The Almond Tree

Composer: IRELAND, John
  • The Almond Tree is a short piece for piano written in 1913 and published in 1920.
  • The inspiration for the piece was a Japanese art print of a blossoming almond tree that Ireland came across while strolling home one night. The shop housing the print was closed at the time, so Ireland returned the following day to purchase the exquisite print, only to discover that the print had already been sold. The Almond Tree both illustrates the beauty of the print as well as portrays the composer’s disappointment in not being able to procure it.1

Sources

  1. Christopher Palmer, Essay in accompanying booklet, Ireland: Piano Works, Vol. 1 performed by Eric Parkin, CHAN 9056, 1992, compact disc.

Cut IDs

42277