The Woman of Samaria (Op. 44) was a sacred cantata written for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival in 1867. It was written in the style of Medelssohn’s Elijah which had premiered at the same festivaltwenty years earlier. The chorus Abide With Me is a setting of the poem by Henry Francis Lyte for SATB choir and Piano accompaniment. Sir William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875) was anEnglish composer pianist and conductor. He entered the Royal Academy of Music studying Violin Piano and composition. He spent time in Germany with Mendelsohn and Schumann before becoming Professor of Music at the Universityof Cambridge and later Principal of the RAM.

with Un Sospiro-Uses: Advent Christmas Scripture: Exodus 33:14-15 Deuteronomy 31:6 John 15:4 The echoes of a romantic piano classic usher in this hymn adaptation with tender emotion and elegant styling. The piece evolves organically allowing for directors to focus on the expressive potential of each phrase. Quality part-writing is an encouragement to the learning process and the message of God's presence and comfort is timeless. Simply beautiful!