The Rev Samuel Longfellow was the brother of the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and a writer of texts for hymns. This one praises God for all the gifts of summer. In setting his words, Thiman demonstrates his clear gift formelody in setting Longfellow's Summer Days.Eric Thiman was a 20th century composer, teacher and Organist who was also an advocate of amateur music-making. He was a prolific composer of church music and Piano and Organ works, andhis craftsmanship and gift for melody were much admired. He was director of music at the City Temple in London. As an educator, he was a professor at the Royal Academy of Music, and he wrote many books on harmony, counterpointandmusical form.
