ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the light of the evidence of Stanford's early popularity and success; it is difficult to accept the decline in interest in both the man and his music that occurred after his death. As a result, Stanford's biography remained fragmentary and incomplete until the publication of important studies by Jeremy Dibble and Paul Rodmell. The genesis of The Three Holy Children was a commission for the Birmingham Festival. Completed on 10 February 1885, it was premiered later that year with Hans Richter, recently appointed as conductor, making his first appearance. A piano-vocal edition was released by Stanley Lucas, Weber & Co. in 1885, but the autograph from which it was derived has gone missing most unfortunate because it could have revealed invaluable information the published score. The latter full score, in two volumes, is deposited in the British Library.
