Antique 1879 "The Woman of Samaria" Sacred Cantata by William Sterndale Bennett

Published in London in 1879, this revised edition of The Woman of Samaria presents one of Victorian England's most celebrated sacred cantatas by composer Sir William Sterndale Bennett, a close contemporary and friend of Felix Mendelssohn. First performed in 1867, The Woman of Samaria became Bennett's best-known choral work, retelling the biblical encounter between Christ and the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well. During the late nineteenth century, works such as this formed the foundation of church festivals, civic choral societies, and amateur music-making across Britain. Bound in its original publisher's boards, this volume retains its handsome Victorian typography and complete engraved musical score. Measuring 10" by 7", it has 112 pages total. This copy has a soft cover binding and also contains a flyer for a WW1 1919 "Victory Concert," a wonderful piece of historical memorabilia. It is intact but some pages are loose from the binding, and the cover shows expected wear.