Alec Roth – THE FLOWER – words by George Herbert anthem for unaccompanied choir first performed by Ex Cathedra, conducted by Jeffrey Skidmore, Birmingham Town Hall, 20 November 2011 COMPOSER’S NOTE Early in 2007, while staying at the Old Rectory in Bemerton, I set four verses of George Herbert’s poem ‘The Flower’ at the suggestion of Canon Judy Rees of the George Herbert in Bemerton Group, who had invited a number of composers to make new settings of Herbert’s poetry as hymns for congregational use (see below*). I subsequently re-worked this simple hymn-tune into the present more elaborate version as a short anthem for unaccompanied choir, especially for Ex Cathedra and Jeffrey Skidmore. DURATION ca. 3 minutes FORCES REQUIRED Unaccompanied choir SATB, with solo tenor or baritone in verse 3