Elizabeth Stirling facts for kids
Elizabeth Stirling (also known as Elizabeth Bridge) was a talented English musician. She was an amazing organist and a composer who wrote many pieces of music. She was born on February 26, 1819, and passed away on March 25, 1895.
About Elizabeth Stirling
Elizabeth Stirling was born in Greenwich, a part of London. She loved music from a young age. She studied piano and organ at the famous Royal Academy of Music. Her teachers included Edward Holmes and W. B. Wilson. She also learned about harmony (how musical notes fit together) from James Alexander Hamilton and Sir George Macfarren.
In 1837, when she was just 18, Elizabeth gave an organ concert at St. Katherine's Church in Regent's Park. People were very impressed, and her performance was even reviewed in a music magazine called The Musical World.
In 1839, Elizabeth became the organist at All Saints Church, Poplar. She worked there for many years, until 1858. That same year, she won a competition to become the organist at St Andrew Undershaft. She held this important job until 1880. Elizabeth was especially known for her amazing skill at playing the organ pedals with her feet!
She published many musical works. These included two large organ pieces called "grand voluntaries" and six "pedal fugues" (which are complex organ pieces). She also wrote eight "slow movements" and other organ music. Besides organ music, she composed over fifty songs and duets. She even arranged music by famous composers like Bach, Mozart, and Handel. Her most popular song was "All Among the Barley."
In 1863, Elizabeth married Frederick Albert Bridge. He was a photographer and also a musician. He worked as a choirmaster at St Martin-in-the-Fields and was an organist and choirmaster at St Martin, Ludgate.
Elizabeth's Music
Here are some of the musical pieces Elizabeth Stirling composed:
- Romantic Pieces for Organ
- Moderato and Maestoso, for organ
- The Dream, a song for four voices (SSTB) with piano
- All Among The Barley, a song for four voices (SATB)
- The Forester, a song for four voices (SATB) with piano
- Back From the Brink, a song for four voices (SATB) with piano
