This anthem was composed for the service of thanksgiving for a Civil Partnership in June 2011. In looking for a suitable text the composer turned to Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806–61) one of whose sonnets he had used for another wedding anthem (Love is beautiful indeed) a few years earlier. As the title suggests this highly expressive text puts into words the intense feeling of love and the mostly homophonic music reflects that through luscious harmonies and beautifully shaped phrases. Suitable for intermediate choirs this setting of a popular wedding text is a joy for both performers and audience.

Written for a wedding in 2006 Love is beautiful indeed sets an extraordinary poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806?61) part of the tenth sonnet in Sonnets from the Portuguese. It begins unaccompanied with warm harmony but quickly moves to reflect the words ?Fire is bright?and love is fire? at which point the organ enters strongly to accompany the deeply impassioned central section before the mood relaxes and the piece returns to the quiet reflection of the opening. Suitable for intermediate choirs this setting of a secular text is an exciting and welcome addition to the repertoire ofmusic taking love as its theme.