Good it is to keep the fast

This SATB setting of Good it is to keep the fast opens with the choir in four-part harmony, celebrating the sacred observance of fasting as foreshadowed by biblical figures. The music moves with a hymn-like character, reflecting the devotional nature of the English text. The composer John Stainer crafts a setting that aligns the music with the text's message of spiritual discipline and divine encounter, drawing parallels between ancient prophecy and Christian practice. The hymn urges listeners to emulate the steadfastness of figures like Moses, Elijah, Daniel, and John the Baptist, seeking spiritual strength and divine delight through prayer and fasting. The music builds towards a final invocation of the Trinity, offering a sense of hopeful devotion.