Fantasia on the Chorale "St. Mary" (For Lent), Op. 24

Charles Edward Stephens (1821–1892) studied the pianoforte, violin and theory. After the completion of his school career, he was organist successively to St. Mark's, Myddelton Square; Holy Trinity, Paddington; St. John's, Hampstead; St. Clement Danes and St. Saviour's, Paddington. The last-named post he resigned in 1875.

He was a fellow or member of most of the English musical institutions, and was considered to be an accomplished musician, a good teacher, an excellent pianist, and a capable violinist. His compositions include a symphony and a quantity of pianoforte and chamber music. In 1880 Stephens gained both the first and second prizes for string quartets offered by Trinity College, London.

He was a clever speaker and writer, as his papers read before the Musical Association bear witness.

"Concluding Voluntary or Fantasia on the Chorale "St. Mary" (For Lent) is a large, unusual and rare work. It is dedicated to John Stainer (1840-1901), the famous organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, London.

The work is sectional, but mostly continuously flowing, as the sections blend into each other. The writing struck me as something of a cross between Samuel Sebastian Wesley and John Stainer, the dedicatee. Getting a "correct" performance was hard, since the style and registrations are quite "old-fashioned" for the time, and I debated whether to stick with the austere, or to broaden out the colors. In the end, I chose a compromise, always maintaining the spirit of the indicated registrations, although not always exactly.

It's quite a remarkable work, and one that you are not likely to come across again anytime soon.

For the complete text of the hymn upon which the work is based and further notes, see the First Comment.

The score is attached below. I could find no photos or drawings of Stephens, but I did attach photos of several churches at which he served as organist. Also attached are photos of John Stainer, showing why he was in demand as an hair model!