Short bio Edward Bairstow
Full biography Edward Bairstow
Edward Bairstow was an accomplished English composer, organist, and choirmaster, born in Huddersfield, England on August 22, 1874. He was the son of a local tailor and started his music career as a chorister at St. Mary's Church in Huddersfield. He was noticed for his musical talent at a young age, and subsequently received a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London.
After completing his education, Bairstow gained recognition as an outstanding orchestral and choral conductor. He conducted several influential orchestras, including the City of Birmingham Orchestra, where he was appointed conductor in 1937. He was also the Director of Music at York Minster for over 25 years.
In addition to his conducting career, Bairstow was a prolific composer of choral and organ music. He composed over two hundred works, including anthems, canticles, and hymns. Some of his most notable works include his Evening Service in D Major, which is still commonly sung in Anglican churches today, and his anthem "Blessed City, Heavenly Salem."
Bairstow's music was heavily influenced by the English choral tradition, and his works are characterized by their lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and careful attention to text setting. He was a respected figure in the English music scene and was given several honours during his lifetime. He was awarded the Knighthood of the First Class of the Order of the White Rose of Finland in 1933 and in 1939 was made a Commander of the British Empire.
Despite facing financial struggles and losing many of his loved ones throughout his life, Bairstow remained dedicated to his music until his death on May 1, 1946. Today, his legacy lives on through his enduring contributions to English classical music.
Compositions featuring Edward Bairstow
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Lamentation, for chorus & organ | 8:23 min | Choral | 1942 |
| 2 | Jesu, grant me this, I pray, for chorus & organ | 3:33 min | Choral | 1929 |
| 3 | I Sat Down under His Shadow for chorus | 1:56 min | Choral | 1925 |
| 4 | Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence for chorus & orchestra/organ | 3:33 min | Choral | 1925 |
| 5 | Lord, Thou Hast Been Our Refuge, for chorus & orchestra/organ | 8:32 min | Choral | 1917 |
| 6 | Lord, I Call on Thee, for chorus & organ | 4:47 min | Choral | 1916 |
| 7 | Blessed City, Heavenly Salem for chorus & orchestra/organ | 8:48 min | Choral | 1914 |
| 8 | Communion Service for chorus & organ in D | 10:59 min | Choral | 1913 |
| 9 | Prelude, Elegy and Toccata-Prelude, for organ | 15:14 min | Keyboard | 1911 |
| 10 | If the Lord had not helped me, for chorus & organ | 6:37 min | Choral | 1910 |
| 11 | Legend in A flat major, for organ | 8:52 min | Keyboard | 1907 |
| 12 | Nunc Dimittis in D major, for chorus & organ | 3:01 min | Choral | 1906 |
| 13 | Magnificat in D major, for chorus & organ | 4:46 min | Choral | 1906 |
| 14 | Nocturne for organ in D flat | 9:41 min | Keyboard | 1903 |
| 15 | Save Us, O Lord, anthem for chorus & organ | 4:52 min | Choral | 1902 |
| 16 | The Blessed Virgin's cradle song, for chorus & organ | 2:52 min | Choral | 1892 |
| 17 | Psalm 77, for chorus & organ | 6:30 min | Choral | - |
| 18 | Prelude for organ on Vexilla Regis | 4:04 min | Keyboard | - |
| 19 | Andante for organ in F major | 3:22 min | Keyboard | - |
| 20 | Psalm 5 for chorus & organ: Ponder my words | 4:17 min | Choral | - |
| 21 | Psalm 51 "Miserere mei, Deus" (from the St. Paul's Cathedral Psalter, Day 10, Morning) | 6:33 min | Choral | - |
| 22 | Though I speak with the tongues of men | 5:23 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | - |
| 23 | Psalm 67: God be merciful unto us, and bless us | 2:31 min | - | |
| 24 | Psalm 72 for chorus & organ: Give the King thy judgements, O God | 5:23 min | Choral | - |
| 25 | Scherzo for organ in A flat | 4:12 min | Keyboard | - |
| 26 | Psalm 84 | 4:08 min | Choral | - |
| 27 | Psalm 107 "O Give Thanks unto the Lord" | 10:53 min | Choral | - |
| 28 | Psalm 114, In Exitu Israel, for organ & chorus | 2:26 min | Choral | - |
| 29 | Sonato for organ in E flat | 17:24 min | Keyboard | - |
| 30 | Psalm 146: Lauda, anima mea | 3:15 min | Choral | - |
| 31 | Sing Ye to the Lord for chorus & organ | 4:59 min | Choral | - |
| 32 | Short Preludes (3) for organ | 8:13 min | Keyboard | - |
| 33 | Toccata-Prelude for organ on Pange Lingua | 4:04 min | Keyboard | - |
| 34 | Magnificat in E flat major | 3:21 min | Choral | - |
| 35 | Elegy for organ | 7:18 min | Keyboard | - |
| 36 | Evening Service for chorus & organ (or orchestra) in G major | 6:01 min | Choral | - |
| 37 | Evening Service for chorus & organ in D | 8:48 min | Choral | - |
| 38 | Evening Song, for organ | 6:37 min | Keyboard | - |
| 39 | Five Poems of the Spirit, for solo baritone, choir & orchestra | 14:08 min | Choral | - |
| 40 | I Dare Not Ask a Kiss, part song | 2:05 min | Choral | - |
| 41 | I Will Wash My Hands in Innocency for chorus & orchestra/organ | 1:42 min | Choral | - |
| 42 | Jesu, the Very Thought of Thee for chorus & orchestra/organ | 2:21 min | Choral | - |
| 43 | Let My Prayer Come up for chorus & orchestra/organ | 2:21 min | Choral | - |
| 44 | Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, for chorus & organ in D major | 8:03 min | Choral | - |
| 45 | Prelude for organ in C major | 3:21 min | Keyboard | - |
| 46 | Magnificat in G | 3:48 min | - | |
| 47 | Mass in E flat major, for chorus | 11:13 min | Choral | - |
| 48 | Meditation for organ | 4:20 min | Keyboard | - |
| 49 | Music, When Soft Voices Die | 2:07 min | Choral | - |
| 50 | Nunc Dimitis in G | 2:26 min | - | |
| 51 | Nunc Dimittis in E flat major | 2:05 min | Choral | - |
| 52 | Oak and the Ash, for chorus | 2:58 min | Choral | - |
| 53 | Organ Sonata in E flat | 16:50 min | Keyboard | - |
| 54 | Organ Sonata No. 1 in G major | 14:33 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Edward Bairstow
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Callum Alger, Elgar, Bairstow – Maestoso(CD, Album) | 2022 | Regent Records |
| 2 |  |
Bairstow, Harris, Stanford, The Choir Of Westminster Abbey, Peter Holder (2), James O'Donnell (2) – Choral Works(CD, Album) | 2019 | Hyperion |
| 3 |  |
Sir Edward Bairstow, Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum, Simon Bell (7) – Our Father in the Heavens (Anthems by Sir Edward Bairstow)(CD, Album) | 2019 | Regent Records |
| 4 |  |
Bairstow, The Choir Of St. John's College, Cambridge, Britten Sinfonia, Roderick Williams (3), Paul Provost (2), David Hill – Choral Music(CD, Album) | 2007 | Hyperion |
| 5 |  |
Edward C. Bairstow, The Choir Of York Minster Directed By Francis Jackson – The British Choral Tradition: Edward C Bairstow Choral Music The Choir Of York Minster Directed By Francis Jackson Live & Session Recordings 1956-1974(CD, Album) | 2004 | Amphion Recordings (2) |
| 6 |  |
Organist Composer Conductor - Recorded 1926-1945(CD, Album) | 1996 | Amphion Recordings (2) |
| 7 |  |
Sir Edward Bairstow, The Choir Of York Minster Directed By Philip Moore , Organ: John Scott Whiteley – The Choral Music Of Sir Edward Bairstow(CD, ) | 1992 | Priory |
| 8 |  |
Bairstow · Finzi · Balfour Gardiner · Hadley · Ireland · Naylor · Stainer · Stanford · Wesley · Wood - St Paul's Cathedral Choir, Andrew Lucas, John Scott (10) – The English Anthem – Volume 1(CD, ) | 1990 | Hyperion |
| 9 |  |
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow, Francis Jackson – The Complete Organ Works | 1990 | Mirabilis (2) |
| 10 |  |
Edward C. Bairstow, York Minster Choir, Francis Jackson, Geoffrey Coffin – Sir Edward Bairstow Choral And Organ Works(LP, Album) | 1974 | Canon Records Limited |
| 11 |  |
The Choir Of St John's College, Cambridge Director George Guest (2), Bairstow, Britten, Howells, Ireland, Orr, Tippett, Vaughan Williams, Walton – Twentieth Century Church Music | 1963 | Argo (2) |
| 12 |  |
Edward Bairstow, The Saint Thomas Choir Of Men And Boys – The Choral Music Of Edward Bairstow(14×File, MP3, Album) | - | Koch International Classics |
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