Writer of some of the best loved hymn tunes and of course known for his collaboration with W.S Gilbert on operettas, Arthur Sullivan (1842-1900) also set secular part songs, including this one, 'The Long Day Closes', from a collection of seven written in 1868.

The text is by Henry Fothergill Chorley, with whom Sullivan collaborated on a number of projects, including a full-scale opera, The Sapphire Necklace.

'The Long Day Closes' is the final track on The Sixteen's new album 'Sirens' Song' which celebrates the part song form in a programme of secular music from composers including Stanford, Imogen Holst and Vaughan Williams.