An English composer of Irish descent, Moeran's education at the Royal College of Music was interrupted in 1914 by WWI, where he suffered a serious head wound and was discharged. He then continued his musical studies under John Ireland until 1923. During his early career he concentrated on small scale works inspired by Irish music and the chromatic harmonies of Delius. His reluctance to attempt larger works is evidenced by his inability to complete a symphony commissioned by The Halle Orchestra in 1926. He remained stylistically dependent on other composers until after a period of isolation and introspection led him to alter his compositional techniques to allow larger works. These new works contained the lyrical and folk styles of earlier compositions but is stronger and more grandly proportioned. Thereafter his work became more energetic and was most likely on the verge of another metamorphasis when he was found in the River Kenmare, dead of a heart attack. Moeran was considered a minor composer in his time, but is now placed among Holst and Bridge as an excellent craftsman and technician. ~ Lynn Vought, Rovi