Charles-Francois Gounod (1818–1893), the son of an artist and a pianist, was the winner of the Prix de Rome
and studied at the Paris Conservatory. A devout Catholic, Gounod composed his “Messe solennelle en l'honneur de Sainte-Cécile”
as his first major work, having its premiere performance at St Eustache in Paris in 1855. The Sanctus, first performed with the
Benedictus in London in 1851, is originally for tenor, chorus and orchestra.
Edwin Matthew Lott (1836–1902) born in St Helier, Jersey, England, had his first organist position
at age 10. Briefly a student of W T Best from 1851 to 1852, Lott was organist of several churches in London, including
St Sepulchre in Holborn for more than 20 years. One of his students there was Sir Henry Wood, who became his assistant at age 14.
Lott served at Trinity College, London, as professor of counterpoint, canon, and fugue beginning in 1879. During the 1880s and
’90s, Lott was principal of the Musical International College in London. He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists. His compositions include original music
and organ transcriptions, piano, vocal, orchestral, and choral music. Easy.
