only made for music but corresponded to something fundamental in Ireland’s character.

The aim of this edition is to make the complete songs f John Irela...