John Stainer (1840-1901)

Sir John Stainer 1840-1901 was an English composer and organist born in Southwark, London. As a boy, he sang in the choir of St Paul’s Cathedral. At the age of 16, he was appointed by Sir Frederick Ouseley to the post of organist at the newly founded St. Michael’s College, Tenbury. Because of a childhood accident, Stainer had lost the use of one eye; for a brief period in 1875 he lost that of the other too.

In 1860 he became organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, moving to St Paul’s Cathedral in 1872. Thirteen years afterwards, he was awarded an honorary degree by Durham University; and he became professor of music at Oxford University in 1889. He conducted pioneering research into early music, notably the output of Guillaume Dufay, then scarcely known even among experts. In recognition of his services to British music-making, he received a knighthood from Queen Victoria in 1888.

Stainer died in Verona of heart failure on 31 March 1901, at the age of 60. His funeral was held on 6 April at St Cross Church, Holywell, Oxford, and the surrounding streets were filled with mourners.
His work as choir trainer and organist set standards for Anglican church music which are still influential.

Hymns Associated with John Stainer (1840-1901)

• All For Jesus! (All For Jesus, Organ, 5 Verses)
  All For Jesus! Lyrics Lyricist: William John Sparrow-Simpson (1859 – 1952). Lyrics Copyright Novello & Co. Ltd. Meter: 87 87. We regret that we are unable to publish the lyrics to this hymn at the moment, as they are still in copyright. All For Jesus! Recording Tune: All for Jesus, composed by John Stainer (1840 – 1901). Public Domain. Performance ℗ ...
• Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Cross of Jesus, Organ, 4 Verses)
  From the album Christmas Joy – Beloved Carols for Church and Singers, also available on CD. Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus : Recording Alternative versions of Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus https://soundcloud.com/richardirwinmusic/come-thou-long-expected-jesus?si=72baae81344a431ca052d130c6aeee3c Tune: Cross of Jesus, composed by John Stainer (1840 – 1901). Public Domain. Performance ℗ 2021 Richard Irwin Music®. ISRC UKTU21900395. All rights reserved. Come Thou Long-Expected Jesus : Lyrics Alternative versions of Come ...
• Cross Of Jesus Cross Of Sorrow (Cross of Jesus, Organ, 4 Verses)
  Cross Of Jesus Cross Of Sorrow : Lyrics 1. Cross of Jesus, cross of sorrow, Where the blood of Christ was shed, Perfect Man on thee did suffer, Perfect God on thee has bled! 2. Here the King of all the ages, Throned in light ere worlds could be, Robed in mortal flesh is dying, Crucified by sin for me. 3. O myster’ous condescending! O ...
• Good Christians All Rejoice (In Dulci Jubilo, Organ, 3 Verses)
  From the album Christmas Joy – Beloved Carols for Church and Singers, also available on CD. This version of the carol has an extra bar in line four, not included in other versions of Good Christians All Rejoice. Alternative names for this carol include: “Good Christian Folk Rejoice” and the original mediaeval In Dulci Jubilo Good Christians All ...
• Good Christians All Rejoice (In Dulci Jubilo, Organ, 3 Verses) Free Download
  Good Christians All Rejoice (In Dulci Jubilo) :  Recordings Tune: In Dulci Jubilo, by an anonymous 14th century German composer, arr. John Stainer (1840-1901). Public Domain. Meter: Irregular Performance ℗ 2021 Richard Irwin Music®. ISRC UKTU21900371. All rights reserved. Good Christians All Rejoice (In Dulci Jubilo) : Lyrics This version of the carol omits the fourth line of each verses (e.g. News! ...
• Good King Wenceslas (Tempus Adest Floridum, Organ, 5 Verses) Free Download
  From the album Christmas Joy – Beloved Carols for Church and Singers, also available on CD. Good King Wenceslas : Recording https://soundcloud.com/richardirwinmusic/good-king-wenceslas Tune: Tempus Adest Floridum, from Hymnal: Piae Cantiones (1582) adapted  John Stainer (1840-1901) and arranged by Richard M S Irwin (b. 1955). Meter: 76 76 D. Performance ℗ 2021 Richard Irwin Music®. ISRC UKTU21900403. All rights reserved. Good King Wenceslas ...
• Holy Jesu By Thy Passion (Holy Jesu, Organ, 6 Verses)
  Holy Jesu By Thy Passion Lyrics We regret that we are unable to publish the lyrics to this hymn at the moment, as they are still in copyright. Lyricist: William John Sparrow-Simpson (1859-1952). Copyright Novello & Co Limited. Meter: 87 87 and Refrain. Holy Jesu By Thy Passion Recording Tune: Holy Jesu, composed by John Stainer (1840-1901). The hymn originally ...
• Lord Jesus Think On Me (St Paul’s, Organ, 6 Verses)
  Lord Jesus Think On Me : Recording Tune: St Paul’s, composed by John Stainer (1840-1901). Music Public Domain. Meter: SM. Performance ℗ 2018 Richard Irwin Music®. All rights reserved. Lord Jesus Think On Me : Lyrics 1. Lord Jesus, think on me,And purge away my sin;From earth born passions set me free,And make me pure within. 2. Lord Jesus, think ...
• The First Nowell (Nowell, Organ and Brass Descant, 4 Verses)
  The First Nowell : Lyrics The first Nowell, the angels say To Bethlehem’s shepherds as they lay. At midnight watch, when keeping sheep, The winter wild, the light snow deep. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell Born is the King of Israel. The shepherds rose, and saw a star Bright in the East, beyond them far, Its beauty gave them great delight, This star it set now ...