Three marvellous young singers come together with Graham Johnson to present this 2-CD set of virtually all of the songs of this reticent but much loved English composer. Before his death in 1962, John Ireland wrote many more songs than the famous 'Sea Fever' (which is sung here by Cardiff prize-winner Christopher Maltman). No less than 69 of them are here, several recorded for the first time. The poets include Shakespeare, the Rossettis, Thomas Hardy, A E Housman, John Masefield and Sir Henry Newbolt. Full texts are included in the booklet.