Son of composer Samuel Wesley, Samuel Sebastian Wesley was one of the foremost composers and organists of his day. Taking advantage of new developments in instrument building, Wesley was able to push the boundaries of English church music in a new direction, encompassing a more ambitious, even operatic style. 

Wesley was instrumental in the development of the modern organ. Wesley, with Father Willis, is known to have invented the concave and radiating organ pedalboard. Their joint conception has been largely adopted as an international standard for organs throughout the English-speaking world and those exported elsewhere.

In this recording – the first to have been made using an organ similar in design to his own – Wesley’s music is sung by the young professional singers of Holy Sepulchre under conductor Toby Ward. 

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