Biography
Having completed his studies at the RAM, Barnby held organist posts at multiple churches across London and York before taking up the role at St Andrew’s in 1863. There he introduced opulent choral liturgies, among them the first appearance of harp within an Anglican rite in 1866. He later expanded the same approach on a still larger scale at St Anne’s in Soho, establishing a choir whose performances brought previously unfamiliar scores by Handel, Beethoven and Gounod to wider audiences. A prolific creator chiefly of choral and vocal music, Barnby produced works whose melodic and expressive character reflects Gounod’s influence; a number of these pieces continue to be performed.