J. Varley Roberts

Composer: J. Varley Roberts (1841–1920) was Halifax Parish Church Organist and Director of the Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford 1882-1919.

Seek ye the Lord

Based upon Isaiah 55:6–7, this call to repentance linked to the promise of mercy was composed early in the 20th century, yet remains popular for its sensitive treatment of the text, 'Seek the Lord . . . He will have mercy'.

JVR other works:

The The Passion: a meditation on the sufferings of Christ (Novello, 1902) is scored for two solo voices (tenor and bass) and chorus SATB with hymns to be sung by the choir and congregation.

Hymns

Lord, as to thy dear cross we flee (tune: Dundee)
Behold him in Gethsemane
Ride on, ride on in majest
When I survey the wondrous cross (tune: Rockingham)
O wondrous work of God
O thou, from whom all goodness flows (tune: Windsor)
Jesu, lover of my soul
If I should e'er forsake thee (tune: Chorale Bach St Matthew Passion)
O Lord, thy love's unbounded (tune: as above)