In vain would fortune

Samuel Webbe was a distinguished English composer and organist of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, known for his skill in writing canons and glees. In vain would fortune is a prime example of his secular part-music, set for three sopranos. The text expresses a Stoic philosophy: that true contentment comes not from fleeting material possessions or present circumstances, but from the enduring enjoyment of past experiences. Webbe's setting uses the contrapuntal techniques characteristic of canons to vividly depict the 'tempestuous blast' of fortune, contrasting it with the unwavering inner peace of the contented individual. This engaging piece offers a satisfying challenge for a treble choir.