Music Composed by John Ireland

Played by The Philharmonia Orchestra

Conducted by Ernest Irving

This was John Ireland's only film score. The English composer (1879-1962) has a wiki here.

(Below: John Ireland)

Conductor Ernest Irving (1878-1953) was a reliable English composer and conductor who specialised in film music. Ralph Vaughan Williams dedicated his Sinfonia antarctica to him.

Australian conductor composer Charles Mackerras later arranged for orchestra an approximately eighteen minute suite from the film music by Ireland. Mackerras had been involved in a number of film scores for Australian films. His wiki is here.

(Below: Charles Mackerras in the 1950s) It is in this form that Ireland's music from the film is now found on LP and CD in a variety of labels and performed by a diverse range of artists.

Traditionalists will perhaps be most interested in the Lyrita CD revival of an early version of the suite, featuring Sir Adrian Boult conducting the London Philharmonia Orchestra. Boult's timings are relatively leisurely: The Overlanders, Suite (1946-47) (ed. Charles Mackerras) John Ireland 20.07 8 1. March: Scorched Earth 4.39 9 2. Romance: Mary & Sailor 3.55 10 3. Intermezzo: Open Country 3.20 11 4. Scherzo: The Brumbies 4.22 12 5. Finale: Night Stampede 3.51

The Hickox version is also leisurely: The Measham version below was favourably reviewed by the Gramophone in November 1980, the music less so:

The suite from Ireland's film music (arranged by Sir Charles Mackerras) is excellent of its kind but not in the same class of interest to most music lovers; but if you prefer it, its playing and recording are first rate. So is that of the Epic March; but Ireland was not at his happiest in a 'pomp and circumstance' style where he was denied his lyrical gifts. The point is emphasized by the wholly characteristic melody of the march's Trio, T.H. Other versions are now available for downloading:

The suite has also been released on collections of British music for film and television on LP and CD. It remains easily accessible in a number of versions: A pocket score is available from Boosey and Hawkes: