In his brief poem Eternitie, Robert Herrick (1591 1674) imagines the immense awe that accompanies leaving this world and entering the next. A hint of longing for what was in the opening words, “O Yeares! and Age!” gives way to peace and acceptance with “Farewell.” The music slowly grows in intensity over a bass pedal point to the high pointof the piece: wonder and joy in the life of the world to come, being “drown’d in one endlesse Day.” Duration: 3:45
