The Forgotten Rite Explained

The Forgotten Rite, described as a prelude for orchestra, was composed in AugustNovember 1913 by John Ireland (18791962) and published in 1918.^[1]

A performance takes about 9 minutes.

In the first decade of the twentieth century, Ireland read The House of Souls and The Hill of Dreams by Arthur Machen, known for his supernatural fantasy and horror stories. This awakened in Ireland an affinity for long-lost customs and rituals, real or imagined. The Forgotten Rite is a symphonic poem describing one such.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: List of works – E to F . The John Ireland Trust . 3 May 2015 .
2. Web site: John Ireland . . 3 May 2015 .