This vocal score provides the musical settings for a cycle of six choral pieces based on Elizabethan poetry. John Rutter, a prominent composer and conductor in the choral tradition, utilizes his expertise in vocal arrangement to interpret texts by authors such as Campion, Herrick, and Shakespeare. The work is structured to support performance by SATB choir with either piano accompaniment or a small orchestral ensemble.

Experts and choral directors frequently identify this work as a standard component of the contemporary choral repertoire. Performers often note the accessibility of the vocal lines while acknowledging the technical precision required for the rhythmic interplay between the choir and the accompaniment.