If love and all the world were young

This English glee by Samuel Webbe is suitable for a secular gathering. Written for double choir, ATTB and TTTB, it offers a rich texture for eight voices. The text explores the fleeting nature of youth and love against the inevitability of time and aging. The composer contrasts youthful fancy with the harsh realities of a world that grows cold and where birdsong ceases. Ultimately, the singer declares that earthly pleasures and adornments hold no sway, as the passage of time renders them meaningless. The music would suit an occasion when reflection on the seasons of life is appropriate, perhaps in a convivial setting where such sentiments can be shared.