The descendants of british composer Sir John Stainer have donated his hymns, scores, paintings, letters and conductors batons to Durham University.

According to Professor Jeremy Dibble, of Durham University music department, “John Stainer radically reformed church music in England. He helped transform church and cathedral choirs from being often dreary, dreadful and undisciplined, particularly at St Paul's Cathedral in London, and turned choral singing into a brilliant art form.”

The university has plans to exhibit items from the Stainer archive in March 2011.

[source: www.bbc.co.uk]