This Day

This Day unites five very different texts, both sacred and secular, in an exploration of man's relationship with the world and with God. Opening with an optimistic F sharp major setting of Emily Dickinson's 'Bring me the sunset in a cup', the work progresses through the stages of a day (or, indeed, a life): 'Awake, my soul!' (Thomas Ken), 'This Day' (Jewish text, adapted Chilcott), 'The Bright Field' (R.S. Thomas), and 'O Lord, support us' (John Henry Newman). This is powerfully evocative music embracing a range of moods and styles, with moments of joyful optimism, spiritual enlightenment, and poignancy.