"As Organist and Master of the Choristers at Gloucester Cathedral and Conductor of the Three Choirs Festival for over a quarter of a century, John Sanders enriched the world of music far beyond the normal confines of the provincial organ loft. Organist, conductor, composer, teacher, adjudicator and, not least, an assiduous administrator, this multi-faceted musician influenced and nurtured the live
s of many generations of aspiring musicians." (Kenneth Shenton - The Independent - 31 December 2003)
His retirement from the Cathedral allowed him time to compose, something he had wished to do earlier but for which he had previously found little time. He spent many hours in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside walking his dogs, and gaining inspiration for his compositions. He wrote four cantatas for chorus, soloists and orchestra, three song cycles, the Requiem for unaccompanied choir, a Festival Te Deum, three settings of the Evening Canticles, numerous motets and anthems, including his sublime setting of the internationally-performed Reproaches, as well as some organ music. Much of his music was intended for performance within a liturgical context, and he had a particular flair for writing for the voice. John championed the cause of contemporary music by commissioning new works for performance at the Three Choirs Festival and was also keen to ensure further performances too. This underpins the Society’s aim to promote new compositions for the liturgy. Having spent all of his working life in the service of church music, John was committed to the musical education of boys and girls alike, but particularly to the continuation of the traditional cathedral choir. It is with this unique record of service in mind that it has been decided to form a Sanders Society — an organisation devoted to supporting and promoting all that John stood for and to which he gave unstinting service.
