Five Mystical Songs for baritone chorus and orchestra settings of George Herbert 1911

The work is written for a baritone soloist with several choices for accompaniment

Piano only.
Piano and string quintet.
Wind Ensemble.
Orchestra with optional SATB chorus. This was the choice used at the premiere

1. Easter
2. I Got Me Flowers
3. Love Bad
4. The Call
5. Antiphon

Easter from Herbert`s Easter

Rise heart; thy Lord is risen.
Sing his praise without delayes
Who takes thee by the hand
that thou likewise with him may`st rise;
That as his death calcined thee to dust
His life may make thee gold and much more just.

Awake my lute and struggle for thy part with all thy art.
The crosse taught all wood to resound his name who bore the same.
His stretched sinews taught all strings what key
Is the best to celebrate this most high day.

Consort both heart and lute and twist a song pleasant and long;
Or since all musick is but three parts vied and multiplied.
O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part
And make up our defects with his sweet art.

I Got Me Flowers from the second half of Easter

I got me flowers to strew thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree
But thou wast up by break of day
And brought`st thy sweets along with thee.

The Sunne arising in the East.
Though he give light and th`East perfume;
If they should offer to contest
With thy arising they presume.

Can there be any day but this
Though many sunnes to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred but we misse
There is but one and that one ever.

Love Bade Me Welcome from Love III

Love bade me welcome yet my soul drew back.
Guiltie of dust and sinne.
But quick-ey`d Love observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in
Drew nearer to me sweetly questioning
If I lack`d anything.

A guest I answer`d worthy to be here
Love said You shall be he.
I the unkinde ungrateful? Ah my deare
I cannot look on thee.
Love took my hand and smiling did reply
Who made the eyes but I?

Truth Lord but I have marr`d them let my shame
Go where it doth deserve.
And know you not sayes Love who bore the blame?
My deare then I will serve.
You must sit down sayes Love and taste my meat
So I did sit and eat.

The Call from The Call

Come my Way my Truth my Life
Such a Way as gives us breath
Such a Truth as ends all strife
Such a Life as killeth death.

Come my Light my Feast my Strength
Such a Light as shows a feast
Such a Feast as mends in length
Such a Strength as makes his guest.

Come my Joy my Love my Heart
Such a Joy as none can move
Such a Love as none can part
Such a Heart as joyes in love.

Antiphon from Antiphon I

Let all the world in ev`ry corner sing
My God and King.
The heavens are not too high
His praise may thither flie;
The earth is not too low
His praises there may grow.

Let all the world in ev`ry corner sing
My God and King.
The Church with psalms must shout
No doore can keep them out;
But above all the heart
Must bear the longest part.

Let all the world in ev`ry corner sing
My God and King.