John Stainer

Sir John Stainer (born June 6, 1840 in Southwark , London , † March 31, 1901 in Verona ) was an English organist ( church musician ) and composer .

biography

As a boy he sang in the choir of St Paul's Cathedral and at the age of 16 was hired by Sir Frederick Ouseley as organist at the newly formed St Michael's College , Tenbury . In 1860 he became organist at Magdalen College , Oxford , and in 1872 he moved to Saint Paul's Cathedral. His work as a choir teacher and organist set standards for Anglican church music , the influence of which can still be felt today. Stainer was also active as a teacher, in 1889 he received a professorship for music at Oxford University and undertook pioneering research in the field of early music .

As a composer he produced an extensive work of sacred music , among which his passion cantata The Crucifixion is one of the best known. Numerous Anglican hymns that are still sung today come from his pen .

The Crucifixion has long been one of the various cantatas on the Passion thatwere performed in English churchesduring Holy Week . Stainer also made a contribution to traditional English Christmas music that continues to this day by publishingthe collection Christmas Carols New and Old (1871)together with HR Bramley , which was a decisive impetus for the revival of the singing of Christmas carols .

literature

Peter Charlton: John Stainer and the musical life of Victorian Britain (Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1981)
HR Bramley (ed. Texts), J. Stainer (ed. Music): Christmas Carols, New and Old (London, Novello, 1871)
The Oxford Book of Carols (Oxford University Press, 1928), pp. Xvi-xvii.

Web links

personal data
SURNAME	Stainer, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	English composer
DATE OF BIRTH	June 6, 1840
PLACE OF BIRTH	Southwark , London
DATE OF DEATH	March 31, 1901
Place of death	Verona