The Four Hymns are in similar vein to the Five Mystical Songs (1911) although on a smaller and more intimate scale. Together with the Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis these form a succession of works displaying a strong mystical, meditative content. The first of the hymns, ‘Lord! come away!’, employs vigorous Purcellian recitative in a setting of a Palm Sunday text from Bishop Jeremy Taylor’s Golden Grove (17th century). ‘Who is this fair one?’ (Isaac Watts, 1674 1748) is a dialogue for the ...