Biography
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Born
6 June 1840
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Born In
Southwark, London, England, United Kingdom
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Died
31 March 1901 (aged 60)
Sir John Stainer was born in Southwark, London, on 6 June 1840. As a boy, he sang in the choir of St Paul's Cathedral and, at the age of 16 was appointed by Sir Frederick Ouseley to the post of organist at the newly founded St. Michael's College, Tenbury. In a childhood accident Stainer had lost the use of one eye; for a brief period in 1875 he lost that of the other too.
In 1860 he became organist at Magdalen College, Oxford, moving to St Paul's Cathedral in 1872. In 1885 he was awarded an honorary degree by Durham University and he became professor of music at Oxford University in 1889. He conducted pioneering research into early music, notably the output of Guillaume Dufay, then scarcely known even among experts. In recognition of his services to British music-making, he received was knighted by Queen Victoria in 1888.
Stainer died in Verona of heart failure on 31 March 1901, at the age of 60. His funeral was held on 6 April at St. Cross Church, Holywell, Oxford and the surrounding streets were filled with mourners.
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