John Ireland - A Downland Suite - 3rd Movement (Minuet)

[iwarburton]

Some may remember this lovely piece being played on the BBC gardening programmes introduced by the late Geoff Hamilton.

[SidinaD]

my radio came on at 6.30am and this was playing. gorgeous way to wake up :)

[jekorb]

Have never heard this before, but our local classics station just played it and I adore it! Thanks so much for posting and the beautiful photos, too. I hope to return to England one day soon...but will enjoy listening to this lovely piece while I wait!

[leporello56]

I LOVE THIS PIECE!!

[agonei121]

i am playing this at my orchestra. beautiful but it could have been a bit louder :)

[TheMjblower]

play it loud at my funeral

[TheMjblower]

warms the heart

[RoofLight00]

This is possibly from a collection of recordings that are under the title 'English string Miniatures' by Naxos, I think there must be about 6 or 7 volumes/CD's in the collection. They are very reasonably priced and full of beautiful music like this from a huge range of fairly well known composers like Vaughn Williams and John Rutter to more obscure ones like Dodd and John Ireland here. Support lesser known composers like these!

[wenglishsal]

I absolutely love this, it makes me smile, fills me with undiluted joy and also makes me sway in my chair... Oh happy me indeed... Many many thanks @fozziebear2009 for posting this wonder... 1st heard it on Classic FM and am now addicted to John Ireland's works... *sighs in total contentment* :0)x

[jsbach72]

Just beautiful !

[wenglishsal]

I just heard this piece on Classic FM and immediately loved it... What a beautiful, gentle wonderful tune this is.. I imagine lots of ladies and gentleman dancing a serene waltz in a large splendid ballroom.. Lovely indeed.... many thanks @fozziebear2009 for posting this utter GEM...

Best regards from Wales UK :0)x

[kerfinklefuffer]

I heard a snatch the other day on the radio and have now just listened to your download,charming.The start reminded me of Trevor Duncan 's Maestro Suite a lovely and haunting piece.Do you know it?

Kerfunklefuffer.

[fozziebear2009]

@kerfinklefuffer No I'm not actually familiar with it but I will certainly look it up! Thanks :)

[necroguy11]

Amazing musical arrangement. Played the entire suite a few months ago with my college string orchestra, beautiful music, just superb

[May1south]

Very romantic. I had a wonderful British friend who would drive through the Downs in West Sussex after his wife died, which brought him comfort. He died a year ago and the minuet and photos remind me of him and make me feel better.

[fozziebear2009]

@May1south Thanks for the comment, and I'm glad this video gives you some comfort. Sorry about your friend :(

[cattleman6420012000]

Such a superb piece of music.

[denbobembo]

What a fantastic piece of music .

Last year i had to have an op and a general aneasthetic. When i 'came round' i was humming this!! Pleasant memories.!!!

[newFranzFerencLiszt]

How beautiful!

[fozziebear2009]

Hi, I think it's the English String Orchestra but I don't have the details to hand right now. I will check though.

[19shea85]

What a fine orchestra. This is a wonderfully nuanced performance of this beautiful piece. What orchestra is this?

[fozziebear2009]

Hi unfortunately I don't as this was taken from a compilation :(

[jasonfu6699]

Do you have the elegy?

[noonoobaggins]

A nice selection of photo's to match the music. Well done. I always think of chalk grassland when I hear this piece of music but I love the Chilterns, so I'm a bit biased.

Thanks for posting.

[fozziebear2009]

Hey thanks! I'm glad you liked it!! :)

[ebenezerhoary]

Divine!...and a terrific video to accompany the composition!

[fozziebear2009]

Sounds good! Post it when you get chance!

[Grigor99]

Some years back I made a piano transcription of this lovely piece and unfortunately had to do it by ear because I was never able to track down a score for it. It came out very close to the original. I would like to post the score someday when I get it written on Sibelius,

[fozziebear2009]

I dont think it is a case of better or worse. If you have only ever heard it on brass or if you heard it on brass first then for most people that is the version they prefer (I have to say it seems to work that way with me!). This suite is perfectly suited to strings which is why it is often played and recorded that way (the strings make it much more expressive in my opinion!). The bottom line is its about personal preference and nothing more. I take it you are a brass player? hehe

[tstsullivan797]

this spunds ten times better played on brass as was originally intended

[fozziebear2009]

This is one of my favourite pieces by an English composer. He was born not too far from me (not that that matters hahahaha). Incidentally, the dedicatee of Tchaikovskys Violin Concerto (Adolf Brodsky) also lived in the same town!

[thelightisahead]

Hey I like this! Great that a famous composer wasn't afraid to write a minuet, despite living into 1962! Such things would probably have seemed terribly old-fashioned to many composers of the time (serialists etc.)

[silverstartrucker]

Very nice video.