John Ireland

John Ireland was an English composer and teacher of music, known for his piano miniatures, songs, and chamber music. He was born in Bowdon, Cheshire, into a family of English and Scottish descent. John was the youngest of five children, and his early life was marked by loss with the death of his mother when he was 14 and his father the following year. A self-critical and introspective man, he was haunted by memories of a sad childhood. His later life was mostly dedicated to teaching and composing, influencing a generation of English musicians including Benjamin Britten.