Blest Pair of Sirens: Church Music In Victorian England

In the Victorian period English sacred music saw a major transition, reflecting the wider developments in the church and society as a whole. When St Matthew's was built in 1849, church music was at a low ebb. Anthony Trollope in, 'Barchester Towers', (1857) parodies the state of English church music, to humorous effect.

The concert will feature excerpts of well-loved choral music of the period by some of the following composers who helped re-shape church music: Elgar, Stanford and Parry, together with hymns from Hymns Ancient and Modern, with audience participation.