The Choristers of the Saint Thomas Girls Chorister Course with the Gentlemen of the choir sang Judith Weir’s haunting setting of the George Herbert poem “Vertue” at choral evensong on Wednesday, July 27.

Weir is best known for her series of operas and theatrical works, but in more recent years has expanded her repertoire with pieces commissioned for and performed by various choirs around the world.

Lyrics:

Sweet day, so cool, so calm, so bright,
The bridal of the earth and sky;
The dew shall weep thy fall to-night,
For thou must die.

Sweet rose, whose hue angry and brave
Bids the rash gazer wipe his eye;
Thy root is ever in its grave,
And thou must die.

Sweet spring, full of sweet days and roses,
A box where sweets compacted lie;
My music shows ye have your closes,
And all must die.

Only a sweet and virtuous soul,
Like season'd timber, never gives;
But though the whole world turn to coal,
Then chiefly lives.

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