Highmore Skeats (junior) (1787-1835) was born into a musical family. His father Highmore Skeats (senior) was Organist of Ely Cathedral until 1803, at which point his son succeeded him to the role, following his father’s departure for Canterbury Cathedral as Organist. In 1830, Skeats (junior) left Ely to become Organist of St George’s Chapel, Windsor, where he died after only five years in post at the age of forty-eight. His daughter Harriet would marry his successor at Windsor, Sir George Elvey. The chant to Psalm 139 is the only work of Skeats in the choral repertoire today, though a Service in C (including movements for the Office of Holy Communion, along with canticles) was in use in Windsor in his day.

from notes by John Challenger © 2022