The Holy Boy
Encyclopedia
"The Holy Boy" is a short composition by the English composer John Ireland
(1879-1962) which, alongside the hymn "My song is love unknown
", is probably his best-known work. Initially a solo piano work, Ireland revised the work into choral, solo and instrumental pieces in a variety of arrangements over several decades.
The earliest version was written at Christmas 1913 and was published as "The Holy Boy - a carol", forming the third movement of his Four Preludes for Piano. The piece was composed while Ireland was the organist at St. Luke's Church, Chelsea, inspired by a chorister at the church called Bobby Glassby who became one of the composer's protégés. Andrew Burn suggests that a text by Harold Munro may have provided the title.
His biographer Muriel Searle has said of the work "Simple to the point of austerity, The Holy Boy remains one of the public's favourite Ireland works." Musically, it features an ostensibly simple melody, although as with many of Ireland's works, the harmonic structure is more complicated; Burn writes that "With its wistful melody and subtle shifts of harmony it is quintessential Ireland".
The first rearrangement of the work was in a 1919 version for organ by Ireland's friend and fellow organist Alec Rowley
, which was subtitled as "a carol of the nativity", perhaps to allow for its inclusion in liturgical services. Meanwhile, Ireland arranged the work for solo string instruments in the same year. Words were later added in collaboration with Ireland by Herbert S. Brown in 1938, forming a arrangement for voice and piano. Brown was Ireland's family solicitor. In this version ("Lowly, laid in a manger/With oxen brooding nigh") the song was adapted by Ireland into a SATB choral arrangement for the BBC Singers
in 1941. In the same year a string quartet and string orchestral versions also appeared, again arranged by the composer. There are also authorised versions for different solo instruments, brass ensembles and other forces by other composers.
John Ireland (composer)
John Nicholson Ireland was an English composer.- Life :John Ireland was born in Bowdon, near Altrincham, Manchester, into a family of Scottish descent and some cultural distinction. His father, Alexander Ireland, a publisher and newspaper proprietor, was aged 70 at John's birth...
(1879-1962) which, alongside the hymn "My song is love unknown
My Song Is Love Unknown
My Song Is Love Unknown is a hymn by Samuel Crossman, written in 1664.The hymn tune to which it is usually sung is Love Unknown by John Ireland...
", is probably his best-known work. Initially a solo piano work, Ireland revised the work into choral, solo and instrumental pieces in a variety of arrangements over several decades.
The earliest version was written at Christmas 1913 and was published as "The Holy Boy - a carol", forming the third movement of his Four Preludes for Piano. The piece was composed while Ireland was the organist at St. Luke's Church, Chelsea, inspired by a chorister at the church called Bobby Glassby who became one of the composer's protégés. Andrew Burn suggests that a text by Harold Munro may have provided the title.
His biographer Muriel Searle has said of the work "Simple to the point of austerity, The Holy Boy remains one of the public's favourite Ireland works." Musically, it features an ostensibly simple melody, although as with many of Ireland's works, the harmonic structure is more complicated; Burn writes that "With its wistful melody and subtle shifts of harmony it is quintessential Ireland".
The first rearrangement of the work was in a 1919 version for organ by Ireland's friend and fellow organist Alec Rowley
Alec Rowley
Alec Rowley was an English composer and writer on music.He studied at London's Royal Academy of Music with Frederick Corder, and later taught at Trinity College in the same city...
, which was subtitled as "a carol of the nativity", perhaps to allow for its inclusion in liturgical services. Meanwhile, Ireland arranged the work for solo string instruments in the same year. Words were later added in collaboration with Ireland by Herbert S. Brown in 1938, forming a arrangement for voice and piano. Brown was Ireland's family solicitor. In this version ("Lowly, laid in a manger/With oxen brooding nigh") the song was adapted by Ireland into a SATB choral arrangement for the BBC Singers
BBC Singers
The BBC Singers are the professional chamber choir of the BBC. As one of six BBC Performing Groups, the 24-voiced choir has been in existence for more than 80 years. The BBC Singers have commissioned and premiered works by the leading composers of the past century, including Benjamin Britten, Sir...
in 1941. In the same year a string quartet and string orchestral versions also appeared, again arranged by the composer. There are also authorised versions for different solo instruments, brass ensembles and other forces by other composers.