This work serves as a musical setting for the poem by Robert Bridges, exploring the intersection of lyrical poetry and choral composition. Gerald Finzi, a prominent 20th-century British composer, utilizes his expertise in vocal writing to translate the rhythmic and emotional nuances of the text into a structured musical arrangement. The piece functions as a formal exploration of harmonic texture and vocal interplay within the SATB (Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass) configuration.

Musicologists and choral directors frequently identify this piece as a standard example of Finzi's idiomatic approach to English choral music. Experts highlight the work for its accessibility to amateur and professional ensembles alike while maintaining a high level of technical sophistication in its vocal phrasing.