The Clarendon Piano Series: A selection of excellent British piano music

I recently found a piece of music by Hilda M. Cooper, called Tarn Hows of which more will be said in a later post. However this work was published as a part of a short-lived series issued by the Oxford University Press under the Clarendon Piano Series.
The aim of this new library of piano music was ‘to provide solo pieces of high musical value and varying difficulty, for recital, festival, and practice purposes.’ Interestingly it was edited by John Ireland who ‘as an English composer enjoys in an unique degree both serious admiration and genuine popularity.’ Ireland selected these pieces to reflect his own preferences in piano music.
The advert for the series concluded with a statement that there were other pieces in preparation and that they were sure that ‘the Clarendon Piano Series will figure in many concert and wireless programmes’ in years to come.
This has partly come to pass as the list below shows. However I guess that only Ireland’s own contribution has really stood the test of time. Fortunately both Bowen and Moeran’s piano music has been reappraised in recent years and has not been found to be wanting. Perhaps some of the other pieces will be performed in the future and will add to the stock of worthy British piano pieces. Certainly my first glance at Hilda Cooper’s Tarn Hows reveals a competent and musically descriptive piece.

Roy Agnew
A May Day for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
Rabbit Hill for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
Elf Dance: a study for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

York Bowen
Berceuse for piano, Op.83, Oxford University Press, London 1928
Three preludes: No. 1, for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
Three preludes: No. 2, for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
Three preludes: No. 3, for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

Hilda M. Cooper
Tarn Hows for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

Dorothy Howell
Prelude in A flat for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1929
Prelude in C major for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1929
Prelude in F minor for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1929

Herbert Howells
Country Pageant: four short pieces for the piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
Gadabout, for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
A Little Book of Dances for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

John Ireland
Spring will not wait for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

E.J. Moeran
Bank Holiday, for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
Summer Valley, for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

H.E. Randerson
Eclogue for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928
An Oxford Quadrangle for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

Harold Rutland
Toccata for piano, Oxford University Press, London 1928

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All dates are approximate.