Concert attendees experienced a rare treat at Blackburn Cathedral on Wednesday as they were treated to the debut performance of two newly discovered compositions by British composer Sir Edward Bairstow.

These pieces, "Forty Days and Forty Nights" and "O Come O Come Emmanuel," were stumbled upon by volunteer archivist Pete Asher in the archives of Blackburn Central Library.

These musical gems were featured at an Easter concert commemorating the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth. Although the exact dates of the arrangements were unknown, the Blackburn Music Society choir speculated that they may never have been performed publicly before.

Asher, also a member of the society's choir, told the BBC: "There was something here which probably hadn't seen the light of day for over 100 years."

orn in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, in 1874, Sir Edward Bairstow had deep ties to Blackburn, having served as an organist at York Minster for over three decades until his passing in 1946.

Renowned for his contributions to church music, he was knighted in 1932 for his outstanding services to the field. Pieces such as "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence," "The Lamentation," and "Save Us, O Lord" are among his most celebrated works.

The discovery of these compositions sparked hope that they would be made more widely available, potentially becoming staples in church services throughout the UK.