ABSTRACT

The first of Ireland’s six ‘London’ pieces, five of which are for solo piano, appeared in 1917, and the last in 1936. Four of them were written in close succession between 1917 and 1920. These works, every one of which has a descriptive title, act as an indicator of the London both of Ireland’s mind and of his experience. Three of the pieces, ‘Chelsea Reach’ (1917), ‘Ragamuffin’ (1917) and ‘Soho forenoons’ (1920), are grouped together as London Pieces (originally London: Impressions fo r Piano). The others are Merry Andrew (1918) , Ballade o f London Nights (c. 1930) and A London Overture (1936). In terms of their musical connections, there are also glimmerings of the city in other works, such as the Second Violin Sonata, the Piano Sonata, which was composed between the first and last of die London Pieces, and Epic March.