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Sir Edward Bairstow (1874–1946) was organist of York Minster in 1913, a post he retained until his death in 1946. His appointment as Professor of Music at the University of Durham in 1929 did not necessitate a move from York to Durham, for he was only required to give one lecture each year in order to fulfil his commitment.

Save us, O Lord is probably Bairstow’s best-loved anthem. It was composed for the Festival of the Wigan and District Church Choral Asociation in November 1902, when the composer was organist of Wigan Parish Church. This relatively early composition shows his mastery of a seamless style in which the lines of music flow out of each other, best demonstrated in the opening organ introduction, the successive choral entries and in the compatibility of this style with the central fugato.

from notes by William McVicker © 1991