LOVE UNKNOWN

Composer: John Ireland

John Ireland (1879-1962) studied at Durham University in England and became a church organist, choirmaster, editor, and lecturer, eventually teaching at the Royal College of Church Music. He was a gifted composer of music for voice, piano, organ, chamber music, and orchestra that were recognized for their excellence during his lifetime; LOVE UNKNOWN was his only hymn tune, found today in numerous hymnals. Emily Brink  Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: LOVE UNKNOWN
Composer: John Ireland (1918)
Meter: 6.6.6.6.4.4.4.4
Incipit: 35632 12345 36676
Key: D Major
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

John Ireland (b. Bowdon, Cheshire, England, 1879; d. Rock Mill, Washington, Sussex, England, 1962) composed LOVE UNKNOWN in 1918 for the text "My song is love unknown"; the tune was first published in The Public School Hymn Book of 1919. A letter in the London Daily Telegraph of April 5, 1950, claims that Ireland wrote LOVE UNKNOWN within fifteen minutes on a scrap of paper upon receiving the request to compose it from Geoffrey Shaw, one of the editors of that 1919 hymnal. LOVE UNKNOWN has since appeared in many hymnals as a setting for a number of different texts.

Trained at the Royal College of Music, Ireland served as organist at St. Luke's, Chelsea (1904-1926), and taught at the Royal College of Music from 1923 to 1939. He became known as one of the best composers and teachers of his era, but his personal life was often troubled. Although his piano works, chamber music, and smaller orchestral works remain popular, Ireland is mainly remembered for his song cycles of poetry by Shakespeare, Blake, Hardy, and other English poets. His songs often have carefully wrought accompaniments–as is certainly the case for LOVE UNKNOWN. Sing this fine tune in unison with firm legato organ support, or in harmony, possibly even unaccompanied on a stanza, if resources permit.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1987

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Awake and Sing: Hymn Introductions and Accompaniments
    Composer/Editor Eric Wall
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2022) pp. 45
  • Hymns from King's: 20 Hymn Arrangements
    Composer/Editor Stephen Cleobury
    Published By: Peters Edition Ltd. (2014) pp. 19
  • Above All Praise: Choral Hymn Descants with Organ Accompaniment
    Composer/Editor Antony Baldwin
    Published By: Paraclete Press (2011) pp. 14
  • Hymn Tunes in Lower Keyes: The Book to Grab When the Congregation Complains that the Hymns are Too High!
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2011) pp. 151
  • Hymn Tunes in Lower Keys: The Book to Grab When the Congregation Complains that the Hymns are Too High!
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2011) pp. 151
  • 200 Last Verses: Completely Revised to Complement the Keys in Major Hymn Books
    Composer/Editor Noel Rawsthorne
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2009) pp. 89
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Organ Volume 9: Evangelical Lutheran Worship Hymns 755 - 818
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Marissa Bauck; James Biery
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2009) pp. 791
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Piano Volume 9: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 755 - 818
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Marissa Bauck; Timothy Shaw
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2009) pp. 791
  • The Organist's Great Big Lent & Easter Book: A Feast of Music for the Greatest Season of the Year
    Composer/Editor John Alley
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2009) pp. 253
  • The Really Big Descant Book - Full Music Edition: 250 Settings to Raise the Roof by the World's Finest Church Music Composers
    Composer/Editor Richard Lloyd
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2009) pp. 123
  • Hymn Intonations, Preludes, and Free Harmonizations Volume XV: More Intonations and Harmonizations
    Composer/Editor David Hurd
    Published By: Selah Publishing Company, Inc. (2008) pp. 9
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Organ Volume 2: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 304 - 360
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Mark Weiler; Wayne L. Wold
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2008) pp. 343
  • 200 New Last Verses
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2007) pp. 109
  • Introductions and Alternate Accompaniments for Piano Volume 2: Evangelical Lutheran Worship, Hymns 304 - 360
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Mark Weiler; Rachel Trelstad Porter
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2007) pp. 343
  • Introductions, Harmonizations, Accompaniments, Interpretations Volume 3: Settings by Jeffrey Blersch
    Composer/Editor Jeffrey N. Blersch
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2006) pp. 24
  • The Art of Hymn Playing 2nd edition: 250 Preludes Introductions Free Accompaniments & Alternate Harmonizations
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2006) pp. 74-75
  • The St. Francis Collection of Free Accompaniments to Hymn Tunes: 80 Settings by Various Composers
    Composer/Editors Dirk van Dissel; John A. Behnke
    Published By: G. I. A. Publications, Inc. (2005) pp. 65
  • Two Hundred One Hymn Tune Prelude Miniatures
    Composer/Editor Mark Winchester
    Published By: Frog Music (2005) pp. 195
  • As Though the Whole Creation Cried: Fifty Hymn Harmonizations for Organ
    Composer/Editor Michael A. Burkhardt
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2001) pp. 52-53
  • Hymn Introductions for Lent, Easter & Trinity for Organ
    Composer/Editor B. Wayne Bisbee
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1998) pp. 8
  • Easy Hymn Accompaniments for Organ or Piano: Set III
    Composer/Editor Edward H. Myer
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1996) pp. 48
  • After the Last Verse: 200 Hymn Improvisations
    Composer/Editor Malcolm Archer
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (1995) pp. 89
  • Easy Hymn Settings Lent
    Composer/Editor Michael A. Burkhardt
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1992) pp. 16
  • Varied Hymn Accompaniments for Lent
    Composer/Editor Paul Manz
    Published By: Birnamwood Publications (1992) pp. 23
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 8: Lent: Herzliebster - P
    Composer/Editors Herbert Gotsch; Wilbur C. Held
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1982) pp. 13
  • Intonations on Selected Hymns
    Composer/Editor Theodore Beck
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1976) pp. 9

Organ Solo

  • The Organist's Library Volume 68
    Composer/Editor David Lasky
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2020) pp. 33
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 83 Number 1 September October 2019: The Service Music Anthology for the Church Organist
    Composer/Editors Carson Cooman; David M. Lasky
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2019) pp. 33
  • Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists Volume 3 Lent and Passiontide: 35 Original Pieces on Hymns for Lent and Passiontide
    Composer/Editors Rebecca Groom Te Velde; David Blackwell; Mathew H. Corl
    Published By: Oxford University Press (2015) pp. 46
  • Hymn Prelude Library Volume Six Tunes JKL: Lutheran Service Book
    Composer/Editors Kevin J. Hildebrand; Jon D. Vieker
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2014) pp. 143
  • Journey to the Cross: Hymn Preludes for Lent and Holy Week
    Composer/Editor James Biery
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2013) pp. 16
  • The Oxford Book of Lent and Easter Organ Music: Including Music for Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter, Ascension, and Pentecost
    Composer/Editors Robert Gower; Francis Jackson
    Published By: Oxford University Press (2013) pp. 35
  • A Blue Cloud Abbey Organ Book for Lent
    Composer/Editor Christopher Uehlein
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2010) pp. 24
  • Composer/Editor Michael D. Costello
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (2010) pp. 9
  • The Organist's Great Big Lent & Easter Book: A Feast of Music for the Greatest Season of the Year
    Composer/Editors Andrew Wright; John Alley
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2009) pp. 247
  • 100 New Hymn Preludes
    Composer/Editor Andrew Wright
    Published By: Kevin Mayhew Ltd. (2008) pp. 166
  • Augsburg Organ Library Lent
    Composer/Editors Norma Aamodt-Nelson; Karl Osterland
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2000) pp. 62
  • Lift One Voice: Organ Explorations of Hymntunes
    Composer/Editor Karl Osterland
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (2000) pp. 10
  • Lenten Triptych
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1997) pp. 8
  • 6 Hymn Preludes Set 5
    Composer/Editor John Eggert
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1996) pp. 14
  • 7 Hymn Preludes Set 4
    Composer/Editor Donald Rotermund
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1996) pp. 11
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 30 Number 4 March April 1996: A Bi-monthly Anthology For Church Organists
    Composer/Editors James Mansfield; Juliet Calkins
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1996) pp. 21
  • Laudate! Volume 2: Organ Music Based on the 100 Most Popular Hymns in Worship III and Gather
    Composer/Editors James W. Kosnik; Charles Callahan
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1995) pp. 39
  • Six Meditations on English Hymn Tunes for Organ
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1993) pp. 3
  • Easy Hymn Settings Lent
    Composer/Editor Michael A. Burkhardt
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1992) pp. 16
  • Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1991) pp. 2
  • 5 Lenten Hymn Improvisations
    Composer/Editor Michael A. Burkhardt
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1990) pp. 12
  • Lenten Music for Manuals
    Composer/Editor Charles Callahan
    Published By: MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. (1990) pp. 9
  • 3 Hymn Preludes
    Composer/Editor John Leavitt
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1985) pp. 2
  • Eight Hymn Preludes for Lent
    Composer/Editor Peter Pindar Stearns
    Published By: Harold Flammer, Inc. (1985) pp. 17
  • The Sacred Organ Journal Volume 17 Number 4 March 1983: A Bi-monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Howard Wells; Gilbert M. Martin
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1983) pp. 24
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 8: Lent: Herzliebster - P
    Composer/Editors Herbert Gotsch; Wilbur C. Held
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1982) pp. 12
  • Preludes for the Hymns in Worship Supplement Volume II: Lent - Easter Nos. 725 - 744
    Composer/Editor Ronald Arnatt
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1972) pp. 4

Piano Solo

  • Piano Melodies: Simple Piano Arrangements
    Composer/Editor Norman Johnson
    Published By: Singspiration Music, Inc. (1965) pp. 20

Instruments: Instrumental Solo with Organ

  • With Music Crowned: Chorale Settings for Organ and Instruments
    Composer/Editor Donald Busarow
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (2009) pp. 26
  • Composer/Editor John Leavitt
    Published By: Augsburg Fortress (1997) pp. 4

Instances

Instances (1 - 71 of 71)

A New Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #31

Alleluia Aotearoa #100

Text

Ancient and Modern #147

Text

Ancient and Modern #321

Text

Ancient and Modern #487

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #230

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #521

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #764

Text

Christian Worship (1993) #110

TextPage Scan

Christian Worship #397

Text

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #238

Text

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #399

Text

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #698

Text

Common Praise (1998) #184

Text

Common Praise #112

Text

Common Praise #236b

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #209

Text

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #463

Complete Mission Praise #478

Complete Mission Praise #813

Text

CPWI Hymnal #141

Text

CPWI Hymnal #784

Text

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #343

Evangelical Lutheran Worship #791

Text InfoTextAudio

Glory to God #209

Hymnal #235

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #63

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #136

Text

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #238

Text

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #399

Text

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #698

Hymns of the Saints #202

TextPage Scan

Hymns to the Living God #142

Text

Journeysongs (2nd ed.) #415

Text

Journeysongs (3rd ed.) #390

TextAudio

Lift Up Your Hearts #315

Audio

Lift Up Your Hearts #851

Text

Lutheran Service Book #430

Text

Lutheran Worship #91

Text

Moravian Book of Worship #482

Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #18

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Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #260

Text InfoTune InfoAudio

Psalter Hymnal (Gray) #220

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Rejoice in the Lord #284

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RitualSong (2nd ed.) #599

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RitualSong #572

Tune InfoText

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #188

Singing the Faith #277

Singing the Living Tradition #129

Singing the New Testament #32

Text

The Book of Praise #220

Text

The Cyber Hymnal #13359

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #13395

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The Hymnal 1982 #458

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #38

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #417

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #583

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #618b

Text

The New English Hymnal #86

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #76

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #515

Text

Together in Song #341

Page Scan

Trinity Psalter Hymnal #143A

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Trinity Psalter Hymnal #326

Voices Together #154

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Voices Together #320

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Voices United #143

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Voices United #456

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With One Voice #661

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Worship (3rd ed.) #439

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Worship (4th ed.) #490

Include 10 pre-1979 instances
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