A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Stirling, Elizabeth

STIRLING, Elizabeth, an eminent English organist and composer; born at Greenwich, Feb. 26, 1819; learned the organ and piano from Mr. W. B. Wilson and Edward Holmes, and harmony from J. A. Hamilton and Prof. Macfarren. She attained a remarkable degree of execution on the organ pedals, as may be inferred from her first public performance, given at S. Katherine's Church, Regent's Park, when, out of 14 numbers, the programme contained 5 pedal fugues and preludes by J. S. Bach; 3 pedal trios, and other pieces, by the same master, etc. In Nov. 1839 she was elected organist of All Saints', Poplar, which she retained till Sept. 1858, when she gained the same post at S. Andrew's, Undershaft, by competition. This she resigned in 1880. In 1856 she submitted an exercise (Ps. cxxx. for 5 voices and orchestra) for the degree of Mus. Bac. Oxon.; but though accepted it was not. performed, owing to the want of power to grant a degree to a lady. Miss Stirling has published some original pedal fugues and slow movements, and other pieces for her instrument, as well as arrangements from the works of Handel, Bach, and Mozart. Also songs and duets, and many part-songs for 4 voices, of which a well-established favourite is 'All among the barley.' In 1863 she married Mr. J. A. Bridge.

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