Music for the Second Sunday of Epiphany–January 15 2023
These are they which follow the Lamb – John Goss (1800-1880)
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Sir John Goss (1800-1880) and his younger contemporary John Stainer were the two most prominent Victorian composers of church music. Goss was organist of St Paul’s Cathedral from 1838 until his death, and most of his church music dates from his time there. These are they which follow the Lamb, this Sunday’s communion motet in church, was written in 1859 with a text from Revelation 14:4-5. It gives the lie to the belief that all Victorian church music is sentimental or vulgar: it is simple, chaste, and almost completely diatonic.
These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
And in their mouth was found no guile;
for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Gerald Harder