Wikipedia
Sir John Stainer (*June 6, 1840 in Southwark, London; †March 31, 1901 in Verona, Italy) was an English organist (church musician) and composer.
He sang as a boy in the choir of St Paul's Cathedral and at the age of 16 was engaged by Sir Frederick Ouseley as organist at the newly founded St Michael's College, Tenbury. In 1860 he became organist at Magdalen College, Oxford and aftewards moving to Saint Paul's Cathedral in 1872. His activities as choral educator and organist set standards for Anglican church music. The influence of which is still felt today. Stainer was also active as a teacher and in 1889 he received a professorship of music at Oxford University, undertaking pioneering research in early music.
As a composer, he produced an extensive body of sacred music, among which his Passion cantata ''The Crucifixion'' is among the best known. He also wrote numerous Anglican hymns that are still sung today.
''The Crucifixion'' was for a long time one of the various Passion cantatas performed in English churches during Holy Week. Stainer also made a contribution to traditional English Christmas music that continues to this day by publishing with H. R. Bramley, the collection ''Christmas Carols New and Old (1871)'' It was a decisive influence for the revival of carol singing.
Note: Translated from the German version of Wikipedia into English
