Preludes for Piano (John Ireland)

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Preludes for Piano is a set of four short pieces for piano solo composed by John Ireland between 1913 and 1915. They were published in the latter year.{{cite web |url=http://www.johnirelandtrust.org/ntop.htm |website=The John Ireland Trust |title=List of works - N to P |accessdate=1 May 2015 }}{{AllMusic |class=composition |id=preludes-pieces-4-for-piano-mc0002362883 |label=John Ireland: Preludes, pieces (4) for piano |accessdate=1 May 2015 }}{{IMSLP2|work=Preludes (Ireland, John)}}

The pieces, with typical timings, are:

1. The Undertone (3 minutes) {{AllMusic |class=composition |id=the-undertone-for-piano-from-preludes-4-mc0002663255 |label=John Ireland: The Undertone, for piano (from Preludes (4)) |accessdate=1 May 2015 }}
2. Obsession (3 minutes) {{AllMusic |class=/composition |id=obsession-for-piano-from-preludes-4-mc0002423602 |label=John Ireland: Obsession, for piano (from Preludes (4)) |accessdate=1 May 2015 }}
3. The Holy Boy (composed on Christmas Day 1913; subtitled A Carol of the Nativity; 4 minutes) {{AllMusic |class=composition |id=the-holy-boy-prelude-for-piano-from-preludes-4-mc0002393322 |label=John Ireland: The Holy Boy, prelude for piano (from Preludes (4)) |accessdate=1 May 2015 }}
4. Fire of Spring (2 minutes) {{AllMusic |class=composition |id=fire-of-spring-for-piano-from-preludes-4-mc0002424451 |label=John Ireland: Fire of Spring, for piano (from Preludes (4)) |accessdate=1 May 2015 }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.lieder.net/lieder/get_text.html?TextId=76757 |website=recmusic.org |title=The Holy Boy: a Carol of the Nativity |accessdate=1 May 2015 }}