Edward Bairstow Sir Edward Bairstow
"Born in a city widely known for choir singing, Bairstow became an important figure in English church music of this century. He was graduated from the University of Durham in 1894, having studied music theory and organ. Subsequently he became an organist and choirmaster at various churches in London for some time.

These included positions at Wigan from 1899 to 1906 and at Leeds form 1906 to 1913. He then worked at Westminster Abbey as assistant to Frederick Bridge. After completing a doctorate degree in 1901 Bairstow returned in 1906 to work at the Leeds Parish Church.

From 1913 to the time of his death he was organist and boys' master at the York Minster, becoming a professor of music at Durham University in 1929. His anthems became, and still are, often used in Anglican churches. In 1932 he was knighted for his contributions to English music."

Someof Bairstow's works are:up

  • I sat down under his shadow
    Simple, effective, Beautiful. The Tenor solo at the begininng and the end helps unify this short piece into a wave of wonderful harmonics. Typical Bairstow.
  • Lamentation (1942)
    Written for the choir of York Minster where Bairstow was choirmaster from 1913 to 1946, this setting of selected passages of the Lamentations of Jeremiah was used as a replacement for the Benedicte in Lent.
  • Blessed city, heavenly Salem
  • If the Lord had not helped me (1910)
  • Let all mortal flesh keep silence (1925)
    Wow. Big piece, using an SSAATTBB choir. The work written to the words of the famous French carol is astounding. The simple unison duet of the tenor and bass solos moves to a wispy SSAAT interlude before a unison section for the whole choir. Then the full masterwrought piece blooms in a great chord and subsequent sweeping melodics rush towards the defined Alleluias, which ahev rests after them to allow for the ring to carry in the huge Cathedral for which it was written. The effect is breath-taking. The piece ends quietly as it began with a tenor and bass unison duet with choir acc.
  • Jesu, grant me this, I pray
  • Save us, O Lord
  • The Lord is my shepherd
  • Lord, Thou hast been our Refuge (1917) Chorus and Orchestra

Links to other Bairstow pagesup

  • There aren't any.. this is the only one!!

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