JOHN IRELAND (1879-1962): London Pieces, Greenways, Sonatina, Soliloquy, On a Birthday Morning, Equinox, Sarnia - An Island Sequence, 2 Pieces, Ballade, 2 Pieces, Sonata, The Towing-Path, The Darkened Valley, Rhapsody, Month's Mind, Decorations, 2 Pieces, In those Days, 4 Preludes, The Almond Trees, Summer Evening, Prelude in E Flat, Columbine, Merry Andrew, 3 Pastels, Spring will not wait, Ballade of London Nights, Sea Idyll.

Description: The second release from Lyrita's mono archives. Eric Parkin did another recording for Lyrita in 1975 but this lacks six pieces on the current disc (in fact, Parkin's second cycle, for Chandos in 1992-94, adds another work, Leaves from a Child's Sketchbook, which is on neither of the Lyritas). John Lenehan's third volume was released last month on Naxos; his three discs lack four of the 28 on this new set. The booklet includes a four-page reminiscence by the pianist, now 80 years old, and 14 pages (!) on the music, with contributions by Rowlands, Parkin, Ireland's companion Norah Kirby, Julian Herbage and Harold Rutland. 3 CDs for the price of 2. Alan Rowlands (piano). Rec. 1959-1963. Original 1960, 1964 and 1970 LP releases.