<P> The work is scored for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, four trumpets, and basso continuo . The text is from the Book of Common Prayer (1662): </P> <P> 1 . Man that is born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery . He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower; he fleeth as it were a shadow, and ne'er continueth in one stay . 2 . In the midst of life we are in death: of whom may we seek for succour, but of thee, O Lord, who for our sins art justly displeased? Yet, O Lord, O Lord most mighty, O holy and most merciful Saviour, deliver us not into the bitter pains of eternal death . 3 . Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts; shut not thy merciful ears unto our pray'rs; but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most mighty . O holy and most merciful Saviour, thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us not, at our last hour, for any pains of death, to fall from thee . Amen . </P> <P> The march, in C minor, was written for a quartet of flatt trumpets, which could play notes outside of the harmonic series and thus in a minor key . Following the march is the canzona, also in C minor . Thou Knowest Lord is in E flat major and is a stirring hymn - like setting with all the voice parts moving in the same rhythm . </P> <P> Purcell's earlier setting of the fourth sentence of the Burial Service, Man that is born of a woman, introduces a melancholy theme . Purcell brings tension to the phrase with hath but a short time to live, and the melody rises and falls with the words he cometh up and is cut down like a flower . With In the midst of life we are in death, an earlier setting of the fifth sentence, Purcell begins with a soprano part that is passed on to the choir . The music portrays with chromaticism an air of anguish . There are two earlier versions of Thou Knowest Lord . </P>

Music for the funeral of queen mary lyrics