Composer of the Week - Samuel Sebastian Wesley (1810-1876) - Episode 5

Forget Samuel Sebastian Wesley as a pillar of the Anglican Cathedral world - he was an eccentric, inconsistent and irascible character - Donald Macleod marks the bicentenary of Wesley's birth, surveying the composer's life and music. One final move for Wesley from Winchester Cathedral to Gloucester, where in the final years of his life, he was little concerned with his contractual duties. His acceptance of the post at Gloucester caused quite a shock - one Canon noted, "it was as if the Archbishop of Canterbury had applied for a minor Canonry." Wesley finally got his wished-for return to Devon though, when he was buried at Exeter next to the grave of his daughter. For one who gave so much music to the Anglican Church, his funeral was conducted in silence with no music at all. In this final episode, Donald Macleod charts Wesley's final years, including a work commissioned by Charles Gounod - The Praise of Music - and Wesley's most famous anthem - Ascribe unto the Lord - which the composer orchestrated later in life.