Neglected Pioneer: E.J. Moeran (1894-1950)

Over a period of almost four decades, the composer E.J. Moeran took a great interest in traditional song. Although he made settings of songs, and his music was influenced by them, he deeply respected the tradition for its own sake, and greatly admired the skill of performers such as Harry Cox. His extant collection of traditional songs is not large - fewer than seventy items - but it is of great interest, and his contribution in this field has been unfairly neglected. A check-list of songs and singers is appended.