John Stainer

John Stainer

Sir John Stainer (6 June 1840 – 31 March 1901) was an English composer and organist whose music, though not generally much performed today (with the exception of The Crucifixion, still heard at Passiontide in many Protestant churches of the former British Empire), was very popular during his lifetime. His work as choir trainer and organist set standards for Anglican church music which are still influential. He was also active as an academic, becoming professor of music at Oxford. According to Peter Charlton's biography, Sir Arthur Sullivan's tribute to Stainer was blunt and memorable: "He is a genius".