Uncovered Treasures - Bairstow in Blackburn: Much loved sacred works by Sir Edward Bairstow at Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn on Wednesday 27th March 2024

Please note: This concert is in the past and has already taken place.

Uncovered Treasures - Bairstow in Blackburn

Much loved sacred works by Sir Edward Bairstow

Add to my Calendar 27-03-2024 19:30 27-03-2024 21:30 36 Uncovered Treasures - Bairstow in Blackburn Two newly discovered works by British composer Sir Edward Bairstow will be heard for the first time in living memory in a concert at Blackburn Cathedral on Wednesday 27 March, performed by Blackburn Music Society and Blackburn Chamber Choir. Years of unstinting volunteer work by archivist Pete Asher cataloguing the documents of a blind Blackburn organist has uncovered the hymn settings.  The concert ‘Uncovered Treasures – Bairstow in Blackburn’ showcases some of his most famous and most loved sacred works. It will be led by the musical director of both choirs and of Blackburn Cathedral, John Robinson, with organist John Hosking.  The manuscripts were discovered by Pete Asher, a member of the Music Society and volunteer archivist in the Local History section of Blackburn Library.  Pete’s latest project was to catalogue the William Wolstenholme Collection. William was born in Blackburn in 1865 and went on to become a celebrated organist and composer despite being born blind. His musical talents were recognised very early and he was sent to a school for the blind in Worcester. His violin teacher at the school was a youthful Edward Elgar who later became William’s amanuensis when he took his BMus at Oxford. They stayed good friends until William’s death in 1931. At that time William was living in London with his sister Maude and her family. She had become effectively his secretary/business manager. After his death Maude must have packed up William’s study and donated the resulting collection of documents to Blackburn Library. The contents were never fully indexed although the extensive musical scores in Braille were indexed by Douglas Carrington in 2002. In addition to the Braille scores the Wolstenholme collection contained some 130 works in manuscript form of which the majority were by William himself. However, a few were by other composers including Edward Bairstow. Blackburn Cathedral, Blackburn DD/MM/YYYY

Details

Blackburn Cathedral
Cathedral Close
Blackburn
Lancashire
BB1 5AA
England

Wednesday 27th March 2024
7:30 PM

Programme

Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – O Come O Come Emmanuel
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Forty Days and Forty Nights
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Lord thou hast been our refuge
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Though I speak with the tongues
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – The day draws on with golden light
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – The Lamentations
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – As Moses lifted up the serpent
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Blessed Virgin's Cradle Song
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – The King of Love my Shepherd is
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Save us, O Lord
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Organ Sonata in E flat major
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Jesu the very thought of thee
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – I sat down under his shadow
Edward Cuthbert Bairstow – Blessed city, Heavenly Salem

Performers

John Robinson – Conductor
John Hosking – organ

Blackburn Chamber Choir
Blackburn Music Society

Programme Note

Two newly discovered works by British composer Sir Edward Bairstow will be heard for the first time in living memory in a concert at Blackburn Cathedral on Wednesday 27 March, performed by Blackburn Music Society and Blackburn Chamber Choir.

Years of unstinting volunteer work by archivist Pete Asher cataloguing the documents of a blind Blackburn organist has uncovered the hymn settings.

The concert ‘Uncovered Treasures – Bairstow in Blackburn’ showcases some of his most famous and most loved sacred works. It will be led by the musical director of both choirs and of Blackburn Cathedral, John Robinson, with organist John Hosking.

The manuscripts were discovered by Pete Asher, a member of the Music Society and volunteer archivist in the Local History section of Blackburn Library. Pete’s latest project was to catalogue the William Wolstenholme Collection.

William was born in Blackburn in 1865 and went on to become a celebrated organist and composer despite being born blind. His musical talents were recognised very early and he was sent to a school for the blind in Worcester. His violin teacher at the school was a youthful Edward Elgar who later became William’s amanuensis when he took his BMus at Oxford. They stayed good friends until William’s death in 1931.

At that time William was living in London with his sister Maude and her family. She had become effectively his secretary/business manager. After his death Maude must have packed up William’s study and donated the resulting collection of documents to Blackburn Library. The contents were never fully indexed although the extensive musical scores in Braille were indexed by Douglas Carrington in 2002. In addition to the Braille scores the Wolstenholme collection contained some 130 works in manuscript form of which the majority were by William himself. However, a few were by other composers including Edward Bairstow.

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