This work investigates the musical interpretation of Shakespearean text through the lens of choral composition. John Rutter, a prominent composer of choral music, utilizes his expertise in vocal arrangement and orchestration to translate the melancholic themes of Shakespeare's As You Like It into a structured musical performance. The piece serves as a specific entry within the larger cycle When Icicles Hang, demonstrating how classical text informs contemporary choral structure.

Experts and choral directors frequently identify this piece as a standard selection for intermediate to advanced choirs due to its harmonic complexity. Musicians often note that the score requires precise attention to the interplay between the vocal lines and the orchestral accompaniment.