John Stainer

Sir John Stainer (London, 6 June 1840 – Verona, 31 March 1901) was an English composer and organist whose music, though not generally greatly admired today (with the possible exception of The Crucifixion), was much performed during his lifetime. His work as choir trainer and organist, however, set standards for Anglican church music which are still influential. He was also active as an academic, becoming professor of music at Oxford University in 1889. According to Peter Charlton's Stainer biography, Sir Arthur Sullivan's tribute to Stainer was blunt and memorable: "He is a genius".