The composer Peter Aston - 1938 to 2013



Peter Aston was a composer and academic. He was an expert on 17th century music. His books include 'The Music of York Minster and 'Sound and Silence, a book which advocates drawing on children's creative talent as the basis for music education.

He was an enthuastic supporter of Norwich City FC and was a lay canon at Norwich Cathedral. He also continued to play the organ, from time to time, at his local parish church in Norwich.

Peter Aston's liturgical music was very popular. It had a plainsong and almost medieval style. This can be heard in the excerpt of God be in my head, which follows. When the Church of England introduced the Alternative Service Book in 1980, he wrote a setting for the Communion - know as Aston in F. It is still in use today.

Sanderstead Singers have performed two of his works. The Allelluia Psallat and God be in my head, as previously mentioned.


The following is an excerpt from The Allelluia Psallat sung at Lincoln Cathedral on Sunday 28th August 2005. The conductor was Fred Irvine and the Organist was Dan Soper. The recording is a Dartworth recording.



The following is an excerpt from God be in my head sung at Bristol Cathedral on Monday 20th August 2007. The conductor was Fred Irvine and the Organist was Dan Soper. The recording is a Dartworth recording.


Acknowledgement: The information about Peter Aston, his life and his music has been taken from an obituary published in the Daily Telegraph on 18th September 2013.

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