a Christmas carol. Sweet was the Song is a traditional English carol dating from the 16th century depicting the Virgin Mary singing a lullaby to the new-born Jesus. This setting for mixed voices no divisi and organ reflects the text with gentle rocking phrases, static harmonies and a simple melodic line. The music is coloured by soft dissonances, conveying a sense of mystery and uncertainty. This piece is taken from a larger work An Old Belief which deals with the subject of religious faith in times of crisis. It was commissioned by Alan Brookes for Twickenham Choral Society, who gave the first performance in March 2013, conducted