Charles Villiers Stanford

Irish composer, conductor and teacher Charles Stanford was born in Dublin on 30 September 1852, the son of a prominent Dublin lawyer. He studied at Cambridge University (helping to raise the status of CUMS - the Cambridge University Musical Society, and also, whilst still an undergraduate, being appointed organist of Trinity College) and then studied music in Leipzig (with Carl Reinecke) and Berlin (with Friedrich Kiel).

Stanford became one of the founding teachers at London's Royal College of Music, continuing to teach composition there for the rest of his days. Shunning modernism, he based his teachings on classical principles. Pupils included Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams

Conducting posts included the Bach Choir and Leeds Festival.

Best remembered for his choral works, he also wrote operas and seven symphonies.

He died in London on 29 March 1924.

A selection of articles about Charles Villiers Stanford

CD Spotlight. An Exceptional Recording - Gerald Fenech finds William Vann's new recording of music by Parry revelatory. '... highly dramatic performances seething with passionate endeavour and glorious grandeur.'

CD Spotlight. A Neglected Masterpiece - Gerald Fenech is impressed by Martyn Brabbins' recording of Stanford's Requiem. '... vibrant music-making ...'

Towards the Unknown Region - The late George Colerick discusses Ralph Vaughan Williams as writer on music, particularly when he turns his thoughts towards Beethoven's Choral Symphony

Ensemble. A New Venture - Mike Wheeler listens to Brahms, Elgar, Haydn, Parry, Philip Moore, Purcell, Rutter, Stanford and Vivaldi from Derby Cathedral Choir

Ensemble. A Serious Miscalculation - Music for choir and saxophone, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Engaging Accounts - A Celebration of the Twentieth Anniversary of Derby Cathedral Girls' Choir, heard by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Subdued Radiance - Mike Wheeler listens to music on the theme of Remembrance from the Derwent Singers

CD Spotlight. Beautifully Managed - Music for Lent and Easter impresses Howard Smith. '... excellent musical standards and high technical achievements ...'

CD Spotlight. Novel Results - The first release on Robert King's new label, heard by Robert Anderson. '... may lack something in grandeur but nothing in subtlety.'

CD Spotlight. Elegant Precision - A recital by Charlotte de Rothschild, heard by Howard Smith. '... consistently reliable ...'

CD Spotlight. An Admirable Introduction - English violin sonatas by Dunhill, Bantock and Stanford, heard by Robert Anderson. '... affectionate performances by Susanne Stanzeleit and Gusztáv Fenyò ...'

Variety of Mood - Brahms and Stanford from The Sitwell Singers, heard by Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Unjustly Neglected - Orchestral tone poems by Boughton and Bainton impress Robert Anderson. '... performed with conviction and sensitivity ...'

Serious Fun - Lynn Norris looks back at the life of composer, conductor and pianist Aubrey Bowman

Bizarre Perception - Alistair Hinton discusses a recent article on English music by David Hamilton

Multi-tasking - Peter Gould plays the organ at Derby Cathedral, reviewed by Tony Westerman

Ensemble. Various Challenges - Music by Trevor Hold, Elgar, Parry, Stanford, Delius and Vivaldi from the Derwent Singers, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Ensemble. Glowingly Realised - Robert Manning, David Johnson and Tom Corfield share an organ recital at Derby Cathedral, appreciated by Mike Wheeler

Record box. Choral textures - An anniversary CD by an English cathedral choir, welcomed by Patric Standford

Ensemble. Sitting pretty? - Walton, Sainsbury and Stanford at the Three Choirs Festival, reviewed by Keith Bramich

CD Spotlight. A well-chosen anthology - Listening to 'A Century of English Song', with Trevor Hold. 'Veira is particularly good ...'

CD Spotlight - Unknown gems. 'Throughout, Varcoe and Benson give musicianly, affectionate performances ...' Two Hyperion albums of Stanford's songs, with Trevor Hold